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.
Hallah Wolfe
Earning a living wage from my writing is definitely the goal but I am no quite there yet. Creating art is expensive and Self publishing is an expensive project to take on. Everything that I have made in book sale’s has gone back into the book to either pay for editing, PR, Marketing, Printing etc. However in the last month, I did take the leap to write full time and quit my job in the corporate world to pursue this career and it has been incredibly rewarding. I was only able to do this because I live in a two income household and I am lucky enough to have a partner that supports my dreams and goals as an author. I am projecting with the release of the second book in my series coming next year, that I will start to see actual income coming in, so fingers crossed! Read more>>
Justus Montgomery
During college and for a few years after graduating, I was fortunate enough to make a living playing music full-time. Like anyone starting out, it was slow at first, but after six months, I was able to quit my part-time job and focus solely on performing. The biggest challenge was building a network—I relied heavily on cold calls and other people’s connections to get my foot in the door. However, I knew I had something special, and once I had the chance to perform, booking return shows became much easier. Word of mouth spread quickly, and by 2018, I had booked 140 shows in that year alone. When COVID hit in 2020, like many others in the industry, I had to step away from being a full-time musician and take a full-time job to make ends meet. In 2022, after the pandemic began to ease, I moved to Nashville to reignite my music career. Just two weeks ago, I officially quit my full-time job to return to pursuing music full-time. Read more>>
Denise Cruz-castino
I’ve been a Copywriter, or for people not in advertising, that’s an advertising writer. It happened by accident actually. I graduated with a Psychology degree from UCLA and I thought I was going to be a Child Psychologist. But I wanted a gap year. So my dad said, well, you have a degree, how about a job in that year? But I didn’t know what I’d do. I was supposed to go back to school. But I always loved watching commercials, so he suggested, how about advertising? So I wrote some cover letters to a few ad agencies in Los Angeles, and I heard back from one who needed a receptionist. Yup! Started out as a receptionist. I hated it. I wasn’t good at it. haha Luckily I got moved up to the creative floor within months. That was much better for me. That’s where I saw the Art Directors and Copywriters and Creative Directors. Read more>>
Andree Areno
This topic is very fresh for me so that’s why I’ve chosen it. Actually full disclosure I am currently taking a break from my art and just doing carpentry for a contractor. I still have my wood shop and I am not finished with that chapter in my life. But I have soooo many things to say about making a living as a full time artist and trying to make ends meet. The business side, the creative side, the social media and self promotion side and the struggles of wondering I am good enough. I’ve had so many ups and downs. Being broke, then feeling like maybe I’ve made a breakthrough, to being broke again. Feeling like I have endless creativity to then feeling like I have none at all. These things may resonate with many. Read more>>
Jaclyn Rey
I can still remember those months right after college, thinking, “How on earth am I going to make this work?” I had just graduated with a degree in video production, no connections, and absolutely no clue how to build a career in the industry. But what I did have was this unshakeable belief in myself—along with a lot of ambition and a willingness to figure things out. What I didn’t realize then was that it would take a few years before I’d make a full-time living from this work. During those early days, I hustled, making videos for small businesses, nonprofits, and realtors. It was a rush—getting paid to create felt like a real win, and for the first time, I started seeing a future where I could make this my career. The only problem? The money wasn’t exactly flowing, and I was determined not to get tied down to a part-time job. I wanted to stay laser-focused on growing my craft and my portfolio. Read more>>
Celeste Felsheim
I am lucky enough to be able to make a living from many different forms of my art. Whether I am teaching or playing music, my day to day is infused with creativity and harmony. While still in college working towards my songwriting degree, I was teaching music on the weekends as one of my many odd jobs, and I ended up loving the act of sharing my knowledge with my students and watching them blossom on their respective musical journeys. Nowadays I am two years out of college and teaching full time for my own private studio, and also teaching door to door for a company run by a longtime friend of mine, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I have never improved at my craft faster than when I am teaching, and I have learned an absolutely magical amount about music from my students as I experience how they think and approach the craft of playing and writing music. Read more>>
Leander D’ambrosia
I always knew that I wanted to make a career with my creativity, so all I had to do was to figure out what it was going to take to make that happen. Today I am proud to say that I have been in business for 13 years, 11 of those years with Leander D’Ambrosia jewelry as a full time endeavor. When I launched the first iteration of my jewelry business online in 2011 it was a side hustle that I would work on obsessively in the evenings while I worked a day job. Every spare dollar I had saved, I would invest back into my little business (usually to buy more silver and gemstones!) and grow my brand bit by bit. During the early days of my business, in my free spirited 20’s, one of my superpowers was my ability and natural inclination to live as simply as possible, with as much adventure as possible. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this frugal yet productive mindset allowed me to focus on investing in myself and my growing business while being hyper-aware of where each dollar was going. In the startup phase of my business, and even today, it is incredibly tempting to get carried away with ‘shiny object syndrome’ and blow through cash on the wrong things – which can be particularly difficult when we’re talking about gorgeous gemstones and beads! But I realized that it is really important to grow slowly and sustainably in the early days, so that I could build a strong foundation for my company. It’s easier to go through the tough financial lessons when you’re smaller, with less invested… than having to go through that later down the road! Read more>>
Trevor Hanks
So far, yes. It’s been difficult but also very exciting. I’ve been a “struggling musician” for a long time and it’s only been recently that it’s become a full time thing. Persistence, perseverance and endurance has been been the key in order for it to be a full time profession. Read more>>
Barret Elengold
Yes, I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but it didn’t happen overnight. It took many years of hard work, persistence, and growth. I moved to Arizona at 18 to work for a production company, having a TV production background from high school. The production company introduced me to DSLR photography, and from that moment, I was hooked. That was the beginning of what would eventually become my full-time business. After a few years working with the production company, I made the decision to start my own business, Scottsdale Event Photography. At the time, I had no prior business experience beyond what I had learned at the production company. Starting from scratch was challenging, but the entire process of building Scottsdale Event Photography has been incredibly rewarding. It took many years to get it to where it is today, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Read more>>
Christopher Atamian
It was a progressive journey. I currently write fiction, have 2 columns in newspapers and write for places like The Brooklyn Rail and the LARB, translate books, copy edit and curate with Tamar Hovsepian whom you profiled here before, I believe. Links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Atamian and www.atamianhovsepian.art I think you have to be very confident, follow up with people and not take no for an answer , unless someone really says absolutely not in no way can you do X, Y or Z. Also be thorough: go through your contacts, Facebook, LinkedIn. Also sometimes your friends and school chums are not the best people to help you because they may feel competitive while a total stranger who maybe went to your college ten years after you or something will be more willing to help Read more>>
Santiago Duque
I think that pursuing a creative career has become easier in the past years, specially coming from Colombia, the music industry is very tough on new people and profiles. I started my music journey at the age of 5 when I started playing guitar and I always knew my life revolved around music. I was part of my school’s music group, and ultimately at the time of choosing a career a went for a Music Major with emphasis in Music Production. I got to a point where even though I was learning and developing my musical and production skills, I lacked the knowledge on how to monetize and, ultimately, live out of making music. I ended up doing a second Major in Business to compliment but still there was little to no knowledge in Colombia about the Music Industry unless you were part of it. I had friends who mocked at me because of my mix of Music and Business since in the Latino environment you’re either a lawyer, a doctor or an engineer, period. Read more>>
Oleg Rozenfeld
More Than a Trend: Creating Timeless Treasures My journey as a creator has been an adventure, to say the least. In the early days, the financial rewards weren’t exactly flowing. But even then, I held a deep-seated belief: the things I create should transcend fleeting trends. They should be timeless, unique, and as individual as the people who will ultimately use them. My focus has never been on chasing the latest fad. Instead, I pour my passion into crafting pieces with enduring impact. I believe that a truly great product should not only stand the test of time but also spark joy for years – even decades – to come. With every single item I develop, I’m driven by the conviction that I’m creating something truly exceptional, something that will be cherished for generations. It’s about more than just objects; it’s about crafting heirlooms, pieces imbued with meaning and designed to last. Read more>>
Yongtai Huang
I have started my full-time living at Vineyard Columbus as a graphic designer. During my graduate study, I am dedicated to create design for branding and advertisement. Furthermore, I am interested in creating visual identity for Christian fellowships for a while. I was responsible for designing posters and event promotions on social media and website. some of my final projects are about creating a new visual identity for churches and new digital platform for bible study and daily devotion. Hence, I am not just focus on graphic design for commercial industry and entertainment. Based on my professional and spiritual experience, then I am able to work for Vineyard Columbus. Read more>>
Amalia Abdalfatah
Absolutely, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work at Amalia Clicks, but it didn’t happen overnight. From the beginning, I focused entirely on building my business, which required patience and persistence. I started by refining my craft, creating a portfolio that aligned with the bold, vibrant style I wanted to be known for. I used platforms like Instagram (@amalia.clicks) to showcase my work, attract clients, and build relationships. A significant milestone came when I narrowed my focus to product and brand photography. This shift allowed me to tap into a specific market and establish a stronger reputation, leading to real growth. Creating content such as behind-the-scenes footage, product setups, and styling tips also helped boost engagement and increase inquiries. Read more>>
Edward Brown
Taking the first steps into making candles and soaps was a huge milestone for me. I started while working a full-time job and spent many days and nights not sleeping at all. It was very hard at first and there were plenty of times were I lost focus and thought to myself that it was just a hobby and never going to work. I spent weekends and any chance I could doing pop ups, staying up till 4am making stuff just to wake up at 8 am for the day job. One of my biggest regrets was taking a break and focusing on the day job. I realized then it was time for me to do what I really love and focus back on the fragrances. I saw the chance to put my own artistic flair into the products with natural ingredients and no preservatives. I realized I would’ve been so much farther on if I didn’t let the fear get to me. I faced many days were I would do a market and only make $20, had the weather tear down my tent, and had times my health even stopped me from doing events. Read more>>
Brandi Doming
I started blogging in 2012 and worked on it for many years before I was able to earn a full-time living on it. I’ve since created several ebooks, a workout plan and my 1st published cookbook, The Vegan 8 Cookbook, which has allowed me to do this full-time. I also have just finished my 2nd cookbook, Vegan Wholesome, which will be released soon as well! Both can be found and sold on Amazon or other major retailers. Writing recipes and also being a food photographer has helped me over the years to build a following and the attention from magazines and brands. They hire me to create recipes and photograph them and share them with my audience. I take this very seriously and only work with brands I truly value and use their products. I care deeply about my readers and would never promote something I didn’t believe in. Doing this type of work, as well as sell books, is what I love to do for my career. I’m so grateful I get to do what I love. Read more>>
Hs Matthews
I currently work part-time in the finance department of a motorcycle dealership, so my writing is done in the afternoons once I have finished work. One day it would be nice to be able to dedicate my time to becoming a full-time author, but for now, I fit my passion for writing around my day job. Read more>>
Keri Miki-lani Schroeder
Working for myself has always been a goal since first entering the book art field professionally around ten years ago. My work combines fine art with high craftmanship, so my education and training leaned heavily into traditional and contemporary bookbinding and letterpress printing. After receiving my MFA in Book Art & Creative Writing, I worked as a studio assistant for a book artist and then as a bookbinder for an independent limited-edition bindery. My experiences over those last six years were integral to my practice now, as they allowed me to both earn a living working in my field while learning how to operate an independent business. Luckily, the book arts community has been extremely generous about sharing information and supporting each other. Read more>>
Neha Assar
Yes, I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but it wasn’t an overnight success. I worked as an engineer for 15 years before making the leap to becoming a full-time artist. The decision wasn’t made lightly, but eventually, my art income was able to supplement, and even exceed, what I was earning from engineering. The journey was anything but linear. I paid my way through engineering school with the income from my art and after graduation I balanced both careers, growing my client base and refining my artistic voice while still working my engineering job. Over time, demand for my art increased to a point where I knew I could transition out of my corporate role. That was a huge milestone for me, and it was empowering to see that my passion could provide financial security. Read more>>
Mya Harris
Getting to make a living out of something that you love is a blessing and privilege that I think a lot of people overlook. This is because sometimes the things that we love can seem so unattainable. That is why I think that it’s very important for us as people to feel worthy of the things that we want. It is no secret that the mind is very powerful and what we perceive our lives to be is what they are. So if we believe that we are deserving of our wildest dreams, then we will have the courage to take actions & steps towards achieving them, and then it’s only a matter of time before we get to where we are trying to go. This is something that I have always wanted for myself and for a moment it seemed impossible. I think that a lot of artists and creatives feel this way. Art is so vast and vague, art could literally be anything and it isn’t always understood. When someone is truly creating they are doing it for themselves, and it’s hard to put a monetary value on that because it’s priceless. Also, there just simply aren’t enough opportunities for creatives, there aren’t enough spaces. Resources are incredibly important and without those it can be more difficult to create, never mind getting paid for it. Read more>>
Johny Dedyuk
im a full time artist – dancer, choreographer, cinematographer . Work in the entertainment industry , sometimes as a dancer on big events ,sometimes I get a chance to choreograph music videos and live shows such as Opening for Cardi B , Imagine Dragons ,Music video for Hollywood Undead etc. and sometimes I just behind the camera or director monitor directing Music video , all of that brings me lots of joy ! I think it all comes to hard work and your mindset, once you know where you wanna be and realize where you at right now you kinda see the pin points of how to get where you want . I was lucky enough to meet great people who also helped me to get booked many different cool projects as well as I was introduced to the talent agency that I love working with . Read more>>
Kenneth Brown
I have been doing photography since about 2011/12 so it was always something I did and worked at but it was more of a side job. Towards the end of 2022 because of what was essentially a conflict of interest, my job and I mutually parted ways as they phrased it. I was forced to make a decision either get another job working for someone else or take something I had been working at and perfecting for a long time. So rather than applying to new jobs I took the leap and dove full time into the world of fulltime photography and videography with DJing which i’d also been doing for a while sprinkled in as well. I had some clients that I worked with previously and they helped by spreading the word. Fortunately for me a few videographers I’d worked with in the past had projects they needed help with, so whereas it was for a lot of work it was essentially a seemless transition. I started filming and photographing sports and that became a large part of my business. With DJing I had/have a Sunday residency and then I get booked for gigs periodically. It has been a journey and a lot has been learned along the way. Knowing what i know now I would for sure approach it differently in the way I branding the type of work I do and how a versatile I am in any field of photography. But overall it has been an experience and a journey I wouldn’t trade. Read more>>
Brittany Sanders
I have been captivated by cameras for as long as I can remember. My first camera was given to me when I was 6 years old, and I haven’t put cameras down since! I started professionally shooting weddings, family + lifestyle sessions, and engagements almost 3 years ago. To be honest, I struggled immensely when I first started my business. It takes so much time & energy to create a portfolio of your work, to build clientele, to learn the ins and outs of owning a business, and to create a brand for yourself. I have put blood, sweat, and tears into creating my business, and that is why I love & appreciate my business so much. I mean, what other job lets you document the best day of people’s lives? Mine does, and I’m beyond grateful for my clients that have supported me in so many ways. Read more>>
Grace Aki
My journey is the least simple of anyone I know in this space, but it also, quite a common story. As a performer since 3, I’ve never stopped telling stories – which launched me into writing and selling and ultimately the multihyphenate I am today. As a marketer I’ve always looked to social media to connect audiences to art. There is no one step but rather a constant momentum forward to always look at “what’s next” for audiences all over, locally and globally. Nothing I could’ve done to speed up my career process except say no to all the things in life that make it worth living. Read more>>
Amber Saca
Growing up in New York City, I was immediately immersed in design and knew it was the path I wanted to pursue. Surrounded by creativity in my everyday life, it became clear that this was the career for me. I was fortunate to go to the Fashion Institute of Technology to pursue Communication Design – an intense introduction to all things design. After earning my Associate’s degree, I specialized in Packaging Design for my Bachelor’s Degree. Thanks to a combination of hands-on experience, internships, and the tight-knit alumni network, I turned my journey into a full-time career working at an agency. A significant jump start to my career came not only from the guidance of my college mentors but also from saying yes to every opportunity that came my way, regardless of how uncomfortable or unfamiliar it felt at the time. Read more>>
Katie Hoffpauir
I’ve always had the desire to blaze my own path and find what really fuels my soul creatively. I knew college had nothing to offer me and courageously dropped out after one semester. Sticking to my interests, talents, and guts, I became certified in esthetics. I jumped in head first into cosmetic tattooing and took three eyebrow courses. I offered free and highly discounted services for my first year. I had invested almost all of my savings at this point into this career and was trying to get anyone I could in the door. At this point I was waiting tables and tattooing faces for basically nothing! I would talk to any table or anyone who would listen, about the life changing power of permanent makeup. I totally acted the part for a while because I really was not sure where this was going. But, the few clients I had were super satisfied with the attention to detail I provided and the undeniable, long lasting results. I started to realize the affect I and my craft had, and this lit a huge fire under me! I mean people were (somehow) trusting me at 19 years old to completely change their face. I reinvested time and time again into my craft (and still do) and it only pays off more and more. This job has taught me some of the most valuable lessons and has shaped me into who I am today! I am still currently in awe at the power of permanent makeup and am so passionate to provide quality results. I am 2.5 years into my career and am constantly hungry for more. More knowledge, more art, and more creating!!! Read more>>
Lauren Avon
I have most definitely not always made a full-time income from being a performer. I actually used to work full time as an exotic animal trainer and educator on the East Coast–which was a “dream job”– while just doing random dance gigs on the side whenever I could. But I always felt kind of a void during the parts of the year I wasn’t performing. Then about 10 years ago I decided to take a big risk, without really having any sort of solid plan, and leave my job to move to Los Angeles. I got a job working childcare at a gym while I was training with a dance and aerial company. My time with that company really ignited my passion for circus arts and kind of pushed me towards making that my primary focus. I still continued to work in the gym daycare as I tried to figure out how I was going to turn aerial and performing into my main source of income. I started teaching aerial classes at a studio part time but was not making nearly enough money to pay my bills. Eventually that studio shutdown, with basically no warning at all, and I was back to only working childcare at the gym. I was growing more and more frustrated with constantly feeling financially strapped and also incredibly frustrated with my job. I decided to take another leap and quit that job, again without having any sort of super solid plan of how I was going to make a living. Read more>>
Jean Caze
I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but this was not always the case. When I graduated from Manhattan School of Music, I was not working enough to financially support myself as a trumpet artist/composer. I was living with my mother and fell into depression. I felt lost and unsure of what to do besides practice and go to jam sessions. That’s when a cousin came into my life and offered my to move in with him in Delray Beach, FL. He was buying, renovating, and selling properties at the time. He offered to train me in his real estate practices, so that I could do it on my own in the future. I was playing very little during this period. After a while of working with him, he started to deviate form the plan and so I decided to move to Florida in order to get back into music, I applied for a Masters degree so that I could teach at the college level one day. While obtaining my masters at FIU, I decided to prepare to make the transition from student to working artist. I focused on entrepreneurship, It worked, and this time, upon graduation, I was working enough to support myself as an artist. I realized that the music programs do not help fully prepare you for this transition into the work force. And so I took it upon myself to learn and apply what it took to be an artist able to earn a full-time living. I continued to develop my performance skills, took private lessons, studied my environment, and networked to create enough work opportunities. I also participated in masterclasses and competitions in order to increase my visibility. Read more>>
Ashley Prince
Earning a full-time living from creative work, just like most entrepreneurial endeavors presents its challenges. Offering educational services, creating and selling merchandise as well as securing branding deals eventually aided with increasing revenue. Simply put, working with other creators, managers and self education is a formula that I used that continues to prove a successful formula to increase profits. A major step that was missed in the beginning was having a financial team in place to count the costs as things move very quickly in production and it’s very easy to jump into projects without evaluation cost benefit analysis as the supporters are demanding the “best if the best” Read more>>