Deciding to pursue an artistic or creative career path isn’t for the faint of heart. Challenges will abound, but so many of the artists we speak with couldn’t be happier with their choice. So, we asked them about how they made the decision in the first place.

Kristin Conrad | Designer: Porcelain Art Wear

I have always been moved by the creative process. Acting and entertainment are a big part of my life. However, my exposure to the fine arts growing up was vast as well. While I enjoyed the dramatic arts, my father John Conrad, who is a master ceramist, was emulating incredible fortitude while pushing for bigger and better results in his own research. His chemistry based work was specifically on metallic coatings on porcelain. Eventually this led to something that had truly never been seen before in the medium. His latest chromatic coating inspired me to start up Moondust Concepts. MC is hand crafted designer art-wear and accessories. These designs combine traditional ceramic techniques with futuristic molecular technology. Read more>>

Tommy Tsu | Latin Artist

Because the ability to create is infinite. It can not be limited nor controlled. You can always create more. Read more>>

Wen Song | Artist/Creator

I’ve always been a very hands on person and this really manifested itself into crafting, painting, dancing, acting, singing, and other creative outlets. I find art to be a way of expressing myself and my feelings or emotions because sometimes words just simply aren’t enough for me. Expression, feelings, and emotions aren’t linear in the sense that happy is happy and sad is sad; rather, happy is energetic, bright, colorful, you name it. I need to express myself in a way that is bursting with possibilities where there is no right or wrong, there’s just me. Read more>>

Javier Rivera | Commercial Photographer

I started to pursue my creative career after many years of working in the pharmaceutical industry behind a desk, and still having to hold a night gig as a cook every now and then. At 40 years old I had already been working for 24 years, since I was 16. I was tired, burned, with no time for family, and no interest in climbing the corporate ladder. I wanted some freedom, time to enjoy my family, and I wanted to do something I enjoyed, and get paid for doing it. I always took pictures, ever since I was a kid I always had a camera, and so I decided I was going to take my interest seriously and become a photographer. Read more>>

Leah Sachs | Wedding Invitations Designer & Calligrapher

My business started as a hobby to help relax after work. I was always into the arts, and had been creative my whole life. I never considered it as a career path though! I would come home after work and practice calligraphy to help calm down from long, stressful days. During that time, one of my closest friends from college got engaged and asked if I’d do her a favor, addressing their wedding invitations for them in calligraphy. I didn’t think twice about it, since she was a close friend. After their wedding, she referred me to someone else, and it grew from there. Every so often I’d have a calligraphy project. After a while, “every so often” turned into more regular jobs. And eventually, it got to the point that I was doing calligraphy before work, after work in the evenings, and on the weekends. I took my creative business full-time in 2016 and haven’t looked back! Read more>>

Jameelah Nunez | Dance Instructor & Jewelry Designer

To be fair I don’t like to say that I chose a certain career, I feel like that career choice usually finds you. I believe that something that your passionate about, something that you are willing to put your full energy and time— is worth becoming your career. I always knew that I was more on the artistic side whether it was painting, singing (even if I don’t sound good lol), dancing, creative writing, graphic designing, photography, videography, Creating drinks, crafting jewelry, anything that came to my mind it has always been an expression of art. I feel that art and creativity is the way I can fully express who I am, who I am as an individual, what my soul speaks, and how colorful, vibrant and authentic one can be. Read more>>

Antonio Williams | Police Officer

To be honest fitness wasn’t my idea career until 2018 when I realize I needed to change. Living in San Diego is pretty hard to ignore all the local fine dinning and their famous Tacos Shop. However, I needed to change my eating habits and get more active. I hired a personal trainer to assist with my journey and since then I didn’t let up off the gas pedal. My overall goal is to educate on health and wellness. Read more>>

Ashley Bohm | Photographer

I’ve been interested in art and all things creative for as long as I can remember, and I think that paired with my entrepreneurial spirit (my favorite games to play as a kid were ones where my friends and I pretended to run a business) were ultimately led me to pursue a career in photography. I discovered photography when I was in high school and fell in love with the medium instantly. My summers during high school were spent interning for my aunt, who had a photography business in upstate New York at the time, which was kind of a crash course in learning a little about the business side of photography. I shadowed her on shoots, held reflectors, put together photo books for clients, filed old invoices, and even weeded the backyard of her studio. Read more>>