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.

Omar “Chilly-O” Mitchell

Chilly-O: Yes, I’ve been fortunate enough to earn a full-time living from my creative work. It wasn’t a straightforward path from day one; it took time, persistence, and evolution to reach this point. My journey began nearly two decades ago in Atlanta, where I immersed myself in various creative, bike, and entertainment circles. Read more>>

David Lobenberg

I was born knowing how to draw and spent my childhood periodically drawing landscapes, and portraits. In my late teens, I was also was fascinated with the weather i.e. clouds, weather systems, and weather instruments. Read more>>

Yendi Oates-Baugh

Being in the music industry as a live band performer and recording artist can be a very lucrative source of income. After being in the corporate world for over five years and being laid off I had no desire to work for anyone other than myself. Read more>>

Priscilla Witte

I am so fortunate to say that I make a living as an illustrator and muralist. I don’t love saying it out loud because I never want it to go away. hah! I never set out for this to be my full time job. I really just wanted to make art that resinated with people and my feelings and life. Read more>>

Derek Ortega

So far I have been blessed to make a full-time living through my artwork only. During college I was given an opportunity to work freelance on the Looney Tunes shorts working as a layout artist. Read more>>

Koryn Bennett

As of 2022, I have been working full time as a travel wedding photographer. I started my business as a school project in 2016 as a capstone to my senior year. From there, people that knew me would ask if I could take their portraits- which I was flattered by! Read more>>

Suzanne Howe

This is a complex question. Ever since I graduated from University I have always painted as a side hustle and was lucky to have gallery representation to give me a few sales every year. I supported myself through freelance advertising gigs which took the pressure off needing my art to support me. Read more>>

Zuri Appleby

This question is always hard for me to answer so I’ll just give a background of my journey. I began my musical lifestyle pretty early on due to both of my parents being musicians and my mother being director of our church choir which she made sure my sister and I were involved in from as young and sang in all through high school. Read more>>

Jolynn Forman

Yes with multiple galleries and shows. But, 8 years ago, my 13 yr old daughter came home in tears that her art teacher had just quit and begged me to come and teach for the rest of the year. Read more>>

Jonas Saul

It was a long road paved with perseverance, determination, and a lack of doubt. The first big step was removing that traitor self-doubt. It makes you stand in your own way, slows your progress as you wonder if your actions are worth it, and makes you lose what you might have won. Read more>>

Justin Tyler Tate

I’ve been a full-time artist—with no other source of income—since 2009. It hasn’t always been easy, and I get paid far less than minimum wage for every hour of work I put in, but I also have the freedom: Read more>>

Duhon James

After graduating in 2014 at the Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM, I was stuck on what to do and questioning myself on moving back home in Ganado or to continue living in Santa Fe because of the Railyard was one of the market scenes. Read more>>

Anthony Harvey Jr.

Earning a full-time living from creative work is achievable, but it requires patience, resilience, and strategic planning. While my journey was not linear, each step taught me valuable lessons. Transitioning from a passion for creativity to earning a full-time living can be a daunting journey. Read more>>

Damon Corso

While living in Los Angeles I was able to make a full-time living from my photography business. It started out very difficult but got easier as I built my client list and broadened my skills. Read more>>

Kenyatta Beasley

Every penny that I have earned has been through creative work in Music. I started playing Music in New Orleans in the French Quarter with my father when I was three. Looking back at it, I see that’s where I developed a strong work ethic. Read more>>

Lilibeth Ramirez

I’m a content creator, and I absolutely love sharing my healthy recipes and lifestyle. Before diving into content creation, I was an advertiser with my own successful agency in Caracas, Venezuela. Read more>>

Eli Maravich

I have been fortunate enough to make a living full-time from my artwork for about four years now. The journey was a wild ride but looking back, the early days are still some of my fondest memories. Read more>>

Jazzy Frizzle

I have been a full time voice actor for about 5 years. I had a 9-5 job that I worked in the beginnings of my VO career, but I took the dive when it began to be an “obstacle” in my voiceover work. Read more>>

Paul Bouyear

I am very fortunate to be making a living as a musician and actor. Straight out of high school I was paid to go back to my alma mater and be a pit musician for the school musicals and as a theatre artist I was paid to be a stage manager at Long Beach Playhouse. Read more>>

David Estrin

Today I want to share some of the tips and tricks I’ve used to grow my business since graduating from San Diego State University in 2017. Wow, can’t believe it has already been 7 years since graduating from college. Time flies when you are having fun! Read more>>

Ashton Dent

Being a chronically ill person, I realized in my early 20’s that there was no way I would be able to work a 9-5 for the rest of my life. I had endometriosis, adenomyosis, and PCOS symptoms from the time I had my first period at 10 years old. Read more>>

Keylin Rosales

I can now sustain myself through my creative work. Initially, it wasn’t easy because I lacked the confidence I have now when selling my services. I used to underestimate my work, doubting if people would pay me fairly. Read more>>

Jose Lopez Marcos

According to my parents, at the tender age of three, they caught me decorating their bedroom walls with a lot of drawings, it was a spectacular beginning as an artist and also my first large scale work. Read more>>