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.

Stephanie Hawkins

Knitting is such a meaningful part of my life—it feels like it’s always been a part of me. From the moment my grandmother taught me as a child, I’ve been drawn to the calming rhythm of the needles and the way I can transform a simple strand of yarn into something beautiful and unique. Being a knitter gives me a special sense of joy and fulfillment. I love picking out the perfect fibers for each project, knowing it’ll become something one-of-a-kind. The challenge of learning new techniques and pushing myself creatively is exciting, but what really makes knitting special for me is how it connects me to my roots, to my own creativity, and to the people who will appreciate the pieces I make. It’s my happy place, my personal escape, and my way of sharing something warm and meaningful with others. Read more>>

Feyisayo Anjorin

I imagine a hell of a life outside creativity. I’ve been drawn to creativity from my childhood years and like an addiction it has been hard for me to live without it. My Dad was also a creative soul but from my observation he could not be as artistically productive as he would have been because he had what we call a regular job, and to a very large extent this lack of immersion in his creative essence affected his happiness. As much as being a creative has its peculiar challenges, I am glad to be walking this path. Read more>>

Mercedes Garcia

I am so incredibly grateful that being a creative is the life path I’ve chosen. The normal workday is generally eight hours, but in the film industry, it’s twelve hours. I’m personally, especially as a producer and director, often pulling sixteen-hour days when I’m in production. By the end of the day, my feet ache, my body hurts and I’m physically and mentally tired. But my soul feels so full and happy. Read more>>

Donald Price

I enjoy what i do, i love being able to tell the stories i went through and maybe stories my my peers are going through or may experience. Whether that be from me being a man, black and black and queer. That’s the best part of it all. The hard part is when it comes to dating or trying to split time between what is consider the weird world and the world of arts. Some people believe you do it for attention, others don’t want to deal with the face pace life style. It can be overwhelming and taxing on your mental. I tell all my artist friends, you have to remember the why, the why i chose this lifestyle, why i want to share my art, why Read more>>

Angelica Barraza

I’m definitely happier as an artist, but I’d be lying if I said the thought of having a “regular” job doesn’t cross my mind sometimes. It’s hard to explain because it’s not just about the work itself—it’s about the lifestyle, the freedom, and the constant hustle that comes with being a creative. That said, there are days when the weight of it all makes me pause and think, “Would it be easier to just clock in, clock out, and not carry this emotional baggage all the time?” Read more>>

Yoshihisa Toda

I am deeply satisfied with my work as a cinematographer. Being able to connect with people not through words but through light and color is incredibly fulfilling. On set, we exchange ideas and create visuals through shared inspiration, which I find truly amazing. As cinematographers, we often work on projects that take us to various countries and locations, collaborating with people from different cultural backgrounds. These encounters become a source of fresh ideas, sparking the creation of more interesting films and visuals. I have never considered doing any other job Read more>>

Dina Ruzha

Ever since I was six, I knew I wanted to be an artist or a dance teacher—it was a simple yet unwavering dream. Fast forward, and here I am, an illustrator working with major publishers, brands, and magazines worldwide. My childhood vision came true, but the reality of being a professional illustrator—and a freelancer at that—turned out to be far more challenging than I’d imagined. Read more>>

Yao Xiao

Last summer, I reunited with my old friends from high school in Australia. We had shared everything during those formative years—boarding school, shared experiences as international students, and a collective sense of figuring out who we were. Coming back together was nostalgic and heartwarming, but it also made me realize how much our paths have diverged, especially in the stability of their lives compared to mine. Read more>>

Talcon Quinn

It’s hard to be an artist or creative in our modern society, particularly doing totally solo without inheritance or a partner to financially support you. I have often wondered what it would be like if I did not have to live the lifestyle of a creative person. If I could somehow tame or at least balance my need to make art with a “regular job” and pass as more “normal”. Read more>>

Menen Nehneh

Allowing myself to step into my creativity has been one of the most liberating experiences I have had, to date. I have worked plenty of jobs, and none of them compare to embracing my creativity and capitalizing off of it. I come from a line of women in healthcare, and I have always wanted to help people in some way, ever since I was little. It wasn’t until I had a coming of age moment that I realized, I can be a doctor in another way. I would deem my energy, and creativity, inspiring, infectious, and pivotal. I have something no one else has, because I am me. Being a creative has compelled me to reflect, forced me to be confident, open, enabled me to grow, and so much more. Being a creative isn’t something minuscule, it’s monumental. Read more>>

Michelle Sakhai

I wouldn’t say that I’m simply ‘happier’ as an artist—it’s that being an artist is who I am on a soul level. From as early as I can remember, creating has been as natural to me as breathing. I’ve always known that this path was my purpose. The idea of a ‘regular job’ never crossed my mind, not for a single second. In fact, there was never a point, even in adolescence when self-discovery often brings questions, that I doubted my place as an artist. Read more>>

Jude Valentin

I truly think that my life would be duller if I wasn’t a creative person. I don’t think there is a reality in which I’m not being an artist. My artistry, the craft, creativity, is all a fundamental part of who I am. Before I got into photography, I did theatre – I have a Bachelor’s degree in Acting. I started acting in a school setting when I was in the 7th grade and I did it until the pandemic hit. While I was getting my undergrad, I also pursued a minor in photography because I had always been fascinated by the art form and it was something that would unexpectedly come back into my life in 2022. Read more>>

Steven Elowe

This question can be answered both with one word… “yes”… as well as a week’s worth of discussion. I don’t think ANYONE that knows me would argue that while i’m in creative mode, there is NO PLACE ELSE that makes me happier… more ‘me’ so to speak. From my earliest remembrances of being 5 years old, singing Pear Bailey’s “Summertime” and Gary Lewis’s “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” to the sky on my swing-set until I started getting paid to sing and play guitar by the time I was 10, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Read more>>

Mia Palau

I am the happiest I’ve ever been working as a full-time tattoo artist! I will say though that while it’s deeply fulfilling, it’s also incredibly challenging. I obviously love being able to pursue my creative passion and I’m super grateful that I get to do that. But in practical terms it’s also very hard, I feel a lot of pressure all the time. Still, I have worked “secure”, “regular” jobs most of my life, and the only way I’ll ever go back to those is the day I can’t pay my bills. Read more>>