We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Elaine Callahan | Artist, Graphic Designer & Soul-Led Business Consultant

Why did you decide to pursue a creative path? I’ve always been creative since I can remember. However, I haven’t always fully embraced the value of the creative path even though I have been a graphic designer my entire career. Read more>>

Alex Odnoralov | Visual Artist & Painter

Art is something I’ve always known. I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil. Through out my childhood and teen years I would use almost all my free time to either paint or sketch. I’ve always had a natural pull towards art and creativity. Read more>>

Kelley Franek | Flow Artist & Fire Performer

When my twin sister Kayla and I were in highschool we would go to a lot of concerts and music festivals. My sister would always go up and bother the gogo dancers and ask if we could get up and try it, she almost got us on the stage one time! Read more>>

A Lack of Champions | Punk Rock band from Denver/Centennial/Loveland, Colorado

One person honestly can’t speak for everyone of course. Personally, from my (Shane Bischoff) experience, I have long admired the art form of Rock n’ Roll. From idolizing AC/DC and KISS as an adolescent to discovering Punk Rock through Nirvana, The Sex Pistols, Black Flag, and Dead Kennedys, the music and performance have always spoken to me and wanted me to do it myself. Read more>>

Shara Johnson | Writer & Photographer

I guess the most honest answer is that I couldn’t not pursue writing and photography. I’ve been drawn to writing for as long as I can remember. Even in second grade, we had an assignment to write a biography for a class booklet, and were given a 6″x8″ piece of paper to fill. Some kids wrote a couple sentences. Some kids filled the page. Read more>>

Kennon Fleisher | Art Director / Motion Designer

Honestly, I never wanted to do anything else. I always wanted to pursue a career in something I genuinely had fun with; which for me was visual story telling through video production and design. Read more>>

Mr. Mota | Band

We have all been music fanatics since we can remember. Members Rosen and Brendan Lamb have been performing live music for years. Rosen has had success as a solo artist in recent years releasing popular singles and recently his debut album “William”. Willie Vogel has played a lot over his life, but only by himself. Read more>>

Sholo Beverly | Artist Sholo-activist, muralist, mixed media artist on a mission. I would prefer not to use my last name if possible

I have always been an artist from a very young age. I use to kiss walls so that I could make it look like wallpaper. My mother was a plant lover, and an interior decorator in her spare time. I always felt like the only way people were going to listen to me was through my art. my parents knew when I was sad or happy just by looking at my art. I liked being able to say what I wanted without words. Read more>>

Paprika Leaverton | Magician/Filmmaker/Juggler of Life

The journey of creation fulfills me endlessly in my mind, body and soul. I find creation of performance and films fills me up like no other. I’m the lucky one to be able to have these blessings in my life as fun and as work. I pursued filmmaking/ TV Production as a choice for a degree from Texas Tech. I was intrigued by the ability to tell stories through the visual medium and the possibility of travel and adventure. Read more>>

Austin Searcy | Photographer

Since a child, I’ve always thrived on the pursuit of creating. Making something that connects people. Creation, whether it be a photograph, a song, a piece of furniture, an article of clothing…all of it puts out a frequency for others to resonate with. That frequency is what brings us together through a common love. Connection is what ignites fire within me, which is why I will always pursue that which gives me life. Read more>>

Otho Eskin | Playwright and Writer

After I finished college and law school, as well as a short stint in the Army, I joined the United States Foreign Service. For the next twenty years or so I served in US embassies abroad and in the State Department in Washington, DC. Read more>>