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.

Erin Trumble | Jewelry Designer and Lapidary Artist

Being an artist feels like an innate gift. It’s funny to think of pursuing this as a career, mostly because before this I really really tried to pursue other careers. I tried to work in the cooperate box, I tried to really strive in the service industry, and the beauty industry. All of these endeavors felt like I was constantly pushing a boulder up hill. I truly don’t believe that one chooses to become an artist, I think the creative life chooses us. Once I stopped trying to fit into another career, it was like the inner artist was finally able to flow through me. Now, work feels like inner peace. There is a sense that this was always within me, and developing skills and growing this business feels very natural. It’s the gift. Read more>>

Mickkail Cain | Architectural Photographer

When I was 13, my grandma let me shoot her professional camera for the first time and immediately I fell in love. Later that week, I went to a local pawn shop and bought myself a 3-megapixel camera that I took everywhere with me. When I got to high school, I signed up for every photography class that was offered, I joined yearbook, I shot a ton of school events, and even started assisting my photography teacher on his professional work. When I found out that my work was accepted in a county-wide student arts competition and would be displayed at the Palm Springs Art Museum, I knew what I wanted to do when I graduated. Read more>>

Abi Bernstein | Artist, Teacher

Being creative was the first thing I remember being. I loved to dance as a kid and I have always been interested in music. When I discovered ceramics it felt like the perfect mesh of all the things I loved about artistic expression. Movement, intuition, experimentation, play, mess. Clay has a unique ability to become anything if you’re willing to work with it. It sort of has a mind of its own, and sometimes reliable techniques still fail depending on how the clay is feeling. The atmosphere can impact a lot as well. You have to be in tune with yourself, your material, and your environment in order to get something just right. That type of harmony is difficult to find outside of the art world. Read more>>

Christine Wilson | Multi-passionate solopreneur

It was after a period of tremendous challenges, including a health diagnosis, that I had an “Awakening”. It became my passion to encourage and support others during times of hardship, and this is what ignited Reignite Candle Company. Through the process of repurposing glass to use for the containers and using clean ingredients, Reignite became a vessel of providing light to aid in transformation, hope, and healing. Read more>>

Molly Lewison | Floral Designer

A creative career is the only career that challenges me enough to keep my interest. I am someone who has an interest in a lot of different things and owning my own floral design company allows me to wear many hats. Some of the hats I wear really well, some are more challenging, but being able to switch up my role within the day is so great for my brain. I utilize my creative and logical brain everyday and the balance is everything to me. A creative career also pushes me to grow. Art is constantly evolving so I am always on my toes learning new techniques and expanding my knowledge. Read more>>

Justin Capili | Creative Director & Multimedia Producer

Being raised as a first-generation Filipino immigrant, I felt like I had to go to college and get some traditional job that would make a lot of money and make my parents proud. My relatives would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I went from answers like an artist or an astronaut to an RN or anesthesiologist. I think it stemmed from knowing that they had to give up so much just to give me and my brothers the opportunities that they didn’t have. It felt like I needed to make their sacrifice worth it and the easiest answer would be to get a job in medicine. Read more>>

Jp Douvalakis | Professional Adventure Photographer

I chose an artistic career because I knew doing this would allow me to enjoy every day of my life. As a child growing up, I was taught that if i secured a career working creatively I wouldn’t “work” a day in my life. The artistic community is incredibly supportive and diverse and so, collaborating with fellow artists, learning from their experiences, and growing together makes the journey even more enriching. Every day is a learning experience, filled with new challenges and triumphs that keep the passion to continue working alive. In choosing this path, I’ve embraced a life of perpetual curiosity and creativity, where the line between work and play is beautifully blurred. This is more than a career; it’s a way of life that fills my days with purpose, joy, and endless possibilities. Read more>>

Thomas A. Fowler | Filmmaker, Producer, and Creative Director

It’s been in my blood since I was a kid. It’s almost impossible for my brain to stop thinking of stories and ideas. I haven’t been able to find anything else as fulfilling career-wise. Many of the regular jobs I’ve had have been absolutely fine; in fact, many would consider them ideal! However, it doesn’t provide anything close to the high of finishing a script, seeing a cut of a production coming together you’ve poured countless hours into, and no one can take that accomplishment from you. Even if it isn’t perfect, your passion comes through. Read more>>

Anita Salsita | Founder and Owner of Vivalesque LLC

I was born and raised in Laredo, a small town in Texas. In the summer of 2021, I moved to Denver, just as the pandemic was winding down. Shortly after my move, I faced a medical emergency that required surgery to remove a lobe from my lung, leaving me with multiple scars. During my recovery, I spent countless hours bedridden, passing the time with Netflix and social media. One day, I came across an Instagram post about a burlesque school run by a performer at The Clocktower Cabaret, and I decided to sign up on a whim. After weeks of being confined to bed, I was desperate for something—anything—to look forward to. As I delved into the history of burlesque and explored the local scene in Denver, I quickly realized that these performers embodied the essence of body acceptance. Read more>>

Trevor Vogel | Music producer & moderator for Denver EDM Friends

It’s something that makes me happy and gives me purpose. Being a creative let’s me do what I want and explore the deeper aspects of my mind. It also allows me to spread joy in other people’s life whether it’s through my music or by giving people a safe space to express themselves. Read more>>