Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Jennifer Willoughby | Magpi Finds Native Colorado Artist

I don’t believe that I ever made a conscience choice to have a creative career. Creativity has always been intrinsic to my life and a critical means of survival. My imagination was a byproduct of my efforts to embrace the absurdities of my environment. Read more>>

Danelle Hancock | Ceramic artist, creating bold and beautiful artwork for your everyday use

Growing up, I never really knew where I would fit in. I worked many jobs, and was very successful, moving up with every company, but I was never really happy with that success. In the mess of growing up and trying to find a career, I had actually forgotten about finding something I truly loved. I was focusing more on tolerating a job enough to make the paycheck worth it, because, BILLS. Read more>>

Alessandra Weaver | Photographer and Multidisciplinary Artist

Self-expression and empowering representation is critical. I have always been interested in how effectively the arts allow us to authentically express ourselves as individuals and how in turn that can grant us the ability to better communicate with each other, heal, and grow- whether independently or collectively. Read more>>

Srujana Nimmagadda | Calligrapher & Hand Engraver

I have always had an interest in the arts, and even wanted to be a graphic designer or animator when I was in college. However, I got an engineering degree and currently have a very busy career as an aerospace engineer. I love my work, and the fact that very few people have gotten to do some of the things I’ve done, like travel to remote corners of the world and launch rockets into space. But despite all that, I felt like I needed a creative outlet to balance out the highly technical demands of my day job. Read more>>

Kelly Dale Smith | Artist

My whole life I have truly thrown myself into my art. It has become a major part of my soul, however until I was a junior in high school I did not think that it would be possible to make a career out of it. This was due mostly to societal pressure, and the fact that artistic degrees and careers are not valued as high as most quintessential paths. Read more>>