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.

Hassan Ahmad

I have been very grateful to turn this into a full-time living, but it hasn’t always been this way! A major step that I took throughout these 11+ years was staying as consistent as possible with my graphics. I never really took any breaks when it came to posting until recent years. Read More>>

Traliece

Yes, this past year I have started earning full-time income from my work. For me, it was thrust upon me when I lost my job back in January 2025. I kept applying for different jobs and was not able to get any call backs. So I made the bold decision to turn my side hustle into my full-time business. I hired coaches and mentors. Read More>>

Marty Lamain

Being a full-time producer in Nashville is a process, especially when you enjoy wearing multiple hats like I do. Finding the right artists to work with, growing a teaching studio for voice and piano, and enough live gigs to pay the bills–it’s been a lot of seed planting and weed pulling. Read More>>

Carlotta Parodi

Yes, I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, and that happened relatively early in my career. From the beginning, I approached this as a profession, not just a passion. I worked consistently across a range of projects, including several significant productions in Italy and across Europe, which allowed me to build both financial stability and industry credibility early on. Read More>>

Roxxy Haze

I’ve been able to earn a living from my creative work, but it wasn’t like that from the beginning. It started with getting writing gigs, getting paid to perform, and building income across stand-up, content, and brand work, while also self-publishing books like Half Famous on Amazon. Read More>>

Jules Martinez

I’ve learned that, to be fully able to make a living with a creative job, you have to be flexible and multi-talent. Read More>>

Emmanuel Aboagye

My story is one of hard work and grit. When I lost my mother at the age of 15, following her divorce from my father, there was no one to care for me. I stayed with neighbors and later with my paternal grandparents until I completed high school. After high school, I had to work to support myself and save enough money to begin college. Read More>>

Deshay Styles

Earning a full-time living from my creative work didn’t happen overnight for me it was definitely a journey. I’m a licensed cosmetologist and the owner of my own brand, and I’ve always had a passion for doing hair, but turning that into consistent income took strategy, growth, and a lot of faith. Read More>>

Kimberly Cauble

I have been a middle school teacher for 28 years and a part-time wedding and portrait photographer for the last 14 of those years. Before photography, I had all kinds of other side hustles: painting Christmas ornaments, making holiday cards, and even selling makeup for a time, but none of those really stuck. Read More>>

Nikita Grinenko

Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work, Was it like that from day one? No, of course not. In the very beginning, the most I could hope for was simply covering the cost of the materials I was using for my work. Read More>>

Atziri Angel

The short answer? Yes. I’m living the creative dream full-time, but it’s not just one thing—it’s a beautifully chaotic mix. By day, I’m the Director of Design and Operations for Stephanie Parisi Studio, steering the ship and making sure the magic actually happens. By every other waking moment, I’m the eye behind My Stardust Photography, capturing those sun-kissed, ‘blink-and-you’ll-miss-it’ memories. Read More>>

Suki Liu

I am officially a full-time artist after over a decade in the hospitality industry, but when I was first starting out, I had no idea what was in store for me. The year was 2015 and I was 5 years deep in the restaurant industry as a server and bartender. Read More>>

Mackenzie Kristjon

I work both as a singer-songwriter and as a film professional working as both cast and crew so basically I’m working in Music and Movies all the time. I’ve always done music but entered the film space around 2014. Read More>>