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.

Kelsey Witt | Painter, Writer, and Designer.

Creativity is a muscle. It needs exercise in some aspect everyday. Picking a creative career was just my inherent reaction when I was forced to pick a major in my undergrad. I had been an artist since I was a kid, so whether I wanted to admit it or not, I was always going to walk a career path including art or writing in some aspect. I’m so glad that I went with my gut, even if looking back, it wasn’t always the easiest career path. I am a creative through and through. I chose art, but sometimes I think art chooses people. It definitely chose me back. Read more>>

Karina Krisher | Potter

I started working with clay when I was struggling with postpartum depression with 2, 2 and under. I knew I needed a mental break. My Grammy encouraged me to work on a project that couldn’t be undone in minutes. What we do as moms is so important. However, there are a lot of tasks that are repetitive in nature, so some days it felt like I never got anything fully finished, when there will always be more laundry and dishes. I had no idea that starting a simple hobby to help my mental health would eventually turn into a business that would help support our family. Read more>>

Lauren Beale | Movement artist, improviser, contemplative embodiment teacher

Disclaimer…I am answering this more as a wandering reflection on creativity as a life/human practice… Because I can’t remember a time in which I have not felt intrinsically called to attune to creative aliveness and the way in which creative aliveness attunes me, guides my attention, wakes me up, moves me, orients my choice-making and connects me to the world. Read more>>

Jana DONOHOE | Interior Designer

I pursued a career in interior design because I have always been passionate about creating spaces that not only look beautiful but also function seamlessly to enhance people’s lives. There’s something incredibly satisfying about knowing that the work I do can positively impact someone’s daily life. Read more>>

Kai Moth | Cosplayer, Photographer, & Freelance Artist

I’ve always had a knack for art and creativity ever since I was a little kid, and that passion never went away. I was even a part of some special art programs through schooling, while growing up, like the L.I.S.A. (Loveland Integrated School of the Arts) program, starting from the 4th grade up until I was offered a grant/scholarship for a concurrent enrollment in high-school for college. Art never become a chore as it had a huge impact on my life and was a way of being “free” and expressing myself as well as uplifting and inspiring others, which are all things I highly value. I had left art for a short while as it is a difficult path to make a career out of, however as my health began to take a turn I spent a long 4 years undergoing many doctors visits and testing to find out I had developed a chronic illness making having a typical “day to day” job a struggle. Because of this I started to turn back to art and freelancing, being able to work off my own schedule and limits, as my health could grow to be unpredictable each day. It was hard to get on track at first especially because of where it had put me mentally, but I’ve never been happier to be back to what felt like my calling and something that had always been a major part in my life. I always felt art was my freedom, but I never imagined it would be so in such a way like this. Read more>>