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.

Jordan Diamond | Hairstylist

There’s something so beautiful about the ability to make people feel like the best version of themselves! Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been drawn to empowering other women through hair and skin. Being able to use my creativity to paint someone’s hair, and see her confidence skyrocket afterwards, is absolutely a dream come true. I got so lucky, because the team that I work with at CrazyBeautiful Hair are masters at making people look as amazing on the outside as they are on the inside! Read more>>

Kathleen Hudson | Visual Artist

Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career? It wasn’t my initial plan, to be honest. I studied history & literature in college and planned to apply to law school. But I loved painting and knew pursuing a career as a visual artist was my dream job, so after some self-reflection in my final semester, I decided to go for it. I figured I could apply to law school later if painting didn’t pan out for me. Read more>>

Molly Seeling | Videographer & Photographer for passionate brands

Honestly, I couldn’t see myself doing anything that didn’t have an element of creativity! It’s in my bones. There’s no avoiding it. In any project I’ve been involved in, I’m always on the lookout for ways to dial in the visuals or enhance the mood through design or styling. I can’t stop looking at the sun-drenched pockets of light and shadow around me. Creating art is not always an easy way to make a living, but it’s worth it – especially if, like me, you just can’t turn it off. Read more>>

Zachary Blake | Cinematographer/Analog Photographer

The why. Well the short answer is that I felt incomplete. The only way to explain the “why” is to go back and give you a little backstory and a peak into my personal life. It was December 2017 and I was just getting back from my second tour in Afghanistan with the US Army Special Forces. I was a Special Forces Communications Sergeant with SFOD-A 0222 at that time. Now that I was back and had some time off with my family I realize that I am not the same. I didn’t know exactly how of course, but looking back I can now see that I was decending into substance and alcohol abuse. I needed to fill time without filling a glass. Read more>>

Lily VinCola | Founder of Lucky Chance Label

I think the creative industry pursued me. I can’t think of a time where I wasn’t creating, designing, or finding inspiration in the little things around me. Fashion, art, photography, and other creative outlets have been such a big part of my life since I can remember, I honestly couldn’t see myself in any other field of work. I firmly believe that you should love what you do, and I was having a hard time picking which creative outlet I wanted to pursue, so I decided— why not do them all? Being able to create what I want and share it with others is the only career I could see myself doing. I’m a senior at the University of South Carolina right now , so I’m not sure where this business will take me after, but I love what I do and I’m excited to see where it takes me! Read more>>

Paul Johnson | Recording Artist / Songwriter

Music has always been a part of my life and got it’s hooks in me from a very early age. That said, it was around the time I was a teenager and started writing songs that I really dug in on a deeper level. Songwriting feels like language of expression that is so much more three dimensional than any other way I’ve known to articulate an emotion, thought or experience. It took me many years to find my artistic voice, and to be honest I feel like that discovery and evolution should never truly end, but now that I have the privilege of sharing music with the Canyon City audience I try to stay rooted in that internal experience first, and then hope that as a bonus it will be something of value to others as well. Read more>>

Ryan Binkley | Frontman & Songwriter

I wouldn’t say that I *pursued* in the past tense, more that I am pursuing. It is an ongoing process that I don’t believe will have a particular end in sight. In my case, I started a band at seventeen, and I did that largely for personal reasons. I was going through a deep depression at the time, dealing with a lot of uncertainty and general angst. The band was – and is – an outlet for that. I know that music certainly has and continues to help me through difficult times, and if my music can resonate with someone going through something the way that so many artist’s music has resonated with me, then I feel I’ll have accomplished something worthwhile. That’s what I pursue this creative career. Read more>>

Tiffany Starrett | Artist

My about the artist story is more than just words. In 2017, I experienced a tragedy that forever changed my life. My daughter, Ally, was murdered at the age of 18. Through all the emotional madness, the only obvious thing to me was finding a way to thrive in life again. However, my path of what that meant was unclear. Through my survival, I’ve realized that being an artist from a young age would show me the way. Better said, a long-time hobby had been preparing me all along, teaching me a healing art. My life journey is now re-directed into teaching others that turning tragedy into triumph is possible and helping others capture a special memory, or an echo, through life or death. Read more>>

Michelle Nelson | Artist & Life Journeys Coach

Throughout my life, I’ve identified as an artist even as other labels felt too limiting. In general, categories are too confining. Not so with “creative” ; anything is possible! It became a mission in life for finding a way to blend work with what I love. Art represents the beauty, creativity, expression, exploration, and most importantly, it helps me piece together that which cannot be spoken or related in any other ways. Read more>>