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.

Drix cFx | Music Producer & Artist

On that I don’t know which is the right answer, because creativity defines me and music understands me, but when all of them combined together here I stand. In my life I’ve been spending a lot of time alone. And there is where music founds me. But after few years I decided why not create my own music so that I could tell the world my thoughts and feelings. Read more>>

Chanelle Colon | Artist & Illustrator

I discovered my passion for art at the age of thirteen, I was a freshman in high school. Ever since then, knowing I had the power to create, I knew there was no going back. I wanted to create a colorful life for myself, one where I am able to create everyday and love what I do. That’s exactly what I’ve done and will continue to do. Read more>>

Seamus & Trey Curley & Kochevar | Co-hosts of Leave The Door Open The Podcast

The two of us met in early high school working in our school’s theater department. We both fell in love with storytelling and began making films together later in high school, eventually winning the Jefferson County Film Festival. We had both always had a passion for filmmaking and movies in general, and after making our own projects together we realized that there was nothing else we’d be happier doing than working in the film industry. So we moved to Los Angeles to pursue our love of moviemaking. Read more>>

Lanie Goodell | Author

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. When I was about 17, I signed up for a writing critique workshop at the college I was attending. They tore me to shreds, convinced me I had no talent, and I walked away from writing. Fast forward 15 years and I found myself dabbling in short stories. A friend asked me very nicely to write him a short story. I told him I would be happy to as long as he gave me a prompt. The original prompt evolved and grew into the 80,000 words that make up my first novel, Salvagium. Read more>>

Tarell Martin C2 Mass Choir | Colorado Based Gospel Choir

Tarell Martin & C2 Mass Choir pursued an artistic career to reignite the original Stellar Award-Winning Colorado Mass Choir, created and founded by Joe Pace. The C2 Mass Choir vision and mission is to use their gifts, graces, and abilities to do good in the community through singing that touches hearts, inspires change and growth, and encourages people to fulfill their God-given dreams. Read more>>

Monet Ridenour | Artist, Photographer, Model & Creative

From a young age I have always been drawn to anything creative. I decided I was going to be an artist when I was four years old. Then when I was 7 I decided on photography as well. I had attended Hallmark Institute of Photography later on after graduating high school. The lessons I learned while attending Hallmark I believe helped me with my career as well modeling in Denver. Read more>>

Nikki Vee | Yoga Instructor & Musician

I love tapping into my imagination, trying new things, and making a space aesthetically pleasing. It brings me a lot of joy to create something that can inspire and bring hope. Music, art, and movement have always bee a huge part of my life and I am grateful that I have opportunities to include all these outlets into my creative endeavors. Read more>>

Kit Gray | Natural Science Illustrator & Pet Portrait Artist

I am what you’d consider an accidental artist. I went to school for natural resources and I worked as an environmental educator and interpreter at parks and nature centers for several years. I was very passionate about my prior work and I still consider myself an environmental educator at heart today. The reality is that I am also someone who lives with lupus (a disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks any of the body’s organs and tissues). Read more>>