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.

Ariel Bui

Teaching, creating and playing music brings me a joy that keeps me tethered to them for life.

AND, simultaneously, there are so many realities that threaten to undermine that happiness–complicated taxes, financial instability, burnout, imposter syndrome, and all the human aspects of the existential question- “What is happiness?”.

I do often wonder what it would be like to have a “regular job” with a reliable salary, benefits, and a 401K. Read more>>

Winnie Chiu

I am thrilled as an artist and a creative person. I can share the world from my perspective. At this stage, I am creating work for me and no one else. Yes, I do collaborations and commissions. All the paintings I create are for me and the value of my work is based on how much time I put into each work. Read more>>

Katie O’rourke

I found myself searching for a job with the State last year. Every other year I start to fantasize about a full-time job with health care, maybe even a 401 k. Drool. Then my husband swoops in and saves me from myself, he gives me the much-needed pep talk to keep going as a self-employed artist. Afterall, he has had to cohabitate with me when I had a full-time desk job, it’s no picnic. Read more>>

Lily Marange

Yes, I am. Being an artist, performing and sharing my music is my essence, this is who I am, this is my air, my food. Creating something, giving birth to something new, given as a divine gift, which I can share with people is the most fulfilling and overwhelming feeling I’ve ever experienced. Read more>>

Kaylin Saur

In 2021, my career as a circus acrobat ended unexpectedly due to injury. I was told I needed open rotator cuff repair surgery, the healing time on which is more than 18 months to return to full function. By the time I was diagnosed, I had been in pain for nearly two years, and had been powering through as an athlete and artist training and performing full time. When my doctors told me I would have to give up performing I found myself, shockingly, relieved. The sudden loss of the career I’d worked so hard for was devastating, but I was looking forward to no more late night rehearsals or training, no more months of financial insecurity if a gig fell through, no more obsessing over what I ate or how I slept, no more constant audition hustle. I really thought I would never be an artist again, and that I was going to be happy with that. Read more>>

Richard Barman

Sometimes, when you choose a less traveled road, there’s this quiet weight you carry around, especially when people keep bringing up how important it is to be stable rather than chase after what you’re truly passionate about. It comes up in every chat where someone kindly suggests you get a “proper” job. For me, photography was never just about clicking a shutter or making pretty pictures; it was how I made sense of the world, a way to keep stories from being forgotten. But we live in a world where they often judge how well you’re doing by how steady your job is, where a regular salary is seen as the key to a good life. Because of that, chasing a career in something creative was always met with a bit of doubt. There were times when I wondered about it too. Would having a regular job give me the money I needed to keep doing my photography? Read more>>

Kristi Arzola

I’m happiest when I’m creating—whether it’s a new watercolor landscape, a custom pet portrait, or experimenting with alcohol inks on ceramics. There’s a deep satisfaction in bringing an idea to life with my hands, in watching colors blend and shift in ways that feel almost magical. But I’d be lying if I said I never wondered what it would be like to have a “regular” job. Read more>>

Jonathan Bleibdrey

Yes I am the happiest when creating or making art (full stop)! There is nothing else in the world that excites me more then starting a project, chipping away at it, then sending it off to see where it ends up.

I do sometimes think about how it would feel to have a”regular” job & being in corporate, or anything else other then art.
But then, I would have the same question of will I wake up at 50 and be happy ?!! I also sometimes have those days where I dought the whole process and say “well if I go back to school now, I’ll be done in four years and then I could get a good job here or there.” Read more>>

Nancy Livada

My take on this is actually slightly different…I actually work full time as a Physician Associate in the medical device industry. My artwork is my side hustle, and I actually think this is a decent fit for me. Oh yeah, and in addition to running my small business and working for a large organization, I also am a full-time mom to two young kids and two young dogs! I am in a constant state of exhaustion. Sometimes I wonder why I put so much on my plate, but the explanation is simple; it’s not really a choice. My mind needs both art and science to survive, and my family needs the two incomes to thrive. Yes I am very busy, but I find that consistently exercising both sides of my brain is grounding and balancing for me. Read more>>

Ryan Singer Stand-up Comedian & Paranormal Investigator

A life in the arts and pursuing our passion to create and tell stories is the most rewarding gift we give ourselves. That doesn’t mean that this life is easy or as simple as just believing in ourselves and everything else will just take care of itself. The most daunting and stressful part of this life for any artist or creative person I know, including myself is the financial stress. At some point, we decide that we are okay with ambiguity and without knowing the answers to some of the questions that dictate the paths others take in life to ensure their financial stability. We sacrifice this knowing, this certainty for the freedom to express and to explore. Read more>>

Lauren Hefty

The thought of “Would life have been better if I stuck to a regular career?” crosses my mind regularly. My production, planning, and networking skills are directly linked to my income. To phrase it simply: If I have extra money, I have no extra time. If I have extra time, then I have no extra money. Running an art business isn’t easy, and anytime I have a bad day, there’s always that little nagging voice that says, “You wouldn’t have to worry if you had picked a normal career.” With all of that being said, I would never go back. The opportunities I’ve been able to take advantage of and the freedom to explore new places and meet new people while traveling for shows are what really makes it worth all the stress. Read more>>

Kristen Freitas

There are definitely moments when I wonder if life would be easier with a “regular job.” But being an artist and an arts advocate isn’t just what I do—it’s who I am. Still, the thought crosses my mind, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed by everything I’ve taken on.

One of those moments happened during the lead-up to Kaleidoscope at Atlantic Works Gallery. I wasn’t just showing my work—I was transforming the entire space with light, sound, and installation. It was a massive undertaking, requiring so much energy, coordination, and problem-solving. At the same time, I was balancing being a mother, an active member of EBAG and AWG, and managing everything else that comes with life. I barely had time to catch my breath. Read more>>

Effy Hamm

I am very happy with my modeling! I do work a regular job on the side. There has been times that I’ve thought about slowing down with modeling and focusing full time on my regular job but I feel I wouldn’t have the feeling of self fulfillment. I aspire to do modeling full time and I understand the steps to archive that. I feel very comfortable where I’m at currently with my modeling because I am doing what I love to do and also making a living with it but also continuing to have that balance of having a regular job so I don’t get overwhelmed with being a freelance model. Read more>>

Aaron Wesley Davis

I have always thrived in creative environments, and being a Creative Director is both deeply rewarding and uniquely challenging. There’s an undeniable joy in bringing ideas to life, shaping stories, and crafting experiences that resonate with people. But at the same time, there’s a persistent question that lingers in the back of my mind: “What if I had a normal 9-to-5 job—one where I wasn’t expected to create something new every single day, for everyone, all the time?” The pressure to constantly produce, innovate, and meet expectations can be exhausting. Creativity is exhilarating, but when it feels like a never-ending cycle of pleasing others, it can also become draining. Read more>>

Ann Bancroft

I love my life as a writer. I know well what it’s like to have a regular job, and while I had good jobs and loved my co-workers, the 9-5 (or 8-7 or 5-4) doesn’t allow for much creative thinking time. I come up with ideas in my writing group, on long walks or bike rides, or just before falling asleep late at night. It’s hard to squeeze in the time to do creative thinking or to do anything with the ideas that emerge, while working a full-time job. Read more>>

Monique Porter

Overall, I find being an artist extremely rewarding, especially through photography. It’s through this medium that I get to serve others and share how I see the world.

Although, if we were living in a different world, I would probably become a physical therapist and specialize in working with college athletes. Throughout my childhood, I was extremely athletic and active… until I tore my ACL and broke my meniscus at age 10. That process gave me a new fascination to focus on: bones, medicine, surgery, and recovery. Physical therapy was my favorite part of the week as I watched myself gain strength and recover my range of motion. Read more>>