Do you ever wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a more standard path? Does everyone have these doubts sometimes? We wanted to find out and so we asked as many talented artists and creatives as we could and have shared highlights below.

DeAnna Charett

I am very happy as an Actress, Producer, Locations Scout and an Assistant Locations Manager. It gives me the challenges I thrive for and at the same time I can see how my daily job is making a difference for me and others. Because of my military service connected disabilities, I have a problem maintaining a “regular job”. Read more>>

Celene Arvizu

I am an artist AND I’ve always had what would be considered a “regular job”. Like many creatives, I have several passions and skills. Each professional role I have had was, and is, always rooted in creativity. Read more>>

James Harker

I absolutely love my work and am always so grateful that I’ve managed to make a living with only music-related work. I definitely find myself struggling with the idea of getting a “normal job,” though. I’m always joking that if anything ever happened and I needed to give up music, I’d want to be a mailman, haha. Seems like a nice time, walking around delivering mail, running from the neighborhood dogs. Plus they give you a cool outfit. Read more>>

Meral Yalcinkaya

I graduated from a good European university with a double major in fine arts. The first is Interior architecture, the second is ceramics and glass. After graduating, I did many projects in interior architecture. I worked as an interior designer in a world-famous furniture company. Read more>>

Nancy Florkowski

My life as a creative artist has taken many forms, beginning as an actor in community theatre and commercials, then teaching drama in the middle school, while simultaneously establishing a youth theatre as part of a masters degree in theatre for children, and followed by teaching an arts related class at Wayne State University. Teaching in a public school and public university are paid positions, while my work at Motor City Youth theatre has been and is mostly as a volunteer. Read more>>

Soheil Goharipour

I am genuinely happy as an artist, particularly as a filmmaker and cinematographer. The prospect of a regular, perhaps ‘boring’ job doesn’t appeal to me because being an artist allows me to tap into my creativity and explore diverse aspects of the world. The moments when I’m immersed in thinking about new stories and figuring out how to bring a script to life visually are incredibly fulfilling. Read more>>

Maxwell Haman

I am very happy to be apart of Bryce n Beans. It not only serves as an outlet for creative activity and inspiration, but lifelong friends and relationships as well. Our job is unlike any other. It not only requires hard work and perseverance, but also the ability to create and perform under stressful situations or sometimes uncomfortable environments. Read more>>

Desiree Tay

Being an artist was something I knew I wanted to do since I was really little. So far, It’s been a journey of self-discovery and creative expression that often defies conventional career norms. Read more>>

Heather Nation

Happiness is a strange pursuit when it comes to being a professional artist. I believe I exist in this melancholic middle ground. There is something to be said about the timeless struggle of an artist, but I also believe we earn happiness, and we deserve every single second of our happiness. Read more>>

Lou Bosch

I am happy as an artist. It is challenging and mentally exhausting at times as well as emotionally. I do wonder what it’s like to have a regular job because most of my friends do and they’re successful and pretty well of money wise already. It’s good for them but it does create this chip on my shoulder for me. Read more>>

Lorraine Padgett

I am currently in the middle of quitting my regular 9-5 job as I write this. Not because I plan to pursue being an artist full-time (at least not yet), but because it wasn’t fulfilling me. It was draining me, and draining my creative spirit. I’ve been a creative my entire life, from the time I was coming up with stories using random objects around the house as a child, to when I got my first camera at 12, to when I started writing fictional stories on my mom’s laptop. Read more>>

Michael Coppage

Yes! I’m thrilled to be a working artist. I took 10 years off after graduate school and worked a regular job. I worked two jobs as a matter of fact. When I wasn’t working, I was traveling abroad. I believed I was always an artist and figured out ways to center art in my job(s). The first job was in a hospital. Read more>>

Michelle Carney

For a short time, I lived a beautiful and simple life as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher. I’ll admit that I sometimes fantasize about the normalcy that came along with it. How nice it was to have a constant sense of stability and predictability. That being said, I wouldn’t trade my life as a model and actress for anything. Read more>>

Kim Winder

I’m incredibly happy to make a living using my creativity but I won’t sugar coat how it can be just as stressful like a regular job. I was making the comic on my free time while working as an office manager for a plumbing company. I was unexpectedly let go and rallied to make the comics work. I got lucky and it did. Read more>>

Juelz Velasquez

I’ve been in the military, had jobs in hospitality, customer service, security, food delivery and right now a side hustle as a tour guide. Let me tell you none of those made/make me as happy as doing what I do as a creative. Plus being my own boss is pretty cool! Is it difficult? Absolutely, ESPECIALLY as a startup. I’m losing more money than anything, but not only do I know it’s only for a moment, but I love what I do so much it doesn’t really bother me. Read more>>

Bailee (Wren) Case

I think this is a really loaded question and one I think about often. “Am I happy as an artist?” I don’t think a simple yes or no can justify the answer. Growing up, I always wanted to be an artist. I didn’t exactly know what they meant, what my life would look like, or what I’d have to do to get to that career goal, but it’s all I’ve ever wanted. Read more>>

Charlie Rugg

This has been an ongoing internal battle for me. I’ve had an unusual career path to becoming an artist. At age 27 an enormous piece of my identity essentially disappeared when I stopped playing professional soccer. That destruction of self in adulthood forced me to really ask myself who I am and who I want to do in the world. Read more>>

Kharis Collins

As A creative There are always challenges, especially when it comes to an income. I always abide by giving advice that I will take myself. The advice is simply Do what you love first and then the income will come into fruition. My faith keeps me grounded and disciplined. Read more>>

Yi Xu

I find immense joy in being an artist. I dedicate almost seven days a week to my work in the studio. While pursuing a career as an artist may seem nebulous and unconvincing to many, it demands a significant investment of time and effort. The results of hard work in this field are often subtle and gradual, visible only to the artist themselves over time. Read more>>

Rigoberto Alvarado

I had the opportunity to try out a regular job at a small sushi restaurant, thanks to my friendly relationship with the owner. I made this decision purely out of curiosity about the process, at a point in my life when I didn’t need the job, as I was comfortably sustaining myself through my music productions. Read more>>

Zaro Vega

This is a good question because I know there’s two sides to the answer. I am most definitely happy as an artist in the different creative fields I’m involved in. It truly is everything I asked for when it comes to my profession. Since I was a little kid, this was always where my focus went into. Read more>>

Raquel Redd

“Happy” isn’t the right word. It’s more about belonging or knowing your purpose the brings the real satisfaction. I don’t wonder about a regular job because what I do is a “regular job.” It’s funny to me working as an artist/creative isn’t immediately viewed as a job, let alone a “regular job.” Maybe because it begins as a hobby that you can carve out a career path for yourself. Read more>>

Aaro

There’s no short answer for this… we all know life is full of so many ups and downs! There’s been a lot of extreme highs and lows throughout my career but at the end of the day I’m so grateful and blessed to be able to channel it all through my music. I have always had such an undying passion for the art of making songs and I’m so happy to have music be the driving force in my life. Read more>>

Denise Cook

Having had a many different “regular” jobs over the years, I am happiest working in the field of creative arts. I had jobs ranging from bank courier, catalog representative, retail assistant manager, hotel housekeeper to body piercer. I’m very grateful for the experiences I had on my journey to find a career in something I could grow and excel in that, at the same time, did not feel like work. Read more>>

Reign Drop

Being a full time creative is a life full of constant changes. I am currently a dancer, choreographer, stage manager, and theatre technician working in Chicago and every week my schedule holds an exciting new element. While the changes can keep things lively, the lack of stability can start to weigh on you. Read more>>