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.

Jessica Dory

Viewing the world through an artistic lens is something I have done since I was a child and I have always enjoyed being creative and creating visual imagery. In college I earned a Bachelor of Fine Art and that process of not only creating and showing work but also going through peer review and critiques was foundational to honing my visual aesthetic. Read More>>

Rachel Lynch, Griffin Wade

Rachel – The short answer is “because I thought I could”. The long answer is a little more complicated. I originally pursued a big kid job since I had worked so hard for my Bachelor’s degree in Human Relations. I had only played guitar for fun at that point, and for $15 here and there. I didn’t really know you could make money playing music on a smaller scale. Once I realized that being a musician was actually a job, it seemed like the only thing I was made for. Working for someone else for 40+ hours a week had made me depressed and anxious.  Once I started networking a little more and found my groove within the Oklahoma City music scene, I was exhausted from playing shows until 1am and then waking up for my corporate job at 6am. Read More>>

Stephanie Oliver

I had always had a passion for art but decided to peruse a career in science and technology. In 2008 I was hospitalized for three weeks and given a life changing diagnosis. Afterwards I had hand tremors so bad I couldn’t write my own name. I decide to take art classes to improve my hand strength. That lead me to the classes at the Denver Botanic Gardens School of Botanical Art & Illustration. The combination of scientific accuracy and art was fascinating to me.  Read More>>

Amber Frazier, Amber Williams Amber & Amber Co.

We both started as Holistic Nutrition Therapists. But quickly realized there was a missing link between telling our clients what to do and them not having the time or desire to make food that supported their nutritional needs. Because of this, we were not feeling fulfilled with the hands off approach and hated spending more time on our computers than we wanted. So we decided to provide for clients in a different, more creative and tangible way– by providing healthy food that tastes, looks and makes you feel amazing! Read More>>

Sarah Campano

Often I feel like I woke up one day and had 4 projects without really planning on it! While I certainly didn’t anticipate or set out to have my own business, music project, or event series – I can see how I’ve been planning with my intentions all along. I just try to surround myself with people and opportunities that help me amplify support to people no matter the medium. With Somatix and the harm reduction work we do, with playing music myself, with helping to plan events for other people to play – Read More>>

Adriana Flores

I chose to pursue a creative career because I did not wanna work for anyone else. I wanted to be my own boss. I also enjoy expressing myself through my work, and I think being an esthetician shows that and im very passionate about making others feeling good in the community! Read More>>

Leeahd Goldberg

You know, this is such a tricky question because it’s somehow both incredibly simple and incredibly complicated.

On one hand, I’m a huge believer in freedom of choice and self-determination — the idea that we all get to carve our own path. And yet, despite knowing there were countless other options out there, I’ve honestly never felt like anything but a creative career was on the menu for me. Read More>>

Jodi Miller

For me it felt as if there was no other choice, in a good way. I’m lucky enough to have grown up with this passion for interior design. My first year in college I did pursue a different career path but it didn’t take long to realize that I wanted to act on this passion of mine and turn it into a career. I’ve always been told by my father that if I love what I do, I won’t work a day in my life. That sounded pretty good to me so that’s what I went after. Read More>>