The world needs artists and creatives. Unfortunately, being needed doesn’t often easily translate into financial stability. The struggle is real for so many incredibly talented artists and creatives and so we think it’s important to hear from creatives who have made it work – there is so much to learn from the folks we’ve featured below.

Taylor Cox

As a full time wedding photographer and studio own, I have been able to maintain a full-time living from my career passion. I think it’s most important to create attainable goals, that work as a stepping stone toward the larger vision. I think too often, especially in the creative field which is filled with dreamers, the lofty goals that attract us to the industry may deter us from taking any action at all. Read more>>

Sierra Chaffee

As of November 2023, I have been earning a full-time living from my creative work. I started exploring ways to make money as a creative in 2020 when my bar job closed due to the pandemic. I was always a creative person, but in 2020 I decided it was time to sink or swim. I chose to swim, and I moved into a music studio that was a shared community space in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Read more>>

Richae Hassell

I began choreographing professionally at the age of 12. I began teaching dance at the age of 17 to underprivileged youth. During my sophomore year in college my mom, sister and I opened Rhythm & Revue Dance Theatre. That was 8 years ago. Read more>>

Elizabeth Elswick

Growing up I didn’t think it would be possible. I thought I would have to work a regular 9-5 job to survive, and I did that for a while after college. After a few years of getting custom painting requests from family and friends, I started my business. However, I moved pretty slow in making my business my full-time career to make sure it would work. Read more>>

Alix Sloan

I consider myself an author first and foremost, but I don’t earn a full-time living at it – yet. It’s definitely moving in that direction which is very exciting. But even once that happens, I don’t think I’ll ever stop working with other creatives and clients. I’m really fortunate in that all of the work I’m involved in – working with fine artists, book marketing and advertising for other authors, copywriting – is enjoyable and also keeps me connected to other creatives, which is fun and inspiring. Read more>>

Melissa Govea

As a full-time creative, my journey has been a tapestry of exploration and growth. From the early days of uncertainty to the eventual clarity of purpose, each step has woven a unique thread into my artistic narrative. I knew I wasn’t reaching my full potential being bound to multiple jobs but I kept making time for my creative endeavors and was stubborn in a sense to ever give that up. Read more>>

Smash Bruvas

Here’s the real talk about making it in the music: it’s not just about dropping tracks; it’s a hustle, a whole different grind. First off, you gotta vibe with your crowd on a level where they see you, the real you. That’s the foundation right there. If they’re into you, they’re into whatever you’re selling, riding with you through every high and every low. Read more>>

Anna Holden

As a Chemical engineer turned Florida elopement photographer, I’ve trial and errored my way through building a business. For the last 11+ years, I have worked as a materials engineer in the aerospace industry. Two years into my engineering career – already overwhelmed and under appreciated – I remember sitting in my cubicle thinking “this can’t be what it’s all about.” Read more>>

Dakota Gamble

There have definitely been some tough times, especially back during the pandemic. I always found different means to network and freelance my services while also working with several agencies and regular customers before and after Covid but during that time where I wasn’t needed as much I sat down and worked on marketing my demo reel and tailoring my discography so people can see I do more than just take pictures and video on my Sony. Read more>>

Michael Valverde

I started my cinematography career somewhat late in life. I worked in construction after high school, at the time I was going through some personal issues. I always knew that I wanted a career in film, but I felt stuck. After a few years, I finally enrolled in college. The best thing that happened to me was the recession in 2008. Read more>>

Dean Taylor

I used to freelance full-time neatly 5 years ago now, as a photographer and videographer, and I’d describe it as *just* about making ends meet, lol. On the first day, I quit my job at Dough Mama, a cozy local bakery in Columbus, Ohio. With no savings and not much of a plan, I was living in a studio live-work space at Milo Arts, an old school built in 1894. Read more>>

Harrison Steele

Earning a full-time living from my creative work is very rewarding and can also be very challenging. I love to play music and sing and perform for people, which is my primary source of income, but I also have to be careful not to burn myself out playing too often, I’ve learned. I still want to enjoy music at home for myself like how I started out and have creativity left to write and record songs. Read more>>

David Grubb

It’s been a difficult road getting to a place where I could support myself just from my work. The world of sports is not only highly-competitive, but the industry doesn’t pay a lot, so you’re forced to piece together a number of different gigs. I had been making nearly six figures in the corporate world doing public relations and marketing, but I didn’t love it. Read more>>

Shawn Brandon

Well, I’ll say it’s a tough road and just be prepared to not earn much at the beginning. As you build your brand and people get familiar with your work you’ll start getting offered bigger paying jobs. I started at the bottom working with local bands and earning minimal but I gradually worked my way up. As my work got better and I started making industry contacts thats when you start getting offered touring gigs. Read more>>

Bryan McClure

Though the past few years, I have actually been able to live solely off my acting work. If I wanted to, I have still kept my other forms of income. I don’t necessarily think there is anyway I could have sped up my journey to arrive at this place. I have been pursuing it pretty full steam, and it’s all kind of organically built on itself. Read more>>

Etta

None of my stories are very straight forward. And I have a hard time translating thoughts to verbiage at times, that’s why I paint. But here goes. My relationship with my mom was.. well most of you have a mom, you might know. Especially around my love for art and creating and being nonconforming or kind of out there since Day 1. Read more>>

Heather Martin

Yes! Much to my surprise. I had freelanced as a writer and an editor off and on for years but never felt like I had the financial resources or entrepreneurial chutzpah to hang out my own shingle. But in 2007 when I left a job as publisher of a business weekly in Dayton, Ohio, to write curriculum for small, home-based organizational development company, I had the flexibility to start freelancing again. Read more>>

Olivia Leitstein

I’m excited to share this journey on the podcast. My honest truth is that I’m not much of a writer and I don’t feel super comfortable explaining thing is like this via text. It feels much more authentic to me to speak it in real time. Read more>>

Randy Paul

My journey to earning a full-time living from creative work has been a transformative 7-year endeavor. Starting in college, I envisioned a brand that served as a community for extraordinary individuals overcoming significant challenges. Coming from a modest background, there was no clear roadmap to balancing college athletics and academic success. Read more>>

Itzel Islas

I’ve been earning a living from my creative work for about 13 years now. Soon after I graduated from art school, I got a full-time design job specializing in t-shirt design. A couple of years later, I started working for a bigger company where I spent 8 years of my career designing apparel. Read more>>

Riccardo Barletta

Well, I’ve been doing music full-time since 2020, and it’s been quite a journey. My main focus is creating music for ads, TV, and film, which is often referred to as music for sync. However, I also occasionally collaborate directly with artists when their vision aligns with my expertise and skill set. Read more>>

Kiki Ball-Change

Earning a living working as a full-time drag queen is incredibly difficult. You can either work at different bars multiple nights a week, create your own cabarets and tour them (if you’re famous enough), find random corporate gigs, or a mix of all three. Don’t even get me started on trying to hunt down every 1099 or expense receipt for taxes. Read more>>

Sable Snyder

I have always considered myself to be a creative, a musician and a performer. My parents will tell you that as a young child I spent most of my time in some sort of costume, putting on a show for any poor willing soul who had time to be an audience member. Read more>>

Sarah Stillwell

I started my business in 2020 after applying for several jobs and hearing nothing back during the pandemic. I thought it would be a seasonal thing, just a little Etsy shop I’d run through the holidays and maybe reboot the following holiday season if I enjoyed it. Read more>>

Michael Olaribigbe

Yes I have for 3 years full time. I think it was because I had the right people in my corner guiding me through my every step. I started during the summers of college I would work professionally (we call it summer stock jobs). This gave me a huge boost once I graduated and post pandemic because I had already started making connection and acquiring points to join the actors equity association. Read more>>

Kris Kandy

Yes , I make a living off my creative projects. I don’t suggest anyone doing what I did in the beginning if you’re afraid of BIG RISKS. I took my last paycheck and bought shoe inventory and sold shoes out the trunk of my car, before I turned things into a actual business. I just kept flipping my profits. Read more>>

Matthew Regier

Predictably, earning living has proved one of the most challenging things choosing creative life. Our decision to live in a very rural area means that we are removed from other potential sources of income. However, rural life also allows a measure of independence and resourcefulness (and cheaper housing). Read more>>

Matthew Hance

Yes. I currently earn a full-time living as a professional artist. I started my creative journey a long time ago, but it wasn’t until a few years ago or so, that I’ve been able to embrace this concept fully. I have always had a desire a propensity to be creative. It was and still remains to be a life force that I can’t imagine living without. My path really began in Baltimore, MD. where I attended The Maryland’s Institute College of Art. Read more>>

Sandro Costa

One of the items that I think really sets us truly apart from other small business audio production companies is the experience of being a professional musician sitting behind the Audio console. You have some truly brilliant audio engineers out there, but if they don’t understand what the musicians are looking for on stage, and what they want to hear, it’s sometimes difficult to understand that without having that musical background. Read more>>

Ute Bivona

While not yet completely sustaining myself through art, it’s improving. My unique style is deeply connected to nature and flowers, primarily expressed through vibrant, abstract expressionism. I’ve observed a growing need for the positive vibes and healing my art brings to others, especially when surrounded by a grey and negative ambience or thoughts. Thriving in this journey, my work continues to evolve and resonate. Read more>>

Maurandis Berger

It wasn’t always full time, in fact before I started earning any income I did it for absolutely free. I believe it has to be your passion first, you master it and see what happens. Far as myself, yes I’m full time at this. Read more>>

Ameily Chang

I’m an animator and designer from Taiwan, currently living in the vibrant city of New York. Now pursuing an MFA degree at Parsons in Design and Technology, with a focus on animation and entertainment. I’ve always been passionate about bringing my creations to life. Read more>>

Rachel Jay

I became a full time freelance musician in June of 2022. My journey to this point started when I was introduced to San Diego’s open mic community in 2018. At that time, I had been singing for most of my life, but my songwriting and guitar skills needed some refining. I started attending open mics once a week, and found myself more inspired than ever to write and learn new songs. Read more>>

Sandra N Peoples

I have been earning a full-time living as an author and entrepreneur since 2005 when I learned how to utilize my platform as not only an author, but as a small business owner. Once I began to look past simply selling books and began to look at my books as products that my publishing company sold, things changed for me. Read more>>

Laura Wallace

I currently make a full time living from being a professional photographer. It hasn’t always been that way as I used to work other jobs and do my photography on evenings and weekends. I decided to officially go out on my own in January of 2020, not knowing what was in store for us with COVID-19 coming. I had some trepidation as things began to unfold, but I told myself if I can make it through during a pandemic, I could make it through anything! Read more>>

Moustache Bleue

I try to live in todays world and be a bit of an actor. I am fortunate to be able to draw and like to paint, which allow me to say what is the most important, wich is life, love, friendship, sharing, children and many other topics that concern us all. I like to play with words on my paintings that I want very clear, easy to read and modern. Read more>>

Jennifer Hohlfelder

I’ve had about five careers in my adult life. I started and sold a company in the early 2000’s after a background in sales. Then worked for 8 years as a bookkeeper before starting my art career in earnest, full time. Having the full spectrum of running a business from sales and marketing to finances, allowed me to grow my outreach and make being an artist a viable profession. Read more>>

Joe Nolan

If you want to create a career in a creative industry, my best advice is to actively get into that space at any level you can. Kris Kristofferson is a world famous singer-songwriter, but he started out emptying ashtrays and mopping floors in a Nashville recording studio. Read more>>

Elisabeth Larson Koehler

I am fortunate to be able to earn my full time income from a website/ blog I created. It initially started with a very simple wordpress site I set up and filled with painting tutorials and tips. As an artist, my goal was to to create an income source that was not dependent on the sale of my own work, but a business that still allowed me to use my work in a secondary way. Read more>>

James Fisher Jr

I have been doing comedy Full time for about 2 years. it has been a trial and error process to say the least. When I first lost my office job due to lay offs, I had unemployment to help with my bills and had a lot of shows booked, tho they either paid very little or not at all. When unemployment ended, I had to make the hard choice to not only seek out higher paying shows, but decline shows that didn’t pay at all. Read more>>

Nikolas Ilic

Earning a living from my creative work is very rewarding, especially as a full-time freelance artist. It can definitely be challenging at times but is all worth it in the end. Being versatile is one of the key factors when it comes to earning from my creative work. I work primarily in animation as a character designer but I also work in children’s books as an illustrator and author and sometimes even commercial work. Read more>>

Siera Bearchell

After graduating law school, I was pregnant with my daughter and knew I wasn’t going to pursue my law career right away. I started sharing more of my pregnancy and motherhood journey on social media (mostly Instagram and YouTube at the time) and started to receive brand partnership opportunities! Read more>>

Jeff Wolf

When acquiring works by Jeff Wolf you are not only acquiring incredible works of art, you are acquiring authenticity, years of development, and unsurpassable quality. You are acquiring a thing of beauty, an image of meaning and of visual music. Read more>>

Santiago Cohen

I have been an artist all my life, but to make a living I have done anything that I had to do to earn a living. I started as a photographer doing children’s photos, I studied Graphic design, and I have worked as an art director for magazines and newspapers, I also have freelanced illustrations, done children’s books, animations for TV, Graphic novels, art shows, I have also taught film animation in the university in Mexico and in a high school in New Jersey. Read more>>

Lockwood Barr

In the past few years, I am humbled to say I that I have been earning my living from my creative work. I still honestly still have to pinch myself! I think the process of getting here involved several different pieces all fitting together: I had to do the good old fashioned Nashville grind, get out, meet people, make myself known on the scene. Read more>>

Michael Jones

At one time, living off of my earnings as a musician was my main career goal. I joined a country band in the summer of 2021, and was living in my childhood home, driving all over East TN. With my only expenses being gas, meals, utility and internet bills, and my car insurance, I was able to live off of the meager earnings I made. Read more>>