Artists and creatives face innumerable challenges given that their career path often doesn’t come with a playbook, a steady paycheck or any form of safety net. It’s definitely not easy and so we asked a few of the artists and creatives we admire to talk to us about why they chose to pursue an artistic or creative career.

Adam Anglin | Landscape Painter

Being creative has always been something that I’ve had in me. I don’t know that I thought much about that reality until these last few years. A lot of people are creative. It’s not terribly unique in and of it’s self. As I’ve gotten older I think I’ve just paid more attention to the kinds of things that energize me and help me feel healthy. Read more>>

Reese Baird | Outdoor Photographer & Videographer

I knew I had to make a difference in this World and being creative is one of the ways I can leave a legacy behind and feel truly alive. Read more>>

Murray Little | 2D Animator, Multi Media Artist

No matter how hard I try, I just cannot picture myself not creating. I hope it’s a mutually shared feeling when I say that it is truly my purpose to make art. I know that sounds like I am making my existence out to be more important than it really is, but every time I paint, animate, draw or whatever, It feels like I am squeezing my bloody heart into my pieces along with my medium.  Read more>>

Olivia Smith | Luxury Event Planner and Picnic Creative

I pursued an artistic and creative career because it’s ingrained in who I am at my core. As a single mom, navigating through life’s challenges, I found solace and joy in creativity. Being a girl mom, I realized the importance of creating magical moments and memories for my children, as well as for myself.  Read more>>

Danielle Crouse | Artist

Art kept me out of trouble. I had potential for trouble, but stuck with art. My brother is an idol of mine and a fantastic artist. Mom really enjoys our art, which makes me happy. I had spent most of high school in the art room having been excused from classes because I was sleeping through them and teachers were usually redirecting my assignments to projects that used my creative ability to keep me engaged. Read more>>

Taylor Norberg | Author & Community Advocate

I believe creativity has the biggest impact on humanity’s growth and understanding of our world. As an author, I’m allowed to spread a hopeful message through an entertaining, digestible medium. My greatest passion is in conveying the relationship we can have with our environment, which is why I write to spread doses of realistic sustainable practices, positive community impacts, and climate optimism to others! Read more>>

Z the Stranger | Producer, Rapper, Singer & Songwriter

Music has always been a part of my life. I grew up surrounded by so many different styles just from my immediate family and the more I heard, the more passion I developed for it. It was some time in my freshman year of high school that I purchased my first DAW (digital audio workstation), Acoustica Mixcraft 6. Read more>>

Kim Shively | filmmaker, multi-media artist

I believe that we can better understand ourselves and our world through art (in whatever form it takes). I have always had a creative leaning and I don’t think I could have pursued anything but an artistic career. Read more>>

Tiana Porter | Healthy Hair Care & Extension Specialist

I chose to pursue a career in the artistic and creative field because styling hair has always been a natural talent of mine since childhood. The versatility of hair, whether straight, curled, or sculpted into intricate designs, has fascinated me since a young age. Read more>>

Matthew Brandt | Magician, comedian, entertainer

I’m not sure I had much of choice in it. Creating is this every day process that I just naturally do and for whatever reason I gravitated towards magic. Magic doesn’t exist unless you’re doing it for another person. So, for me to be who I am I need to perform and entertain. Read more>>

Nicholas Pittman | Entrepreneur

In high school I would find myself writing lyrics or doodling rather than paying attention. I did well in school, but my grades did start to suffer the closer I got to high school graduation. I just wasn’t interested in the dry, monotony of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Read more>>

Joey Afman | Spray Paint Artist

My name is Joey, and I am a spray paint artist based in Colorado. This form of art captivates me. Having been a spray paint artist for two years, the moment I held a spray can, I became addicted; that’s when my art truly awakened and my passion flared. Read more>>

Travis Hatch | Owner, at Travis Hawkes Media | Denver Video Production

From a young age, I’ve always been fascinated by the power of storytelling and its impact on people. I would have movies that I really loved, and would watch them over and over again. Storytelling is the oldest artform, and for a long time was really the only way of passing on information. Read more>>