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.

James Baldwin | Aviation Artist

I have always loved drawing. One of my first memories is sitting with reams of paper on the lounge floor and drawing for hours on end. At school I was bright, but I never felt academic. The only subject I truly loved was art, so I eventually went to art school and got a good degree in Fine Art. But I became disillusioned as I felt there was an inauthentic approach to creativity. I was told what to think and how to paint. Traditional styles and techniques were discouraged and so, for me, drawing, my first love, took a backseat. It took a few years for me to realise that I should do what I love – and it was worth rekindling my passion. As a side hustle, I was drawing motorbikes for Yamaha and Suzuki racing teams. Then a work colleague saw these and asked me if I could draw a Spitfire and word-of-mouth recommendation led to another…and then another…until my aviation art career ‘took off’. Read more>>

Shannon Braxton | Floral Designer

My mom raised my older brother and I as a single parent. She was a barber/hair dresser so she also has a creative side. She kept a tidy home and loved to redecorate often. There was a large department store in the 80’s called Harts and we used to go shopping there for faux flowers for the house and various other things. Somehow we figured out that I had the ability to recreate things for our home for a fraction of the cost a Florist would charge. And so it began! Fast forward to high school, I took a 4 year floral art and design class and I excelled and was given to opportunity to work for a florist when I was 15 and I have been in a flower shop since! Read more>>

Isabella Harris | Entrepreneur & Creative

Ever since I was a young girl, my own curiosity led me to become intrigued by the ability to create. I was often fascinated by different forms of art; whether that be music, paintings, films, fashion, or photographs. Curiosity became a mindful practice for me which allowed me to live in the present moment. I learned over time that the enduring characteristics, values, and interests I possessed were unique and different from those of my peers. This made me feel like I didn’t exactly “fit in” anywhere, and I struggled socially for a period of time. I felt as though society was teaching us all to live the same type of lifestyle, which made me lose myself for years. Pursuing my passions felt impossible, and I honestly viewed myself as a disappointment because I didn’t have the desire to find a “normal job” after graduating college with a bachelor degree of business. As I entered my adulthood, I decided to change the trajectory of my life by healing my inner-child and reminding myself of all those wonderful passions I held close to my heart. I thought to myself, “What’s the point of living if I’m not going to fulfill my soul with a lifestyle that I love, and inspire others to do the same?”. Ever since this realization, I’ve strived to reach my maximum potential through creating art, putting emphasis on both physical and mental health awareness, inspiring others to be happy and healthy, and making a positive impact on this world in any/ every way I can. Read more>>

Hannah Guerin | Game Designer

Coming from a gaming and artistic background, it was to no one’s surprise when I stepped into the Illustration program in undergrad. The difficult part was choosing what I wanted to do with it later. I was interested in the movie and game industries, so I started making plans to become an illustrator/concept artist. However, that did not last long after I took on my first production art job after school. Switching to a digital platform instead of working on paper was exciting, and led me to become a graphic designer in the same company. Read more>>

Lisa Grizaniuk | Painter

I pursued art and specifically painting as a career as there was nothing else I thought about and had wanted to paint I was a young child. Read more>>

C. J. Phillips | Poet

I don’t think I deliberately set out to be a writer. It just sort of happened miraculously. Back in 2020 when the lockdown happened, I found myself, like the rest of the world, trapped in solitude. At the time, I was working full-time as a customer care specialist while also being a part-time college student. And because of the pandemic, I started working and attending my classes remotely. This was a struggle for me because I was so used to always being on the go. Even back in high school, I worked part-time, participated in sports and extracurricular activities outside of school. Even back then, I knew I was keeping myself busy to keep myself distracted from real life struggles. But when the world paused, I could no longer run away from my feelings. There was so much emotion that had built up over the years that just started pouring out of me, and I let it all fall onto paper. I don’t know why I chose to write poems though. I think that’s just what came easiest to me. That year I wrote the majority of my debut collection of poetry, From the Moon to the Sun, which is now available for purchase on Amazon. Read more>>

Frank Hadzima | Painter

I grew up in a household that nurtured creativity so it was natural that I continued to pursue art as I got older. I think there is something truly magical in the process of making a painting. That in combination with the unique humor that comes with painting bizarre internet imagery really packs a punch. Read more>>