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.

Renee Newman

I think every working creative has had thoughts float through their mind at one point or another throughout life on the premises of if I didn’t do this what would I be doing? While I definitely have wondered a couple times before what a different lifestyle could bring me, at this point I feel confident and unwavering in my decision to push on in this career path. I wake up every morning and choose this life again and again without a regret or doubt, because I don’t really want to be doing something else. The fulfillment this work and lifestyle bring me is incomparable and not worth the stability and normalcy the 9-5 life alleges to provide. I am very happy as a working artist, the art and documentation of human connection is electric, suffocating, all consuming to me, and it’s a massive privilege to hold and share these talents with the world. Read more>>

Austin Day

I’ve been creative my entire life. The pathway that many adults and schools pushed me through gave me a very limited idea of what to do with my craft. Dance was considered a fun hobby, something I could do as a child to fulfill a personal sense of pleasure. There was no concept of what I do now as a “regular job.” For a long time, I thought if I wanted stability, I’d need to follow the traditional route. Get a degree. Find a job that fit into society’s expectations. Let dance be something I did on the side. Watching my classmates plan their futures, aiming for careers that seemed straightforward, made me feel out of place. I wasn’t meant to be a doctor or engineer, but I also didn’t have a clear idea of what kind of future I could build with my creativity. The thought of getting stuck in a box, doing something that had nothing to do with my passion, felt worse than the uncertainty of figuring it out on my own. Read more>>

Sanise Bridges

I’m happier with a regular job while I’m still a creative. I was laid off from my remote (work-from-home) job in February 2024. It was sudden and unexpected. I was blessed to have a 16-week severance package offered to me from the company I was working for. In an instant, I was no longer working full-time and running my business part-time. I was now a full-time student and a full-time artist. I made art and enjoyed life as a creative. However, time was ticking and my severance package was slowly coming to an end. I was consistently applying for jobs for the stability that I was used to. I put my art in a gallery, posted content daily, and made all the heart my heart desired. I looked forward to waking up every day to continue my projects. The continuous pressure on my pieces to be profitable ruined my desire to create. I began to worry about my finances more and artist’s block set it. I stopped making art because I was feeling the effects of burnout. Read more>>

Wendell Supreme Shannon

Balancing life as both a professional artist and a longshoreman at the Port of Baltimore has been one of the greatest challenges and blessings of my journey. Working at the port isn’t just a job—it’s a life of dedication, where long hours and intense physical labor meet a deep-rooted sense of community, solidarity, and purpose. It’s not uncommon to find me unloading cargo from massive ships for hours on end, knowing I’ll head straight to my studio afterward, diving into my art late into the night. Many people assume that working in such contrasting industries would create tension or confusion. In reality, it has allowed me to understand the power of resilience and the importance of showing up—both for myself and for the communities I serve. Read more>>

Edmundo Kuri

It is interesting being a creative. No one really knows the price we pay to be able to work in this industry. The countless hours training only to be rewarded with countless hours of flexing our creativity so that we may properly deliver to our clients. And furthermore, the adaptability we must obtain after receiving feedback to change and alter our art to build a world in a collaborative space. I love this job as taxing as it may be. Read more>>

D’artagnan Perez

I find myself wondering if a career as a creative will be as fulfilling as I hoped. So far I have done one paid photography gig, while an amazing experience, the limbo I’m currently in is unnerving and discouraging at best. Hunting for jobs is draining especially creative ones and when you need to pay bills, waiting for one is a huge gamble. I have to ask myself if I would be happy hopping from job to job with potentially large gaps between each. It is honestly scary, not knowing when you will work again in the thing you want to be doing. On top of that, choosing to go with a regular job, do I pick one to pay the bills or find one that could potentially teach me new skills that I can use for opportunities in the future. Something I have struggled with in pursuing work in a creative field is balancing my passions with my work/school. I learned the hard way how easy it is to burn out the thing you love while in school studying illustration. When I got stopped pursuing illustration it ended up being a year before I bothered to draw anything because I was so exhausted. Read more>>

Dario Sabina

Yes, I am truly happy and grateful for what I do. Even though sometimes things take longer than expected or some projects don’t come to fruition, I honestly can’t see myself doing anything else. The last time I thought about giving it all up or at least having an alternative was last year during a deep personal and financial crisis. Fortunately, I was able to get through it, and I feel that it helped me focus better on where I want to go. I think the conclusion is to learn to accept, not to despair, and to see things from a slightly broader perspective in order to have a more complete picture. Read more>>

Morgan Kemp

I feel like the go to analogy would be that being an artist is a roller coaster ride full of highs and lows, but after a recent trip to the ocean the best way I can describe it is more like treading water in the sea. There are times where you can float and just be. You can look around and see the beauty around you, you can take a deep dive and discover something wonderful. But sometimes you have to fight the current, or get thrashed by a wave. Sometimes the visibility gets so bad you can’t see past your feet. Sometimes after all that struggle, you get too exhausted and you look at the people in the safety of a boat and you think, “man, that has to be nice, maybe I should hitch a ride?” Read more>>

Sage Phillips

You know, I think about that a lot, usually when my card declines at the grocery store. (Just kidding!) I’ve had plenty of “regular jobs” in my life, and I think that realistically, unless you have access to a generous benefactor willing funding your entire life Michelangelo-style, having a “regular job” is sometimes just part of the deal of being an artist. I’m extremely lucky to have jobs in creative fields adjacent to my artistic practice over the most recent few years, but most folks I know (even the ones who have “made it,”) have some sort of side-hustle or more conventional income to support themselves. That said, when I catch myself wishing I had studied Business Management or something, I always remember that It is so much more rewarding and freeing to be living and working in alignment with your authentic soul–even if that authenticity isn’t currently breaking the bank. I wouldn’t take a trillion dollars to pretend to be someone else. Read more>>

Stefan Talian

Trying to be a professional or full-time artist is a constant struggle between heart and mind. My heart is fully in, content, and there’s no doubt about whether what I’m doing is right. For me, the best proof of this was when the pandemic hit in 2021, and everything closed. Every day, I woke up in the morning and was an artist until I went to bed in the evening. There was nothing else to do, or in other words, there was nothing else that I felt I was supposed to be doing besides making art. There was no guilt whatsoever. My creative soul was happier than ever! It’s my brain that gives me a hard time. It attacks me, telling me that I need to grow up and do something more practical, something more secure. I’ve done many things in my life and taken some very sharp turns when a new calling appeared… but that’s what’s different now. There’s no other calling, no other option diverting me from my art. Art *is* the calling, and I will keep doing everything I can to keep this dream alive! Read more>>

Audrey Huga

For most of my life I’ve had regular jobs but as I have gotten older it became harder to mask the way that they affect me emotionally. I’ve given years to companies in the past and at the end of the day I was just a replaceable employee and a number in their system. In teaching and being part of an artistic community I have found that people value each other because who they are is an important component in what they bring to a class or collective. It’s like being part of a family. I came to this realization during the pandemic, when the job that I’d been working at for several years started prioritizing profits over the health and safety of their employees. There were people in my extended family that had gotten sick and died and my family was devastated because these people could never be replaced. But for the company I had been working for when people got sick and were hospitalized their only concerns were replacing them as quickly as possible to continue business. Read more>>

Adam Anglin

Being an artist is really all I’ve known so the idea of having a “normal job” sounds really hard. I’ve definitely had normal jobs in the past and I’m so grateful for the experience of those jobs. They taught me a lot about what it meant to be self sufficient and manage my time well. But I can say without hesitation that I’m happiest when I’m creating. I think the only time I wonder about a different, non-arts related job is when I’m feeling fried. Usually the push to get ready for a gallery show or art festival makes me start to wonder if I’m making the best life choices. That feeling of being on the brink can take it out of you. It’s fleeting but it does come up in the back of my mind. Painting can be a very lonely thing. You have to work at finding community to support you in that work to keep a healthy disposition. Read more>>

Colt Mclean

I would consider myself happy although as an artist I don’t believe happiness is my goal. My goal is to express my feelings regardless of what the emotion happens to be. Some of my greatest work has come from my most painful moments. My most successful expression may form while I feel the most broken, so I invite it all. The happiness lies in the fact I get to share my life experiences through the art and hopefully others can connect with it. At the end of the day you can’t have triumph without struggle and you can’t appreciate daylight without darkness. In regards to ever thinking about another path in life or a “regular job” I believe in manifestation too much to allow myself room for that wonderment. I’m locked in on my crafts and that’s the only way my life goes. Read more>>

Donny White

I’m the happiest I have ever been as a creative! I started my design career after serving 20 years in the United States Air Force. Fashion design has always been my first love but I had to be realistic and being a starving artist was of no interest to me. I honestly can’t say that my time in the military should be considered a “regular job.” I had some amazing experiences that have molded and shaped me into the highly motivated designer I am today. While I don’t miss the pressure cooker that was the US military, it does help me with my current perspective. I problem solve, manage my time, build lasting relationships, and negotiate with ease and that is due in huge part to serving my country. Read more>>

Anastasia Zielinski

Definitely, I think about this a lot. There’s something comforting about the idea of a “normal” job, especially at the end of the month when funds are tight. I remember sitting down recently, crunching numbers, and thinking, “Man, wouldn’t it be nice to have a steady paycheck? I could finally make some real moves financially.” It was one of those moments where the weight of responsibilities hit me—marketing my community studio, scheduling classes, ordering supplies, and trying to find time to create my own art. It can get overwhelming. Read more>>

Chi-yun Cheng

For the first question, the answer is always YES. Being as a creative definitely makes my life more interesting by embracing all the good and bad experiences and being inspired by the environment. However, I still thought about the second question many times throughout my entire career. For those who freelance or start up your own business, you must understand how difficult and unstable it could be sometimes. I have to figure out my own path instead of just following some regular routes. Read more>>

Oscar Alexander Javier

It was a Friday night and it was the end of the fall semester. I had just done my finals presentation earlier and now I was headed to work. I worked from 3 PM to 1 in the morning as a barback/busser. I was so tired I fell asleep on both trains I needed to take home and missed my stops. I finally made it home around 3 AM. I remember thinking to myself how much more time I’d have and how much easier life could be if I just stuck to a job and climbed the corporate ladder. Instead of working full time, studying, and pursuing acting I could just be working full time and make a decent living. Those kinds of thoughts come up all the time and every time I get to the same conclusion. Happiness. Simply put, I wouldn’t be happy. Sure I could make decent money and alleviate financial worries, but it’s all empty to me. Read more>>

Joey Tang

In a world that often equates success with stability and routine, I find joy in embracing my creativity. My journey as a DJ and music producer is a testament to the exhilarating highs of artistic expression, even as I navigate the uncertainties that come with a non-traditional lifestyle. While thoughts of a regular 9 to 5 job occasionally cross my mind, the freedom and fulfillment I derive from my craft far outweigh the allure of a predictable paycheck. Read more>>

Charlie Pogue

I’m absolutely happy to be an artist. I swore off the corporate world years ago. I’m not built for that kind of thing. I can’t imagine doing anything other than being a creative. I believe I was born to do this. Every other job I’ve ever had I felt like I was just living someone else’s dream. If you’re not creating then you are just consuming and at the mercy of others. I’m not good at pretending anymore, so whatever job I do have can’t be too “regular”. These days I prefer to not have to mask, and thankfully with my current situation I don’t have to. I don’t really think of my art as a job, although sometimes I do have to treat it like one for the sake of productivity. Read more>>

Abby Butler

Being an artist IS a ‘regular job’. I haven’t ever believed that not enjoying how I spend most of my day was the correct way to live my life.  Just because I am not miserable working to pay my bills doesn’t make being a creative an irregular job. I think the dialogue around being a creative needs to change to recognize that those who choose to do it are still working, and working REALLY HARD in some cases.  The day to day of a creative is based on how well you know your audience, and you have to determine that by doing all of the work from conceptual start to hard finish. In my case that can take weeks and months of design, execution, creation and market research. My current project has taken me years to realize and will take me years to execute, and I really have to determine if I have the dedication to see it through. I REALLY have to love each part of the process (or at least respect it) to be successful.  I enjoy the challenge. Read more>>

Tamara Dinius

Every time I’m setting up or tearing down an art show, dragging large paintings to a gallery, feeling stuck in a creative funk, or creating yet another class syllabus, I sometimes think about having a regular job. But then I realize how lucky I am to be an independent working artist. Sure, I hate those 6 a.m. load-ins at juried art shows and the long hours, but I remind myself how great it feels to have the freedom to do what I love. One of my top ten values in life is freedom. I’m a free spirit, and I just can’t handle the restrictions of a 9-to-5 job. I used to work in HR and Finance for 12 years, and while the paycheck was solid and the hours were somewhat flexible, I wasn’t my best self. I gave up my freedom for a paycheck, and I’ve promised myself that I’ll never let that happen again. Read more>>

Maria Shockey

Ah, such a great question! My first thought is that ‘happiness’ is a really tough goal post because you can never quite reach it, and really ANY path you take in life can cause you to question if the grass is greener on the other side. That said, this is actually a question I struggled with deeply over the last two years, and the mental space that I was in while writing a lot of my current project! One of my recent singles ‘dreamer’ was about exactly this. Read more>>

Mayra Zepeda-castillo

I love working at Sephora located in the Oak Park Mall. My creative side loves how we can use makeup to express ourselves freely & use new/different techniques. In the last year, I have had to (unfortunately) cut my hours back at Sephora as I have two daughters to support & need childcare for. Due to that, I have been working with Open Minds Child Development Center since April of 2023. I am now currently one of three Training Managers. I have always had a passion to help kiddos grow & to support them in any way I can. My mission has always been to help the kiddos in my care know that they are loved, heard & cared for by me. While I love working with children, I am still true to myself by working on my passion in makeup at Sephora. Read more>>

Julianna Lazio

I can confidently say that I am happier as an artist than I would be in most other professions. Every job, no matter how much one loves it, comes with its own challenges and rewards. There are certainly challenges I have come across in the unstable and ever-changing world of being an artist. However I knew long ago that enjoying what I do everyday is worth it. Growing up there were times that my family struggled financially but things always worked out one way or another. So I know that any career obstacles I come across will be able to be overcome and will also be worth it. The joy and fulfillment I get from creating art and sharing it with others is something I love and do not take for granted. Read more>>

Amethyst

I identify as both an artist and creative. I believe they are synonymous, and they work interchangeably as my gift. As a recording artist, I thrive in creative spaces and when I’m surrounded by creative individuals. Ingenuity propels me forward. It helps to navigate my music journey as well as the message and delivery of a song. Even so, I actually have a corporate job. My corporate line of work fulfills my passion from another channel, but simultaneously serves to help me complete my purpose. My regular job in pharmaceuticals promotes healing in a natural way. It’s more related to the physical body. My gift as an artist promotes healing from an emotional or spiritual aspect. I am constantly examining my purpose and passion to ensure that what I spend time doing aligns to my calling. Read more>>

Kamil Ghaouti

More than happy, I’d say I’m completely fulfilled as an artist. Music gave purpose and direction to my life and I often think about what else I’d be doing if I didn’t have that. It’s not the case though so I try not to dive too deep into these thoughts and focus on the passion. One thing that usually makes me wonder what it’d be like to have a regular job is the routine and forced discipline that comes with it that I sometimes envy. I’m grateful for the freedom I have when it comes to my working hours but part of me also wishes I had that structure where I know that if I don’t go to work at that time that day I’m gonna get fired. Another major difference is the financial side as it’s pretty rare to have a steady, consistent income with just music, there’s gonna be months where life’s smiling at you and everything’s coming at the same time and you make more money than expected and months where it’s just not working out no matter how hard you try. The main conclusion I always come to in the end is that I know I’ll never be as good in anything else as I am at making music, just cause of the time and effort I put into it for so many years so I don’t ever really consider switching careers, also I know nothing else will ever bring me as much adrenaline and fulfillment. Read more>>

Amir Yassai

I’ve been a creative my whole life and my dad was a very traditional business owner with a great company and I lived in his shadow, I wanted to be my own person. I’ve always felt more alive on a stage or on camera than I did anywhere else. I’m happy as an artist now once I realized I can be a creative without necessarily monetizing it. I can just exist as a creative and contribute to society without making money. This capitalistic perspective that only art that has been sold has value is not okay. I used to wonder why I couldn’t be happy as a real estate agent or publicist (jobs I used to have), but then I realized something my destiny in my life is to share my gift my art my social media my perspective on the world and that’s not only important but it’s beautifully necessary. Read more>>