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.

Patricia Perryman

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but it definitely wasn’t like that from day one. When I first started, photography was something I loved that slowly turned into paid work. In the beginning, I was juggling other jobs and side hustles while taking on sessions and weddings wherever I could. Read more>>

Venkayla Haynes

I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative and advocacy work, though it was far from immediate and it’s not a path most would expect or choose. My journey began with childhood abuse and experiences of sexual violence in college, which led me into organizing work because I wanted to help others. Read more>>

Ashley Rock

I have been blessed to earn a full-time living from my creative work. Since I was young that was my dream and it’s still mind boggling it is a reality. It was not a day one process at all. I worked a full time job while building my business on the side. Read more>>

North Woodall

1. Branding 2. marketing 3.more gigs 4.getting on a tour 5.having a hit record number 1 Read more>>

Claudine Kosier

Yes, I earn a full-time living as a portrait photographer, but it definitely wasn’t like that from day one. In the beginning, I ran my portrait business the way many creatives do, saying yes to everything, underpricing my work, and focusing more on being busy than being profitable. Skill wasn’t the issue. Direction was. For a long time, it felt like pure trial and error. Read more>>

Ruana Rae

I am currently in the process of earning a living doing what I am passionate about. Ever since I was a child I dreamed of making clothing, painting and just being creative as a full time job. Read more>>

John Nichols

I do earn a full-time living from my creative work now, but it definitely was not that way from day one. Tattooing started as a passion rooted in art. Before I ever picked up a tattoo machine, I wanted to be an art teacher. Read more>>

Nicole Elliott

Yes, I have — though it still sometimes surprises me when I say it out loud. I’ve been earning a full-time living from my creative work for close to a decade now, with plenty of ups, downs, and plot twists along the way. Oddly enough, I didn’t start in copywriting at all. Read more>>

Janice Junek

Yes, I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. My main sources of income are professional commercial voice over and content creation. It definitely wasn’t like that from day one. Read more>>

Noel Jensen

As a kid, I would spend my days drawing, crafting, singing, dancing, acting, directing full scale productions with my siblings and cousins in the living room… if it was creative, I was doing it. All that to say, choosing to study Theatre Arts in college felt like the most natural extension of who I was. Read more>>

Shekhinah B.

Over time, I realized that artistry alone wasn’t enough; I had to become a strategist, a creative cultural producer, a creative workshop moderator, and an arts administrative educator. Read more>>