We’ve been asking this question to a lot of artists over the years, and it turns out everyone comes to creativity in their own unique way! Here’s how just ten of our favorite artists first realized art and creativity were their future.
Jennifer Lee
“My parents still have one of my scribbles from preschool … they like to say that’s where it all started, says Jennifer Lee, known as CloverleafPie. “It was always a dream of mine to be do art as my career once I grew up, and I’m so happy I’ve achieved just that.” Read the full interview below:
Lauren Martin
“I always felt that making art was a calling … but my cousin’s influence definitely set me on that path very early,” says Lauren Martin. “[She] moved in with my family to go to [art school] when I was four … seeing her pursue a career in the arts made me realize that I could [too].” Read the entire interview with her below:
Claudia Ramos
“I was that kid who spent hours looking at art books … and I would get so excited to enter kids’ magazines’ art contests,” says Claudia Ramos. “I was always doodling – sometimes so much that I got in trouble for drawing on books I probably shouldn’t have!” Read the entire interview with her below:
Ethan Castillo
“The second I started showing interest in comics … [my dad and I] would visit local comic conventions,” says Ethan Castillo. “I feel very lucky to be able to work with characters and licenses that I grew up loving.” Read the entire interview with him below:
Lara Pickle
“Ever since I was very young, I spent all my time drawing … and creating my own stories,” says Lara Pickle. “I’ve always just loved drawing, so I never really considered doing anything else.” Read the entire interview with her below:
Marlowe Dobbe
“Some of my earliest memories of getting ‘serious’ about drawing was when I [decided] to draw every Pokémon from Pokémon Gold and Silver when it came out,” says Marlowe Dobbe. “Basically, I’ve been drawing since I could hold a crayon.” Read the entire interview with her below:
Tyler Pate
“I’ve always gravitated toward art as a child … but the real turning point was when I picked up skateboarding,” says Tyler Pate. “[The] graphics, styles, and voices … decks, T-shirts, stickers – all of it. That’s when I knew I wanted to create visual art in a way that spoke to people.” Read the entire interview with him below:
Mike Reese
“I started out as a traditional artist when I was young. I drew all the time, and I took a lot of art classes … [including] architecture,” says Mike Reese. “I originally thought I wanted to be an architect, but … I started using 3D software … and I realized I really liked doing the 3D side of things.” Read the entire interview with him below:
Ana Carolina
“I was the kind of child who wanted colored pencils for Christmas instead of toys,” says Ana Carolina. “When I was of college age, I wanted to be a 2D concept artist for games – until I tried [3D sculpting software] ZBrush for the first time. I was hooked and completely pivoted.” Read the entire interview with her below:
Lynn Chen
“I have always loved drawing … I even remember deciding I wanted to be an animator when I was 8 or 9 years old!” says Lynn Chen. “It’s amazing looking back: somehow I actually stayed on this path and still really enjoy it.” Read the entire interview with her below:
Oksana Nedavniaya
“I have always been drawn to visual arts … My grandmother … enrolled me into the art studio when I was about eight years old … It was absolutely magical,” says Oksana Nedavniaya. “I knew I was born to [be a visual artist], and I never looked back.” Read the entire interview with her below:
