• Is it natural to wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a different path? Is it common? We asked many artists and creatives from all over the country if they’ve ever wondered about whether they should have pursued a more standard career path to see what we could learn from their stories.

 Natalia Taylor

Many people dream of becoming an influencer. But quickly, your biggest dream can become your worst nightmare. What happens when the glitz of social media fame fades? (And Yes, it always does) Well, that part is up to you. Read more>>

Joe L Barnes

I am content, happy and satisfied to be a creative. I do not at any point wonder what it would be like to have a regular job. I really love being a creative and an artist and am one of those people who are not built to work a “normal” job. Read more>>

Wenqin Ni

Without hesitation, the answer is, yes! I always enjoy being an artist. No matter whether it is in front of the camera or behind the camera. I love to create meaningful stories in a visual way and I also enjoy exploring self confidence in front of the camera. Of course, enjoyment doesn’t mean it is easy. Oftentimes, it is very hard to maintain as an artist because we don’t have a static income. Usually, it is just project to project, freelance style. There might be times you get several projects at the same time. Crazy busy but also good income. Read more>>

Meranis Moss

I would take struggling as a creative over having a secure regular job 100% of the time. The fulfillment I get from living in line with my purpose could never be bought out. I know that the game I’m playing is a long one and it’s full of ups and downs, so the challenges I face from being an artist kind of comes with the territory. It’s a hustle for sure. Read more>>

Deví Deauville

I am extremely happy as an artist/creative. When I was about 18, I did have a corporate job just to feel out what it was like to have a bit more of a “normal lifestyle“. After about six months, I came to the conclusion that a an office job was not for me even if I was a manager or assistant manager. In a corporate environment, I was never given the flexibility to live out my destiny or anything close to it. Read more>>

Jonathan Dritto

Am I happy as an artist? I mean, wake up when I want to, create one of a kind pieces of art whenever I want, play with my pets, live life at my own pace, and navigate the seamlessly neverending rollercoaster that is running a small business? Yes! No matter what I’ve done, or continue to do in life I will always be an artist first. Do I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a regular job? Well, plot twist. Read more>>

Cadeem LaMarr

Being an artist is such a beautiful blessing, and a curse at the same time. I love the days where I can create almost nonstop, the feeling from that is indescribable. Overall, I love every minute of what I do, and I’m fortunate to be blessed with that talent and drive to do so. On the other hand, this business does make you encounter some unsavory practices and people. I do envy those that lead non-creative lives/careers because there is a sense of stability and respect that you don’t get as a creative. Read more>>

 Livva Jones

Absolutely, there have been times when I thought about what my life would be like if I wasn’t an artist and honestly, the thought of it makes me feel empty. Being an artist has made me a happily healed person, filled with so much gratitude and appreciation to be able to create for a living that I can’t picture doing anything else. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t have music. Read more>>

D’Angelo Louis

“Am I happy as a creative? It’s not just happiness that defines my creative journey; it’s also an overwhelming sense of inspiration. I have the privilege of being both a creative and an executive, assisting others in bringing their ideas to life. What truly captivates me is the fact that each day, at any given moment, I can conceive an idea or a story, jot it down, and discuss it with fellow creatives and executives. Read more>>

Yana Beylinson

Are you happy as an artist or creative? Do you sometimes wonder what would it be like to have a regular job? It took me many years to arrive to a place I am in now – a full-time artist with a studio and an audience. This is not something I take lightly. It was an achievement just to get here. Read more>>

Wenjia Wang

Being an artist is the most grateful things that happen to me. It is a fulfilling and rewarding pursuit for me. It allows for creative expression, the exploration of ideas, and the ability to communicate with others through various art forms. As an artists, I always find joy and satisfaction in the process of creating and sharing my work, as well as in the impact their art can have on others. Read more>>

Evan Azher

I love what I do, but it’s not without its own unique set of challenges. I think the hardest part about making a living off of any creative act is trusting in your own ability to continually find new ideas and think outside the box. Having constant creative question marks floating on the horizon can create a bit of a feeling of uncertainty and stress. I think I have to remind myself to not be overly precious about it all, and just treat it like a normal 9-5 as much as possible. Read more>>

Preston Walden

I love creating. It is one of the most fulling things I know there is to do, because it opens up new worlds, lives and subjects that may or may not have been there before, but will always have something new to tell from that point of view. I love seeing the process of where a film starts; from a blank screen. There, anything is possible. I believe the only limits is one’s imagination. Creating is pure freedom. It is also pure expression and leads sometimes to roads that we never thought we would take. Read more>>

Ana Kim

I am happy to have a job that allows me to unleash my creativity and manage my time according to my own artistic schedule. My current work lifestyle revolves around the freedom to create, promote, and communicate ideas related to various projects and exhibitions. In addition to these responsibilities, I also engage in teaching, attending art fairs, and participating in artists’ meetings. Read more>>

Paige Rochefort

Happy is an understatement. Being in my purpose and passion has been the most life giving experience on this Earth. They say when you align yourself in this life, doors begin to open. And I swear it to be true. There is such magic that occurs when you call out what you dream about, accept it as truth and begin to make it a reality. It’s the furthest thing from easy or straight forward. There are plenty of challenges and each person will enter that portal of their passion differently. And if it’s authentic to who you are, it will be worth all of the challenges you’ll face. Read more>>

Laura Haley

I honestly don’t know what else I would be doing. Since I was little I have always had art as a way of expression. My mother was a pianist so there was always music in our house growing up. Music gave her such joy! It was her own thing that she created and shared with our family. Because of her, I saw how important it is to develop whatever you feel you are good at, what completes you or makes you the most happy. Read more>>

YAUHENIYA RAMANOVICH

In my personal journey towards happiness and health, I’ve found that overworking, even in a job you love, can be detrimental. The worst thing for an artist is to lose inspiration, passion, and curiosity. There’s a certain charm in missing your art practice and yearning to return to it. I appreciate project-based work, where after periods of intense work, I can afford time to rest, relax, and introspect. Read more>>

Donny Van Slee

I’m happy as an artist but I also have a regular job. I’m a full-time chiropractic physician and a full-time musician. I work as a chiropractor Thursday through Monday and perform live shows, record, write songs, and create social media content when I’m away from the office. It’s common for me to care for over fifty patients a day and then perform at night. This route in life was very unexpected. Read more>>

Jodi Bonassi

I have always loved creating art. When I don’t draw or paint I become moody or tense at times but I think it’s a myth that artists are unhappy people. As an artist I can observe the world around me and bring my thoughts to life with pencils, and paints. Read more>>

Chloe Wilwerding

Almost every day, I think about what it would be like to have a regular job. I’m occasionally jealous of friends who have bosses who give them direction and coworkers who partner on projects. I crave a consistent pay day and employee benefits, especially healthcare. I sometimes envy people who leave work at the end of the day and leave their work behind; I can leave the studio, but that doesn’t free me from bouncing between ideas and collecting images in my head. Read more>>

Melissa Ellis

Embracing my creative-self has been the single most incredible act I’ve ever pursued. There’s nothing like it. I knew from a very early age that music was both a gift and a passion, I just couldn’t fathom how much of that would shape me and carry me through my adult years as a career! It has even opened doors to other creative mediums and talents I didn’t know I possessed such as writing–I published a book in 2010–and creating a social media and consulting agency for artists and venues which takes a lot of creativity! Read more>>

Aria

I am very happy! Happiness is never linear but I live with a huge amount of gratitude each day. I think being happy and comfortable are two different things. Would I be more comfortable with a consistent, “regular” job? Absolutely. But I would always live with a nagging feeling that I could be living more expansively and I am happy that as uncertain as it is I am pursuing my purpose and choosing happiness over comfort. Read more>>

Mariah Janaé

I am happy and grateful with being a creative. Sometimes I do wonder what it would be like if I pursued and just focused on working a regular job. I remember a goal of mine I had I wanted to get into journalism and major in broadcast journalism. In general I feel I love to express myself so whether that’s with words or with modeling it aligns with my purpose. Read more>>

James Bullard

The late, great Hank Williams once said: “You don’t have to suffer to be a great artist, but it damn sure helps.” I’m not sure I’ve ever been 100% happy. I was very fortunate and blessed to have the career I did, but it was all happenstance and luck. Unfortunately talent and skill alone do not matter in the music business. It’s all about who you know and how much money they have to push you. Read more>>

Elyse Jones

I think the most important difference between a “regular” job and a career that centers around creativity is that most of the time, the artist can’t exist in anything other than the creative realm. There is something so deep and so inherent within them that they must create. Read more>>

Yoram Ga

I have been an artist all my life. I almost studied psychology but chose theater and cinema at University. It was a huge joy to do my first painting at age 12. Since then, despite high hurdles and countless hardships – financial, struggle for recognition, terrible critiques – I have been feeling happier every day since that age 12 first painting. I am now feeling I am the happiest man on earth. I do what I want and love, paint, write what I want and love. Read more>>

Morgana Cosplays

I have never gone this deep into an interview question before, but I feel like this is my chance to become very clear about a lot of issues that hit close to home for me. I have known my entire life that I wanted to create but I was not prepared for the real world being so un-creative. I was always told to ‘be myself’ and that doing so would get me the furthest in life. Read more>>

Meg Fox

I am very happy as an artist! It’s still work of course, but every other job I have ever had I have gotten in some kind of trouble for doodling or daydreaming when I should have been working. In high school I worked for a gym. When I was sitting at the front desk, I would often draw entire scenes on the back of the sign in sheets. My boss would always say for the time it took me to draw these intricate doodles, I could have cleaned the whole locker room! Read more>>

Stryker.

Man, this is really a loaded question! I think part of being an artist, or at least progressing as an artist, is never being satisfied. Always feeling like you need to improve, or grow in some way. So trying to find happiness in a constant state of dissatisfaction is no easy task. Happiness comes and goes, and it’s easy to say “Oh I’ll be happy when ‘this’ happens.” Or “I’ll be happy when that happens.” Read more>>

Megan Sousa

I am super happy as an artist and creative. There’s a certain freedom I feel when I create. However, there have been points over the years where I wondered what it would be like if I would work in the corporate world. The thought of that actually gave me more motivation to double down in my creative work. Read more>>

Jill Zelenski

Absolutely, yes. I would not be my authentic, right-brained, self if I wasn’t an artist. The only thing I feel like I”m missing out on by not having a “regular” job is the respect and pay-grade. I wish creatives were valued more across the board. Read more>>

Emma Br&

I had a regular job! I really tried to do the 9-5 thing and was actually really passionate about what I was doing. I was studying Alzheimer’s Disease at MGH with a really inspiring group of humans. But, like most people I think, eventually you start to look around and wonder why politics and ego matter more than creating collaborative community, and you start to feel deflated. Read more>>

Andrea Del Rio

As an artist and creative individual, I find immense joy in pursuing my passions. The freedom to express myself through painting figures and landscapes, as well as repurposing thrifted clothing, provides me with a sense of freedom. My favorite part is the ability to explore various artistic outlets, ensuring that I never experience burnout. When I feel tired of painting, I indulge in bedazzling shoes or taking care of my plants. Read more>>

Randy Sternberg

I love what I do. No I don’t wonder about working a regular job. Sometimes the security of a regular job is appealing. Read more>>

Dena Lyons

Artists have creative souls, like birds have wings. I am definitely destined to create. The concept of a regular 9-5 job doesn’t really resonate with me. I tend to work all hours of the day, always developing new projects, thinking outside the box, so a regular job with would hinder me in many ways. Read more>>

Xenny Dreamr

I would say that I am very happy to be an artist/creative! Growing up I’ve had to work 9-5 and I do not miss that at all lol. I want to have a career in something I am passionate about and see longevity in. Many late nights and early mornings but I’d rather have my music be the reason. Music is something that has been a passion of mine since I was 5 years old. Read more>>

Dustin Lopez

A regular job? Like Monday through Friday, 8-5? Kill me now, hahahaha. No, I don’t wonder. I used to work that regular job and was so unsatisfied, it really messed with my mental health. I felt so caged and misunderstood. I’m most creative in the mornings and early afternoons, having my life evolve around this ‘regular job’ would really get in the way of that. My last regular job was with a Tribal Government and my boss was a horrible person, the worse leadership skills. Read more>>