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.

Cristina Bowes

When I was younger, I honestly thought I’d end up in New York, camera in hand, chasing the dream of becoming a photographer. But life has a funny way of changing your plans, and thankfully, it led me to meet an incredible man, and we built a life together with three beautiful kids. While my path shifted in ways I hadn’t expected, my creativity never really went away. I would channel it through projects around the house—painting fun designs for our bedrooms, redoing old furniture, and transforming our home into something that felt uniquely ours. Read More>>

Joey Howard

I’ve always been drawn to creativity in different forms, whether it was songwriting, content creation, or storytelling. That passion led me to pursue a degree in Marketing Management & Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University, where I learned how to combine creative thinking with strategic business approaches. Read More>>

Ty Dannenbring

My day job is actually a Financial Advisor. I love many aspects about that job. However, now that I am co-authoring a book, a number of doors are opening that have allowed me to create again. I am 37 years old and my wife is graciously giving me the space to dream a little bit through this book endeavor. I recently started taking guitar lessons too alongside my oldest son. Some might call it a “mid-life crisis” but I am trying to wisely do some of the things I have always wanted to do without “quitting my day job.” Read More>>

Tarenly Schmida

I chose a career in styling because it allows me to embrace my creativity and passion every day. I love the freedom to express myself, explore new ideas, and create meaningful work that resonates with others. The corporate world, while stable, felt too limiting and restrictive for me. I didn’t want to be confined to a rigid structure or routine. Instead, I wanted to follow my heart, take risks, and pursue a path that truly excites and fulfills me. Being an artist gives me the opportunity to constantly learn, grow, and inspire others, which is exactly what I was looking for in a career. Read More>>

Amanda Lelo

I’m currently a full-time teacher, specializing in K-6 Physical Education, and I absolutely love my job. I relocated to Denver from Chicago in the summer of 2017 and quickly immersed myself in the hiking community. I began capturing photos of my adventures, sharing them with friends and family back home. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I turned to hiking as my form of escape and purchased my first camera—a Sony Alpha 6000.  Read More>>

 Cassie Chacon

I grew up always doing my nails. I loved it. I was constantly changing my nails. Mixing nail colors, trying out different nail designs, and layering nail polish. When I was in middle school we went to Warren tech on a field trip. I fell in love with hearing about the nail tech course. I learned so much. I started my career as a senior in high school. Being in the beauty industry has been a lot of fun. I love how the trends are always changing, there’s so many options out there, from colors, nail art designs, and products. I love creating something fun on people’s nails, that makes them feel good about themselves. Read More>>

Rachel Degutz

I pursed competing on American Ninja Warrior because I believed I had a strong athletic potential I needed to realize. Once I reached college, I stopped competing in sports I participated in as a child like field hockey, gymnastics, and track. I felt I had more potential and I needed to it prove to myself. Knowing I was capable of achieving something greater, I found a ninja warrior gym and everything fell into place. I took this opportunity and set a goal worth working towards, to hit a buzzer on American Ninja Warrior. Read More>>