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.

Nicholas Marks | Film Composer

My career is first and foremost driven by an insatiable desire to create timeless original works that serve as the soundtrack to human experience. I want my body of work to defy genre, be enjoyable to listen to for years to come, and most importantly, impact people in the same way that my favorite music has done for me. The creative skills of being a composer extend to being an entrepreneur. Both require vision, an understanding of how to build a structure (often from nothing), having the discipline to analyze and refine granular details, assessing what steps need to be taken to achieve one’s objectives, and execution. Read more>>

Carmen Dickinson | Photographer

I wanted to pursue an artistic career because I love how it made me feel. Being creative, thinking outside the box, making art is such a powerful tool. Being able to pause moments of time with a photograph and allow people to relive and revisit those memories every time they look at that photo is just incredibly special to me. Read more>>

Shea Sjoberg | Co-founder & Creative Director

My grandfather was an architect, and my mom was a graphic designer so I guess it’s just in my blood. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been drawing, painting, building and getting my hands dirty in different creative mediums. Read more>>

Blake Shimoda | Independent Artist & Music Producer

For me, I think the pursuit of an artistic career is a pursuit of being understood. I felt so misunderstood when I was younger by almost all of the people around me and I think those experiences stuck with me. I felt like everyone had their own ideas about who I was and none of them felt like they accurately portrayed the person I believed I was on the inside. Making music allows me to express the vulnerable parts of myself outside of the views of another person; it gives me the opportunity to show the world who I am without any explanation or influence from a third party. Read more>>