We’ve seen way too many talented creatives quit because they couldn’t make it work financially. No doubt, the financial challenges of pursuing a creative or artistic career are daunting, but we felt there wasn’t enough discussion around how to make it work. So, we connected with artists and creatives who’ve been able to earn a full time living from their creative work and asked them to share their stories with our readers.

Carmel Helene

I have made my living solely from my creative work for over 20 years. It started with years of practice (alone in my bedroom), and then building up my network of meaningful connections, friends and colleagues, and always learning and growing along the way. Read more>>

Larissa Saenz

Being a freelanced Artist has always had its advantages, but also many struggles. When you think of the freedom of “being your own boss” We really only see the good side of the business. Read more>>

Dillon Sun

I am thrilled that I get to work on AAA and AA Cinematics for video games like Microsoft’s Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Motorsport, Riot’s upcoming 2XKO game, Bethesda’s Hi-Fi Rush, Tencent’s Wayfinder, among many more out of some of my favorite tools, such as Unreal Engine and 3DS Max. Read more>>

Xanthe Paige

I feel incredibly fortunate to have found myself in a place where I’m fully supported by my creative work! This is where I’m super grateful for my skills and experience in voice over. Read more>>

Max Kerwien

I’m very lucky in that I have a work-from-home job that has nothing to do with my creative work that pays the bills, gives me health insurance, and keeps me afloat. Read more>>

Courtney Jago

I made a drastic career switch from mechanical design engineer to full time photographer almost two years ago. I’ll be honest when I say, being a full time photographer and owning my own small business was never a dream of mine or a career path I would have anticipated until shortly before I did it. Read more>>

Gerald Cerda

Yes I have. The first step into making a full time wage in the creative space is pretty much a leap of faith and hoping for the best. I was waiting tables when I decided to pursue my creative field full time. Read more>>

Darryl Mayes

Yes! Thank God I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work! Ever since I was young I have wanted to become a full time YouTuber. Read more>>

Sloan Sabbath

Full-time living is a tricky term. 1 year ago I was teaching elementary school art, delivering pizza, driving for Uber and grocery shopping for others through Instacart BARELY making ends meet. Read more>>

Alex Collins

So I am not full-time working freelance with my creative work as of right now. I am currently doing some part time work and filling the rest of my schedule with creative freelance work. Read more>>

Najee Winder

I was able to turn a self driven passion into a full -time living. My love for art as well as tattoos at a young age have helped me establish a stable career through the use of my skill and talent. Read more>>

Alaina Strepparava

Wow, these are all great questions! And I feel like I can write a novel about it all, but I’ll try to keep myself from doing that! I am so incredibly grateful that I can now say that I do earn a full-time living from my photography business, but I can also say that it took A LOT of work and a lot of patience. Read more>>

Jordan Tritton

When I first got into Photography, I was doing portraits and events. Over time, I thought to myself that getting more into commercial photography and real estate might be a good call considering the demand for that as well. Read more>>

Martavious Gayles

Well, because I did know that this industry per se would be tough. I was ready for it. I started so long ago, when reality tv was a big hit back then. American Idol at the time. Was one of the hottest shows out, at the time. Read more>>

Heirlume Photography

We both feel truly blessed to earn a full-time living from our creative work. It isn’t always easy, but the freedom and agency it gives us is well worth it. Read more>>

Ashley Bowers

I do earn a full-time living by being self employed. I earn some income from acting, some from horses (training, clinics, special events, sales, judging or delegating horse shows), some from singing, and some from real estate. Read more>>

Elaisha Hilliard

I have been a full-time artist with a part-time job for 10 years. Artists with jobs often get their experience invalidated. They are told that “ Full-time Artists are able to support themselves just from their art”. Read more>>

Tammy Dammann

I started Plein De Vie Jewelry 8 years ago after spending many years working full-time in the Oil & Gas industry. Creativity has always been a part of who I am—from drawing and sewing to renovating homes and designing my current home, landscaping, and finally, creating jewelry. Read more>>

Caleigh Ellison

I have been so lucky to do my art as my full time career since fall 2020, I have always painted and drawn, since I was little- my kindergarten teacher called me “craft queen” & I’ve tried to really fill that title since!! Read more>>

Khari Mateen

The journey to earning a full-time living from my creative work wasn’t immediate. Some times it can still be difficult, I supplemented income from freelance projects while building my portfolio and client base. Read more>>

Rella

I believe that the best way to earn a full-time living from your creative work is to come to grips with a variety of concepts. The first is that it takes money to make money, and that in many creative industries talent is secondary to marketing spend. Read more>>

Chun Chun Chang

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. Initially, I freelanced for a few years after relocating to California. I was fortunate to participate in various projects, such as Samsung campaigns, Sprite rebranding, Getty Unshuttered events, HBO documentary series, GM, TNT, and more. Read more>>

Jeffrey Nicholas Brown

I have ben able to earn a living either by acting or by drumming soon after college, but it wasn’t before I learned some valuable lessons. I have been very lucky, and I also did something that really helps in a risky situation. Read more>>

Ella Rose McFadin

I am very fortunate and lucky to be able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. Although, I wouldn’t say it is all luck. I was able to get into the influencer and content creator industry at a time where it was taking off and having a big moment. Read more>>

Kelly Sparrman

Up until the pandemic hit, which was for about six years, I was working full-time as an art model for universities, video game companies, animation studios, and for individual artists. Read more>>

Keith Welborn

I’ve been fortunate enough to make a full-time living from DJing and hosting private events. My journey here is the result of consistent hard work and diligent networking, seizing every opportunity that came my way. Read more>>

Maegan Benipayo

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from tattooing for going on 4 years now, but it didn’t start off that way. I was working a 9-5, whilst taking an apprenticeship for two years until the pandemic. Read more>>

Aiste Haas

Yes, I currently earn a full-time living from my work as a nail art content creator. However, it wasn’t easy or simple in the beginning. My journey was organic and unfolded at the right time, when I felt fully ready to take the leap of faith into full-time content creation. Read more>>

Maria Ananieva

Prior to getting that studio, I had interviewed for a full time marketing position. While I was waiting to hear back and trying to decide between that job and renting an art studio, I went ahead and signed my studio lease. Read more>>

Eddie Zamora

I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but it wasn’t like that from day one. Here’s a walkthrough of my journey and how I made it happen: Read more>>

Alex Eckman-Lawn

I do now but it took a long time! I’ve been a working illustrator for over 15 years now but the first 10 involved a lot of help from friends and family, and a lot of skating by on very little. Read more>>

Nithya Hari

Yes, very much. It all started as a parttime job, with 3 students taking dance classes in my garage. Eventually the students strength grew and i started subleasing a place to take classes, this was few years ago. Read more>>

Christine Marecki

Yes! Well it took a lot of time, effort, dedication, trial and error to get to where I am now. My first creative endeavor as a surface designer was in social stationery. Read more>>

Nathan Aronowitz

Like many young musicians with a big dream, I moved to Nashville bound and determined to make music the engine of my livelihood and success. Read more>>

Jason Goldberg

It’s been a journey. Like many, I began my professional career with an internship. I left my home in central New Jersey to intern for E! Entertainment (Los Angeles) in 2006. Read more>>

Brooke Mackintosh

How to make a living as a creative sharing highlights and stepping Stones. Please utilize what’s necessary. I wrote a book for you.  My process of earning a living through music has been a lengthy journey on the road less traveled. Read more>>

Dylan Heidt

Initially, I started both mixing and producing music out of necessity for myself and the artists around me; I started doing both of those things on a daily basis around the time that I was thirteen years old. Read more>>

Karina Villas Boas

Since the beginning of my career, I’ve been captivated by the art of visualizing and transforming spaces. Whether it was crafting the visual aesthetics of floor layouts or infusing my designs with a deep-seated passion, my commitment to enhancing visual spaces has always shone through. Read more>>

Victoria Odekomaya

When I decided to start my photography business in 2021, Even though I had a decade of photography experience, I knew I needed to stand out from the hundreds of other photographers around me. Read more>>

Joy Greene Leefook

**Title: Crafting a Creative Living: My Journey as a Neoburlesque Artist and Digital Branding Specialist** In the colorful, ever-changing world of creativity, making a full-time living is as dynamic as the art itself.  Read more>>

GABRIEL DIETER

I’ve drawn all my life and a few years ago when I was looking for a design job I was approached by a local tex-mex restaurant chain to become their in-house artist. Read more>>

Chasen Wolcott

The first stride that made me realize I was going to be a full time artist was the year following after graduate school. It wasn’t the stereotypical stride where if you go to school you automatically “make it in your profession or career”, which has been marketed to most students worldwide post-school. Read more>>