Do you ever wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a more standard path? Does everyone have these doubts sometimes? We wanted to find out and so we asked as many talented artists and creatives as we could and have shared highlights below.

Christine Lee Smith

Being an artist is a complicated thing. A mentor of mine, Beth Pickens, says that artists are the only people who work a job, so that they can do their (art)work. This has absolutely been my experience. When I was first on my path as an artist I thought my day-job was my artwork. While there were moments where that felt true, over time I realized that my work was not scratching my internal drive to make artwork through my photography. I needed something to change so that I could make time and space to make my artwork. Read more>>

Amanda Victoria

Am I happy? That changes on a day to day basis. Sometimes, I’m so thankful to myself for taking one of the scariest leaps I’ve ever taken in my life to quit my job and do music full time. But sometimes, like this week in fact, I loath myself for putting myself in this position! Putting the pressure of paying your bills on the notoriously delicate process of creativity can be one of the biggest killers of inspiration. Read more>>

Kailey Shaffer

I am so happy being an artist and creative. To be able to wake up and do something I am passionate about is something I am eternally grateful for. Over the years, I’ve had numerous people tell me how lucky I am to have a career that is also my passion. While this is true, most people don’t see the struggles and battles you still have to overcome– even when you’re career is your passion. Read more>>

Braxton Holme

In the beginning of my career journey, at times I would contemplate if going into a creative industry was the right move for me. I knew that I wanted to be successful and make enough money to sustain the lifestyle that I have always dreamt about. This worry really came into play during my final years of High School where most of my classmates were applying to Harvard and Yale in hopes of studying Law, Pre-Med and such. Read more>>

Kingsley

1000000% some days I think, “Well this is too difficult, I am going to quit..” but honestly, ask yourself what it could you do that brings you so much joy. You will have highs of highs and the LOWEST of lows, but that’s part of the game. Read more>>

Joe Mikoli

I am a freelance creative, and I am proud to say that I am genuinely happy with the path I have chosen. Throughout my professional journey, I have ventured into numerous freelance projects and working a part-time job to sustain my income. While some individuals may stumble upon lucky connections, the majority of us must endure struggles and work harder to achieve our financial goals. Read more>>

Amanda Keltner

I think that I am the happiest when I am creating. While I am in my studio, I am able to have a release from the rest of the world and am able to clear my mind and just be. When I go into the studio, I light one of my favorite candles, sit at my desk and breathe. I take in all of the things around me, set my intentions, then I can start to create, kind of like a meditation process. I have tried working a regular job and it was not for me at all. Read more>>

Trevor Donnelly

This question is a tough one for me. I am overall happy yes, but it took me a long time to reach a state of peace with myself and where my life is headed. Truthfully I was unhappy for a very long time. The struggle as an indie artist and a signed artist is unmatched to most career choices. Some days are better or worse. I just take it all in stride. Yes I wonder what it’s like to have a regular job, I had that wonder for over 6 years as a professional artist. Read more>>

Lisa Sampietro

I’ve never been happier with my line of work than I am right now. I wanted to be a full time photographer since childhood. I could NOT imagine going back to a “regular” job. It’s actually my biggest business fear. Read more>>

Karla Cabido

Yes, I’m actually very happy with my decision, but sometimes I can’t help but wonder what life would be like with a regular job. Being an artist lets me follow my passion and express myself creatively, which is a liberating feeling. There might be more stability and financial security in a regular job, but I find real fulfillment and joy in my pursuits. Read more>>

Caroline Karp

Being able to pursue my passion for art and creativity as a profession is a true blessing. As an artist, I have the freedom to express myself authentically and explore the depths of my creativity. I find tremendous joy in the process of creating, whether it’s putting brush to canvas, writing, or teaching others. It allows me to tap into a sense of flow and connect with something greater than myself. Read more>>

Naeemah Purcell

I actually am happy as a creative. I get to create so many different things that people can enjoy! Believe it or not, I do actually work a somewhat regular job that helps me afford to bring all of my ideas to life, while also giving me the freedom to afford to give time to all of my projects. Read more>>

Tricia Sham

I feel ecstatic as an artist. One of the many joys of being an artist consists of connecting with people through differing versions of interpretations. In relation to wondering what it would be like to have a ‘regular job’, as I was an instructional intern while pursuing my master’s in teaching, I thought, ‘This just isn’t for me…’ Read more>>

Karen Ballew

Overall, I’m happy being an artist, but I’ve had my moments of doubt and have wondered if I would be happier doing something else for a living. As an artist, you can’t really “leave your work at work” because your work is your passion; it’s with you and part of you all the time. That can be a tremendous blessing but also feel like a curse at times. Read more>>

Jonathan Roberts

I’m happy to be a creative most of the time, but it does have its humbling moments that make you feel that this isn’t what you weren’t meant to do. As far as working a regular job that’s something i never wanted to do. Read more>>

Chisato Iimori

I’m glad that I chose this path of being a creative and dancer. For me, I went through many processes to decide on what I am doing right now. Through all the hardships, I continued dancing because I didn’t want to regret not even trying. Dance, which is art and culture, has no “right” answer. Read more>>

Katherine Perdomo & Marcos Mejias

Currently we both live from our full time jobs Monday to Friday office hours. In our spare time, what we like to do the most is feed our hobby. As a dancer or in this case a flamenco dancer (Spanish dance) I try to take courses regularly and attend classes. Marcos in the kitchen area always seeks to invent new things and perfect the techniques learned. Read more>>

Anita Riggs

I am happy as an creative! I have so many different avenues I can tap into and in doing so learn even more varied skills along with the process. Being a Makeup Artist, Cosplayer and Creator of Spaces gives me the freedom to move as I desire, and doing things I love to do. There is always times where a regular jobs innate security and lack of company level decision making is comforting, Read more>>

Dynasti Smith-Malone

I am very happy as a creative. I believe I’m the most grounded, yet the most free I’ve ever been in my life. At times that this journey gets difficult I do wonder if taking the 9-5 route would be easier to manage, and then I think about how fulfilling this path already is to me and know within myself I’ve made the right decision with choosing this path and will continue to do so. Read more>>

Kristin Wesley

Oh man. Sometimes being an artist make me super happy!! Sometimes it’s challenging too. But in the end, it has always been worth it. Before working as a full-time artist, I was a clinician in the behavioral health field. I worked with “at risk” youth, the unhoused, adults with severe mental illness and in hospitals, schools, communities and even homes providing support, skills training and resources to help others live their best lives. Read more>>

Alexx Calise

That’s a tough one (haha). As an artist and creative, I’m naturally tormented. The conflict makes for great art :) More often than not though, I’m happy with my life. I get to make music with my best friend, I have a great family and friends, and I have air in my lungs. My definition of success as an artist has changed a lot over the years. I’m much calmer and a lot kinder to myself. Read more>>

Altayzie

What a loaded question! First things first, I’ve only had regular jobs, and I think 99% of artists are in the same boat as I am. I sell merch here and there, and have gotten paid for a couple performances over the years, but that’s really it. This whole notion of artists making a living off their music is a total facade. These streaming services are basically just landlords that charge artist to exist in their catalogues. Read more>>

Leslie Archila

I love my job! I see it as like I’m always trying to create something beautiful, fun, creative and overall functional. It is that challenge of figuring out how to combine all of those elements in one space and make it all work together. One of the things that I enjoy the most is at the end of the project seeing it all together and seeing how happy my clients are, that’s a really gratifying feeling. Read more>>

Katia Meisinger

Oh man I am over the moon that I am an artist! I can’t imagine not creating things or getting my hands dirty! I do teach, I’ve worked in a gallery, and I’m a department assistant. I’ve had many “regular” jobs related and unrelated to art. I think if I didn’t fall into being an artist I believe I would have picked a different creative path. What that could have been… I’m not sure. But, art has always been my first love. So no, I’ve never wondered about having a different career path. Ugh, the thought of having a non-creative based life makes me sad. Read more>>

Bebe Keith

I had a “regular” job (though I bristle at this term) for years as an elementary school teacher. While I enjoyed it and found it rewarding, it was a tough job and it took it’s toll on my body. At the end of every day, my voice was hoarse and my throat hurt from a full day of talking. I was constantly sick with a cold or flu or strep. People said I’d develop an immunity, but I never did and from the start of school in September until school let out for summer, I was sick. Summer was such a refreshing time because I felt healthy. Read more>>

Mikki Zip

I love being a creative and being able to share my story and feelings through art, I think it is something very special. If being a singer/songwriter, like I am, is something you want to make a career out of, you have to be completely self motivated. I try to do at least one thing a day that will propel me forward in this industry and in my skills. Sometimes when you keep pushing and pushing yourself, Read more>>

Rachel Cocca

I am beyond grateful to be able to do work I love every day. I’ll be standing a top a rolling ladder looking over racks and racks of glorious vintage clothes in a huge warehouse dedicated to costumes in Los Angeles, California (okay Burbank but STILL) and I can’t help but smile. I’m getting paid to dress people, paid to create a character, paid to help tell a story. Read more>>

Tracy Lambros

Are you happier as a creative? Thank you. I am happy as an artist. I have always worked in creative fields, beginning with internships I had with Maryland photographers in my MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) undergrad days as a photography major. Those internships led to freelance photography jobs when I moved to Manhattan. Read more>>

Geoff Schmith

I am extremely happy to be a creative. It can be frustrating and time consuming, but being able to tap into that creative side of things every day is exciting to me. I actually have a day job right now that pays the bills until I’m able to solely make money being a creative, so I do both. It can be a juggling act most of the time but it’s what works for me. Read more>>

Brian Barefoot

I am PROUD to be an artist. I feel to interpret my own relative world is a humbling and invigorating experience. I also feel lucky to have the ambition and will to put forth the effort of catalyzing my existence through strange doodles +) Read more>>

Amber Gillian

I am extremely happy as a creative/artist. I always felt that a regular job was not for me. I never liked clocking in and out for someone else on their time. I just dreaded a 9-5. I had a few regular jobs from the age of 18 to the time of the pandemic and I wouldn’t change anything. The regular jobs I had gave me that experience and ultimately let me know that it’s not for me. Doing something I love to do and look forward to doing it every day is all I could ever ask for. Read more>>

Julia Hill

Extremely happy! I am so grateful that I was able to be able to pursue my dreams to become a full-time artist. It took several years of prep work, projects and learning to be able to get where I am today and I’m extremely grateful for the journey here. I think because I’m so happy that I’m able to create everyday, that having a “regular” job again wouldn’t fulfill me in the ways that having an art career does. Read more>>

Troy Ganser

I am truly “living the dream.” I’ve known what I wanted to be “when I grow up” since I was 7 years old. A key to success (as I define it, and everyone must define for themselves) is tenacity. Determine what you want to do and stay focused on making progress – not perfection, but baby steps. Read more>>

Pynk Mo$cato

I am extremely happy as a creative, but I definitely wonder what it would be like if I did something “regular”. When I say regular I don’t mean easy, I don’t think anything you take seriously is easy, but with more conventional jobs there’s more of a road map. You go to school for ‘x’ amount of years, you get this internship you apply to these places and boom, start your career. Of course this is a vague depiction, but what I’m trying to say is with my chosen path there is no right or wrong way to do it. Read more>>

Jake Fraczek

I’m not sure I know any other way. I mean, I know other ways, I’ve had jobs that weren’t creative, but I had no ambition or plans to walk that road too long. The ups and downs that come with this can be draining, and it preys on my anxiety, leaving you to look at people with stable 9-5’s with an odd jealousy. Read more>>

Lynn Wiginton

I was a child who always enjoyed craft projects. Over time I have continued to try a variety of new craft/art projects. I have always sold some of these craft items as well as enjoyed them for my own personal use. As I approached retirement, my daughter involved me developing an array of sewn items to sell at Atlanta area boutiques and a few festivals. Read more>>

Donnell J Clayton

I am in a rare position as a creative. Choosing a career with the Detroit Fire Department has provided me with a stable stream of income, while simultaneously allowing me to help my community and be an example to others. As an actor, I am blessed to be able to stay true to myself as far as the roles I take. There isn’t a role I’ve taken thus far that has been specifically “for the money”. Money is nice to have but when it comes to the art, and my body of work I always want to look back with pride. Read more>>

Brian Wolff

Yes, most of the time… I am happy as an artist. I’ve got a good professional life set up for myself. A big thing I had to figure out was how to find a balance between the good money earning gigs and the more creatively fulfilling gigs (bonus points if a gig checks both boxes). Both are important to me and it’s great when I feel like both my needs as a creative and my needs as a person to make a living are being taken care of. Read more>>

Callen Schaub

As an artist or creative, happiness for me is not a fixed goal but a byproduct of my environment and mentality. It intertwines with my disciplined attitude. While I embrace positivity and happiness in my persona and brand, I avoid toxic positivity because life has ups and downs. Being honest about our emotions and experiences is vital. Read more>>

Mishele Arciniega

I don’t see myself doing anything else that is not music. It is a universal language, something that all cultures around the world share. Even though it is a long path that requires a lot of resistance and patience, there is nothing more beautiful than connecting with people’s hearts. If I weren’t in music, I would still look to dedicate my life to something that brings people together. Read more>>