What's Your Why? - SHOUTOUT COLORADO

We asked some of the most creative folks we know to open up to us about why they chose a creative career path. Check out their responses below.

Kennyn Blair | Hip Hop Artist O.e Of ColorBlind””

I’ve always wanted to be an artist, since I could remember, but I lacked the confidence when I was young. After traumatic events during 2013-2014, I felt like giving up and turned to alcohol and throwing house parties to feed that addiction. Lucky for me I meet “SeenLoc” an established artist who introduced me to the music/show/ and studio lifestyle. Read more>>

Larry Renner | Photographer

Throughout my life I always loved to experience photographs and never missed the chance to pick-up coffee table photography books wherever possible. My professional life was in corporate America in varied leadership roles in the financial service industry which is what enabled me to visit the Denver area often. Whilst there were so many intellectual and business problem solving opportunities there was a larger part of me living an unsatisfied existence. My move to tragedy was in part due to this lack creativity in the corporate world but by far the biggest push to photography came from the sudden, unexpected loss of my first wife . Her passing left me as a father with a four year old boy, five year old girl and eight year old boy and an infinite amount of grief to try to come to terms with. All of these life changes along with other loss catapulted me to look inward to seek some kind of solace and ways to manage my feelings. Photography became an outlet for me to express myself in ways I was unable to with my words. Read more>>

Piper Arpan McTaggart | Theatrical Performer/Director/Choreographer and Restauranteur

I’ve been passionate about the arts since I can remember. My mom said she knew I was a dancer before I was born from all the kicking she felt when she was pregnant! I started formal dance training at three years old, and that hobby bloomed into a passion that drove most of my life and career decisions. I was admitted to The Florida State University on scholarship, which at the time boasted the number one dance school in the nation. I received a BFA in Dance and a BA in business management before heading off to New York to chase my dreams of performing professionally. Those dreams became a reality as I performed on Broadway, in regional theatres across the country, movies and commercials, and on a National Tour where I met my future husband. Since working in restaurants was always my ‘side hustle,’ and my future-husband’s livelihood, the two of us opened our first restaurant/bar in 2008, and acquired our second one in 2018. My involvement with the restaurants still supports my artistic endeavors, but better than ever since I am now also an owner! Read more>>

Paula Laverty | Photographer

My decision was quite simple. I was listening to a program on NPR when a question was asked: If you were to die tomorrow, what would your biggest regret be. I realized immediately that mine would be that I had not “done anything with my photography”. I started seriously photographing in college and still consider my hours in the dark room to be my favorite part of my college experience. But despite photography having such a big impact on my life from teaching me how to “see” everyday to making connections with the most wonderful creative people my images remained either in my mind or on my computer. Very quickly I took action and enrolled in a mentorship program with an esteemed photographer on Martha’s Vineyard. It is not an easy path as, really, everyone now is a “photograhpher”. Read more>>