Deciding to pursue an artistic or creative career path isn’t for the faint of heart. Challenges will abound, but so many of the artists we speak with couldn’t be happier with their choice. So, we asked them about how they made the decision in the first place.

Kelly Richey | Musician, Performer & Teacher

People often ask why I chose the life of an artist, and my answer is always the same—I didn’t choose it; it chose me. Being an artist is at the core of who I am, offering me the freedom to pursue my dreams and navigate life’s journey. Growing up in a strict Southern Baptist community, I wrestled with my identity amidst the challenges of dyslexia and ADHD. Although I played piano and drums, it wasn’t until I was handed my first guitar at age 15 that a fire was truly lit within me. Read more>> 

Johnny Woods | Stand up comedian & Host of The Morning Woods Podcast

I’ve always wanted to be a performer, since I was a boy, I acted in school plays and even auditioned for Disney though at the time they said I was too chubby to be an actor, this also happened to me later in college when my student advisor asked that I drop my theater class and go to school to be a stage hand instead. Before I was a comedian I was a rapper and producer but I never had any real success with that other than opening for Lil Wyte and Riff Raff. Read more>> 

Chrysee Hinshaw | Baker and sometimes school psychologist

I worked a demanding and stressful career in special education as a psychologist. I started baking and selling macarons on the side in 2019, mostly for fun. After COVID started, and I was forced to work less as a psychologist (and remotely when I did), I started to realize how much of a toll the work had been having on me. I have not returned to my career full time as a result and now spend significantly more time on my microbakery. It has made the single biggest impact on my mental health, moreso than therapy or pharmaceuticals. Read more>>