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.

Stitch O’Donovan

More and more you’re finding artists who need to do it all. At a certain level, artists are their own representation, their own social media team, their own managers and engineers. It’s freedom at the cost of time and energy, and it’s more common than ever before. My speciality is in music composition. That’s the field my degree is in. In the process of getting to know this side of the industry, I’ve learned to do a little bit of everything else that I would need to keep gigging and recording. In small doses, I really love the whole industry. Booking a show can be fun and exciting, and having creative control of the technical side of audio recording or live audio can be part of the creative aspect of music itself. It’s the grind that is expected that makes me question if I’d have a calmer life on average with a different job. Read more>>

Kerwin Gonzalez

I’ve worn many hats—managing major fitness chains, leading Amazon warehouse teams, serving in restaurants—but through it all, one thing has remained constant: my relentless drive to tell stories and create art.

Every single day begins with purpose. I wake up energized to pursue this dream—submitting to casting calls, meeting with directors and producers, participating in table reads, fittings, screen tests, and photoshoots. I average over 20 auditions a week. My entire day is structured around my pursuit of success in this craft. Read more>>

Maxine Yuling Zhou

That’s such an interesting question. I actually decided I wanted to be a creative when I was six years old—I told my parents back then that I wanted to turn art into my career. That dream has stayed strong ever since. I just graduated this May with my MFA from SVA (School of Visual Arts), and now I’m working as a motion designer, which I absolutely love. I get to make the kind of art I enjoy and make a living from it. That feels pretty magical. Read more>>