Is it natural to wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a different path? Is it common? We asked many artists and creatives from all over the country if they’ve ever wondered about whether they should have pursued a more standard career path to see what we could learn from their stories.

Melissa Vogelgsang

I do have a regular job! I try to divide my days between my “normal” job as an Architect, which I love, and my other passion for arts. Sometimes one gets more attention than the other, if I have a big commission, for example, I dedicate more time to it, it’s ok, I am happy with that. Read more>>

Lauren Clayton

A few years ago, I was primarily providing graphic design services for small businesses. I felt good and stable, but creatively, I felt deprived. I realize now, that I was running on a self-made hamster wheel. Read more>>

Breezy Supreme

Overall I’m happy as artist but I do miss the stable income of having a regular job. I quit my job to pursue music full time and it’s definitely a struggle because you have to dump a lot of money into your career in order to really see the results you want or to be able to create on the level you want to create on. Read more>>

Krystle J Bailey

I’ve tried time and time again to live a “regular” life and seek out “regular” jobs, only to be left wondering what “regular” and “normal” even mean. To say I am happy as an artist or creative would depend on the day. Read more>>

Audrey Assad

Being a full time professional musician is a privilege, and I’ve been very fortunate in my pursuit of that; that said, over fifteen years in to making my living at this, I have run into significant creative and emotional / spiritual roadblocks as an artist due to the pressures that come along with intersecting commerce and creativity so closely. Read more>>

Liza Q Wirtz

Happiness is not one of my natural skills :-), and I expect I’ll be working on figuring out how to get there from now until I move on to the next great adventure. Read more>>

Monteiah Sian

Expressing myself through art and creativity is fundamental to my identity. While receiving income from my creative endeavors brings immense satisfaction, as a mother, I occasionally wish for a more conventional, stable career path. Read more>>

Anna Eveslage

My relationship with art and creativity has definitely shifted and evolved the more I’ve worked professionally in these fields. There’s a lot of hustle out there, and I definitely participated more in that when I was starting out. Read more>>

Slater Garcia

I have a love-hate relationship with being an artist. Everything I create comes from a place of hurt and being deeply misunderstood. I channel all the negativity I’ve experienced in my life into my art. Read more>>

Tess Clare

Overall, I’m happy as an artist because it’s not just a job or a passion to me at this point but a part of my identity. Since I’m not a full-time musician yet, I still have a regular job as a barista. Read more>>

Kelcy Wilburn

I am certainly happy to be the person I am and have the opportunity to share my talents in a way that offers something meaningful to the world. I think that’s what all creatives hope to do—contribute in some way to something bigger than themselves. Read more>>

Amy Keever

Becoming an artist to me is a series of knowing yourself deeper and deeper, and there are definitely times where you can get discouraged… but I cannot imagine doing anything but art once I really committed to it fulltime. Read more>>

Caryn Dixon

I honestly can’t picture myself doing anything else at this point in my life. I have had “regular jobs” and while it was nice to have a steady paycheck and normal things like health benefits and retirement, I have never felt fulfilled in those roles. Read more>>

Roza Melendez

Originally, I did not plan to becoming an artist. I wanted to be a high school Spanish teacher so I got my bachelors degree from UWG. Due to a family emergency, (soon after graduating from the University), I had to move across the country to California (where they do not honor out of state credentials) so my Georgia bachelors degree was essentially useless. Read more>>

William Green

I am extremely happy to be a creative artist. I have always dreamed of being and doing what brings me joy. Read more>>

Jared Pittman

Being a creative is very fulfilling. When you sit down and establish an idea and work things through to see your idea in physical practice is amazing. But, the truth about being a creative is that you will have unmotivated moments, times of no creativity, burn out and lack of energy. Read more>>

Dennis Kim

I’d go as far as to say that I’m content as a full-time magician in entertainment! Happiness is a different story, and I think it’s also fair to say that anyone could relate in their field, whether unconventional or not. Read more>>

Marilyn Evans

Before I retired, I did a lot of writing, but it was all technical writing. I’m much happier now writing fiction, but sometimes fiction is hard. Writing just the facts is straightforward. Read more>>

Alyssa Udovitsch

I’m in a unique position because I started my career as a teacher. I have a Master’s Degree in sociolinguistics and taught English as a Second Language for years before deciding to make my part-time creative work my full-time gig. Read more>>

Inès Angelini

I am very happy as an artist. I feel fulfilled and grounded in my life. Previously, I had a more typical job. I was a lawyer at a company specializing in intellectual property law. Read more>>

Laura Rook

I am pretty happy as an artist and a creative, but I think about having a regular job all the time. The older I get, the more I crave a routine, security, and consistency. Read more>>

Bruce Adams

I am very happy with being a creative! I get to explore different realms and present material that I’m passionate about! I really love meeting different people, this is probably my favorite part of being an artist! Read more>>

Karl Legris

Yes absolutely, being an artist makes me happy and I’m proud of it. Being an artist is not really a job even if sometimes you can make a living from it, it’s like being a football player you don’t know if you’ll be able to make a living from it. Read more>>

Liam Lars

I think for some people, there is no choice in the matter. I am one of those people. I stick out like a sore thumb in a lot of “regular jobs” and it is difficult for me to find fulfillment in much else other than my art and music. Read more>>

Han Hampy

I was recently laid off from my regular hour creative job, and have been doing the hard work of continuing in the industry when everything is so unsure. Read more>>

Saniya Assembek

Despite the challenges and uncertainties that come with being an artist, the profound sense of purpose and passion I experience through my creative endeavors surpasses any fleeting moments of doubt. Read more>>

HOANG LE

I believe being happy is a conscious choice, because there will always be reasons for one person to be unhappy about. A happy artist, I have not met so many, to be honest, most are kinda cynical. Read more>>

Marlon Turner

Honestly, I am happy being a full time Dj, because being able to get paid to consistently to be creative is a dream come true. As a Dj my role is always the same which is to provide good music for the audience but the best part is that I have the creative freedom to do it the way I want. Read more>>

Simon Montalvo

I’m extremely happy as an artist; and in the same breath, I don’t have to wonder what it would be to have a regular job. I’ve had many regular jobs, and I’m currently working full time at a “regular” job. Read more>>

Allison Oliphant

Sometimes I am, and sometimes I’m unsettled with where I am with my art and creativity. A lot of people think that doing something you love as a way to make money is a path to happiness, but it’s so much more complicated than that. Read more>>

James Nield

As a Creative, I find immense fulfillment in what I do. The dynamic nature of working on sets, navigating diverse environments, and collaborating with new crew members resonates deeply with me. Read more>>

Natasha Frank

Being a professional composer is really the only job I have ever wanted to do, apart from a brief stint ages (4-6) where I wanted to be a palentologist, haha! Read more>>

Julie Kradel

No matter what profession/career that one chooses there may be a thought that should another choice should have been made. I think back to the question adults posed to me through out my childhood. Read more>>