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.

Mason Anne Hegeman | fiber artist & tattoo artist

I am pursuing a creative career because making has always come intuitively to me. I was very lucky to have art teachers that fed my creative curiosity from a young age and parents that supported me. I decided in 2nd grade I was going to be a recycled artist and nobody ever told me, “no, not an option”. I have a way of turning any project into an art project, it’s how my brain interacts with the world. I believe that committing to an artistic career is committing to curiosity. Read more>>

Ethan Mentzer | Coach & Creative Entrepreneur

I think we’re all born artists with a creative spark. It’s part of who we are, but somewhere along the way, society tells us it’s not enough—so we lose that connection to our inner child, to the thing that makes us feel alive. For me, the creative path became a way to heal. I was stuck in self-destructive patterns, battling substance misuse, and in 2020, I made a very important choice to get sober, stop self-destructing and start creating. That decision has sent me on an incredible journey I couldn’t have planned or predicted, and it’s been the most transformative experience of my life. Read more>>

Mike Dimartino | Owner and Design

It’s in my blood. My parents were artists and they were “D.I.Yer’s” before the acronym existed. They both worked at home out of a Double Dutch barn and we traveled to art shows like we were on tour! Ha! Needless to say, sleeping next to a bunch of electronic parts feels normal. Read more>>

Curtis Bodiker | Musician, Actor, & Educator

Since I was really young, I have always had a deep love for music and theatre. As I got older and began to learn how to sing, act, and play guitar, I discovered that being an artist not only brought me a lot of joy, but I also had the opportunity to share that joy with others. It is the reason why I became an artist and why I continue to create through my music. To give people an outlet to feel their emotions fully and truthfully. Read more>>

Nanci Hersh | Professional Artist

I’ve alway loved art and making things. Both of my grandmothers were creative, one taking art classes in painting and sculpture and the other owning and running a women’s millinery business with fabulous women’s hats. She also taught me how to crochet and bought me my first sewing machine. Read more>>

Espr | Multi talented content creator

I’ve always been very creative. I come from a family of artists, so art & creativity has always been a part of my life. My big brother, Junior, would draw comic books when we were younger. It was something I loved about my brother. My mom has always been a creative person, I grew up watching her remodel our homes. She can always turn something ugly, into something beautiful. My Grandma Carmen, would make piñatas, crochet clothes and hats, sew dresses, and create decorations for parties. Read more>>