Deciding to pursue an artistic or creative career path isn’t for the faint of heart. Challenges will abound, but so many of the artists we speak with couldn’t be happier with their choice. So, we asked them about how they made the decision in the first place.

Victoria Samuel | Wildlife Photographer and Growing Naturalist

I have always leaned toward the arts. Early in life it was more performative arts. Then life became about being practical. However, nature holds a special place in my heart. After some challenging life circumstances in a marriage that left me depleted of self, I bought my first camera and reclaimed my life. Just being outdoors spurred the positive energy that sent me a new path. Passion for Nature and Wildlife, with a camera in hand, gave me creative purpose. Read more>>

Daniel Mateo Florez | Musician and music instructor

It’s actually been a pretty recent development! I’ve been playing the guitar for 17 years but was a software engineer by trade for about 8 years. Since around 2014 or so, I started getting into making surf rock covers of video game music but only started ramping up around 2017 after joining OverClocked Remix and Pixel Mixers, two online communities for creating covers of video game music. Since then, I started taking music more seriously but still as a hobby. However, around the time of the pandemic, I ended up getting enough clout that I started being asked to perform live. At first, it was through online streaming but eventually I had my first real life gig since university at VGMCon 2021. Read more>> 

Katie White | Visual Artist, Metalsmith

Working in atmospheres that require passion, drive, and authenticity have always been attractive to me. Almost every job I’ve had has been for small businesses, artists, or unconventional of sorts so deciding to dive deeper into metalsmithing began to come naturally. Over the years I’ve found myself increasingly fascinated by many crafts, trades and skills especially if it’s art or nature related. Days have been constructed more about what I can do to keep my hands busy which in turn has created a larger peace of mind. Healing and creativity go pretty hand and hand so how lucky am I to create daily for a living! All in all art and creativity have fully become a way of life because it needed to be. Read more>>

Michael Jenney | Creative Writer & Pop Culture Examiner

I have been enthralled with the entertainment industry since I was in elementary school. My room was covered in movie posters, ticket stubs, album covers and all things pop culture until I left for college in 2003. I even wrote movie reviews in a journal, kept the stub and planned on being a movie critic when I grew up, which I wrote in my journal on March 17, 1998, after seeing and reviewing Big Daddy with Adam Sandler. I feel like you are born with the creative gene, whether it be writing, acting, sales, etc. Yes, one can pursue more education and learn from others, but I believe I was born with a talented gift; you either have it or not. I never pursued my dreams proactively due to the fact that I was in and out of heavy drinking for fifteen years. Read more>>

Shea Wasson | Owner/Cocktail Chef

I wanted to show people just how fun and creative a cocktail, beer cocktail or mocktail can be all by utilizing fresh ingredients. I also love playing around with fun, unique garnishes such as flavored cocktail air, spicy tuiles to homemade rimming salts. Whether we know it or not, we all eat and drink with our eyes so it’s all about the garnish game. Read more>>

Barbara Redlin | Bridal Seamstress

What started as just helping a friend out with a heavy load of work turned into a business of my own. She saw a talent (“gift”) in me that I didn’t see in myself and really encouraged me to keep working on my skills to go out on my own.
I had previously owned a cleaning business in another state but it was very hard physically and not as financially rewarding so when this opportunity presented itself I had to seriously consider it. Read more>>

Angelina Nguyen | Baker & Cake Decorator

I pursued an artistic career because of how much I fell in love with cake decorating. I started off as a team member at Baskin Robbins, but when I got the opportunity to become a cake decorator, I discovered how much I enjoyed it. After a few months in, I started sharing the cakes I made for myself and friends on my cake account, which eventually led to orders from word of mouth and mutual connections. What I love most is being able to create something so aesthetically pleasing that people can also enjoy for their own celebrations. It’s inspiring to know my work contributes to their special moments, and it pushes me to keep growing creatively! Read more>>

Shane Brown | Family and Senior Photographer in Lakewood, Colorado

I knew I wanted some sort of a career in photography as soon as Alexis Clements began speaking, she would quickly become one of my favorite instructors I’ve ever been taught by. I was taking an intro to digital photography class at Red Rocks Community College, planning on working towards a graphic design degree. It wasn’t long after the semester begin when Alexis introduced me to the works of Sally Mann and Annie Leibovitz. I was instantly mesmerized, infatuated, and in love with their portrait work! As I was experiencing life as a father for the first time Sally Mann’s documentary work absolutely resonated with me. I wanted to document my child in the same candid, honest, and hauntingly beautiful way, exploring existence, family, and mortality the way Mann was able to. Read more>>