Pursuing a creative or artistic career can certainly be fulfilling, but it’s far from certain. Over the years, we’ve heard about the struggles from thousands of artists and creatives – it’s incredibly challenging and it can be tempting to wonder – what if you hadn’t pursued this path. We asked artists and creatives from across the community if they’ve every had those doubts themselves.

Isabel Mazzolini

I ask myself this question every single day: am I happy doing what I do?

The answer is a strong yes, but I can’t lie and say that it’s always been easy.
When I first started out it was difficult to see an improvement in my quality of life – long days for little money and repeat – and that made me wonder “what if I just give up and get a regular job, have time to hangout with my friends, enjoy a nice sunny day outdoor and just live life?” Read more>>

Joseph Marinick

I am 32 years old and have done art shows for the past 10 years. I worked as an actor getting small gigs, extra work and some commercials. I also performed hip-hop music and I tried that Avenue as well. I, during this time I have, I was dealing with depression and anxiety, I was also drinking to help self soothe. Seven years ago, I tried taking my life four years ago I quit alcohol three years ago. My best friend was murdered two years ago I put myself in the detox program to get off benzodiazepine which I was on for 12 years And that same year I got certified to teach medical students the 12 cranial nerves physical examination. For the past two years, I have worked as a Uber driver in the morning which helps pay my bills and I work as a contract physical exam training associate at both Texas A&M and University of Houston medical school . I plan on going back to school part time until I get my degree. Read more>>

Kimberly Thomas

Yes, I couldn’t ask for a better life and career. It is difficult at times. The work can be stressful, or draining, but it is fulfilling. I don’t think I would be as happy if I had chosen a different profession. I’ve had regular jobs, so I don’t wonder what having a “regular” job is like. Being an artist isn’t so different from “regular job” life, though. There are many tings we do differently, but I have a routine, a list of things to accomplish everyday, bills to pay. There are meetings and administrative work, too. Being an artist takes discipline and drive just like any other career. Read more>>

Kat Jones

Being an artist is part of who I am, and whether I’m in a full-time or part-time artist role (depending on the season of the year) I am very happy being that person, either way. I try to bring the same level of artistry to everything I do (whether in or out of that season) and I work to advocate for artists full-time when I’m not on the road or in a heavy production season. Read more>>

Douglas Jackson

I am thankful that I get the opportunity to do both. I am still able to go out and preform, entertain, and share my passion. But I am also a music teacher at Aurora West College Preparatory Academy; so during the day I get to pass on my musical knowledge and work with children. Read more>>

Devin Phaly

I am happy as an artist with many outlets of creative expression. There’s a privilege to be able to bring your ideas to life, to have a community around it and provide value to those who need it by sharing your art with others. That being said, that doesn’t mean I don’t struggle maintaining balance in all the areas of my life. Physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, socially and spiritually. It’s an honor to be able to perceive the world in a different way and I know that without balance you can really overindulge. Being a creative is different than being productive and I’ve learned that inspiration lives in your environment, the people, the stories and purpose. Read more>>

Arna Miller

Oh my god yes. When I think about a regular job, or I go into an office and see someone working, I feel grateful that I’m able to make a living as an artist. Read more>>

Jill Bergman

Having worked many different jobs before becoming primarily an independent artist, I’m so happy to have a creative career now. Being a self-employed artist is uncertain and inconsistent, but I’m always surprised by the way things usually do work out in the end. I find variety is important- selling original art, greeting cards, and commissions in a mix of locations- physical stores as well as online, has worked for me. I love the flexibility and creativity of being an artist. People probably imagine there is more art time than business time, but that’s not usually the case. There are so many different tasks to get done each day, but the joy is in getting to create new artwork. Read more>>

Rosangel Conde

I believe that if anyone could choose a dream career in life, it would be an artistic one. As a first generation daughter of immigrants, education was heavily enforced and I believed that I needed a career that was deemed stable for me to feel fulfilled. However, my passion was always music. After high school, it was quite conflicting to decide what I wanted to do with my life but social media changed that for me. Therefore, I’m very grateful and happy as an artist. Since the age of 2, this is all I’ve ever wanted to do and i wouldn’t change it for anything. Read more>>

Andres Sanchez

Writing poetry is one of the things that brings me joy in life. I am able to connect with so many people in the community that relate to my poetry and are find it as a way to learn more about the challenges that I’ve faced and surpassed. I am happy with how my work has also opened me up to opportunities that I never thought were possible. I have performed for a variety of audiences from colleges and universities to Pride festivals. I was too shy to share my work publicly but have now that I have been performing consistently for 5 years it is something that I look forward too. I still get very nervous before performances, but once I hit the state, it all becomes about who I am there to impact. Read more>>

SHN

I’m happy now. But that fluctuates more than I’d like it to. Most times, you put in a lot more energy into your work than what you get back. It’s hard, but whenever I wonder if I’d be happy having a regular 9-5, I’m quite confident I wouldn’t be. Read more>>

Christyana Fletcher

I love doing photography. Photography is just one of my degrees – I also have a degree in sociology and I’m currently working in behavioral health. Working in an office is a lot different than working in a creative field. Working creatively allows me to get more invested and passionate about each individual project – and I get to work with other creative people to develop new ideas. Working in mental health is fulfilling – but being creative has had my heart since I was a little kid. Read more>>

Josué Vera

I definitely enjoy a lot what I do as an artist and storyteller, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s a bit of a pendulum. There are many times in which I’m joyful and excited, times in which I’m a bit more neutral and going through the motions, and some times in which I’m exhausted and vulnerable. During those times, it definitely takes a bit of willpower. Especially at the beginning of your career, there’s a lot of uncertainty all throughout, be it financial or in relationships. When the pendulum swings low, I find myself wondering what it’d be like to have something more stable. I know myself though. I wouldn’t be happy at a regular job. At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s the type of job you have that makes you happy, but how you experience it, how you approach it, and who you surround yourself with. Be it in a creative freelance job or in a 9-5, there are pros and cons to both. I chose what feels right to me, and continue to choose so everytime the pendelum swings. Read more>>

Kymberly Harris

The art I respond to investigates a specific relationship between people and their environment. For some unknown but very real reason, the artist feels a need to express something from their perspective about this relationship. What always fascinates me is that the more specific and personal that perspective is, the more universal the effect. When you see a film or tv series ,or read a book, you can feel if the intention is giving voice to a personal perspective on human behavior, or if the intention is the opposite. an artist is interested in questions, not answers. Read more>>

Damarilee Alvarado

I am extremely happy as a creative. Being a creative is a large part of my identity and how the world perceives me. I feel like I was born to live in the purpose of a creative and I can only operate in that mindset and purpose. Read more>>

Princeton Brown

Being a creative is my nature. I realized early on after graduating college the typical 9-5 work lifestyle would not fulfill my spirit, soul, and ultimately my legacy I want to leave behind. I couldn’t express myself in the ways I wanted, and at the level I wanted to. I graduated from Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN with a B.S. degree in physics because deep down I’m very interested in knowing how our world works and being problem solver, but quickly I found once having a job as a high school teacher the lifestyle, routine, and grind of a 9-5 wasn’t fulfilling enough. Even though I loved the school I worked at, the students, the impact we were making, I still felt I was limited in how much I could make in impact in the world. Read more>>

Yi Chen

As a digital product designer at Duolingo, I am fortunate to be immersed in a highly creative and dynamic environment that fuels my daily motivation. Working in such a setting, I engage in various activities like design critiques, showcases, team events, and even crafts and art, which collectively contribute to a thriving atmosphere. Read more>>

Zeel Sangoi

Being an artist is not as easy as some people may think. It’s not quite as simple as picking up a high-end camera and clinking a button or taking a paintbrush and splattering paint on canvas. But, going back to the original question, the answer is yes. I love being an artist. And yes, there are times when I occasionally wonder what it would be like if I had a regular job, but I can’t fathom myself not being an artist or being a part of the creative community. Being an artist requires a lot of patience and learning, but I truly enjoy the process. For me, being an artist is much more than just making beautiful artwork; it’s about expressing my emotions, sharing my experiences, and exhibiting my world narrative. I doubt I’d be able to do that in a regular job. Read more>>

Heather Stadler

The plight of today’s artist is of colossal proportions. Despite the odds of real success, the romantic ideal of flourishing in the global garden of a thriving social media platform lures us swords blazing into a soul crushing battle where we are forced to split ourselves into pieces, striving tirelessly to win the popularity contest we unwittingly find ourselves entered in. To be our own accountants, marketing experts, content creators, gallery hustlers, inventory keepers, print packagers, order fillers… the list goes on. You do not leave work at the office. You do it late into the night. After the dishes are done, the laundry is folded, and the kids are asleep. You hope that tomorrow you might get a few hours to work on that new piece that’s been sitting untouched on the easel, which somehow ended up at the bottom of the list, again. Read more>>

Hugo Orezzoli

I feel blessed. I feel lucky. And yes, I am very happy. And yes, I do wonder every now and then what it would’ve been like to have a regular job, or do something monotonous 5 days a week, every week, and I can’t picture myself doing anything like that. Read more>>

Aurea Castro

I’m currently feeling really happy, but I must admit that my artistic journey had it’s ups and downs when it comes to joy. However, I’ve finally reached a point where I’m genuinely content with my work, myself, and the goals I’m striving for. Expressing myself through my art is like an extension of who I am, and I don’t think I’d be able to experience this same sense of fulfillment in any other job. Working for someone else in a regular position wouldn’t allow me the same level of freedom and passion that my art provides. Read more>>

Eileen Roscina

I go through different phases of loving the freedom of a creative life as an artist and wanting something more straightforward where I know exactly what to do next. Sometimes it would be so nice to have a job that you were told what to do, to just show up. But most of the time, I know I am doing what I am supposed to be doing and am grateful for the opportunity to give to my community in this way – however abstract it may feel sometimes. Read more>>

Chelsie Rae

I am – it’s really a blessing to be able to wake up every day and love what I do for a living! Aside from writing, I never thought of myself as much of a creative but now I’m two years in to slaying brows and I love this medium I’ve chosen. I consistently find myself surrounded by talented people, so this feels like the perfect setting for me to thrive in as a growing artist. Read more>>

Blanca Estefania Dunwoody

It is incredibly fulfilling to work as an artist. Creating something can be frustrating and challenging, but seeing a project come together and knowing I made it is incredibly satisfying. And there is nothing like seeing my artwork published, printed, or televised. Like many creatives, I have had to work “regular” jobs to get to where I am. I have done food service, retail, and various customer service jobs while pursuing my art degrees and profession. I am certainly glad I had the experience of working 9-to-5 jobs but don’t miss it. They all have lessons to be learned, and I am a better professional now because of what I learned in those jobs. Read more>>

Arhkota

Yes very happy, my regular job is music. Read more>>