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.

Csha’Re Handy

I genuinely love being a creative. The freedom to explore different avenues, to move when inspiration hits, to create my own opportunities instead of waiting for them, that’s what fuels me. Building my brand from the ground up and shaping my own path gives me a sense of ownership that I wouldn’t trade. Read More>>

Cat London

All the time. The greatest risk I’ve ever taken was not allowing myself the stability of a day job. I wasn’t conditioned for the highs and lows of the art industry, I don’t know if many of us are. So my nervous system had been taxed for years finding any semblance of footing. Read More>>

Zoee Byrne

I’ve honestly never spent much time imagining a “regular job.” I’ve built other businesses over the years, from website design to different entrepreneurial ventures, but even in those spaces I was still creating something of my own. I’ve always been someone who gravitates toward building rather than fitting into someone else’s blueprint. I’ve never really been wired to work toward someone else’s long-term vision. Read More>>

Andy Mandujano

It’s hard to balance both things. I don’t just consider myself an artist — I’m also a creative, a music producer, and an entrepreneur. At the same time, I have a regular trade job; I work in a naval shipyard. Read More>>

Christi Gereau

I’m happiest as both. I’ve had what many would call “regular” jobs, and I excelled in them. I’ve always brought vision, discipline, and leadership into every environment I step into. But even then, there was a quiet voice inside me that would say, I should be the one running this. Not from ego — from clarity. Read More>>

LOGVN

To be honest I don’t know. Every day I doubt myself, every day I find ways to pick apart the thing that I love to do so much so that it paralyzes me to the point of not being able to do what I love. Read More>>

Aurora Rodriguez

I’m my best self when I’m allowed to be in a creative headspace, so with that said there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m much happier as an artist. I would honestly be lying if I said I never wonder if a “normal” or “regular” job would be better for me. Read More>>

Brantly Sheffield

Am I happier as an artist or a creative? I think I know what you mean but, just in case, I consider myself both. I don’t think you can be an artist without being creative. Or is the question: am I happier being an artist or creative? In that case, what am I comparing it too? Read More>>

Matthew Fredricey

For me, to be an artist or do some type of creative work is essential. I am happier when I can be creative. I am fortunate that my day job allows for and encourages creativity. For over a decade I have worked at Blue Stone gem and crystal shop in Loveland, Colorado. Read More>>

Jason Heeter

This is a big question, and one that I often contemplate on my own. The answer is most certainly yes, but with some caveats. I left my last ‘regular’ job in 2022. At that time, I had downsized from a full-time salaried position to a part-time, ‘work when you can’ kind of arrangement. Read More>>

Alex Upton

Happiness as an artist is a subject which is quite nuanced, delicate, and highly variable depending on the individual. It is also a subject on which I have many thoughts, informed both by my personal experiences and by my observations of broader trends in the artistic community. Read More>>

Obediah Wright

I am absolutely happiest as an artist. I am clear that I am living out my out my ture destiny. A creative has the ability to enrich, evolve, and change the lives of those they work with. Nothing is more of a challenge and excitement than living the duality of this. Read More>>

Laurel Halsey

I have many happy memories of playing music and everything connected with it, including staying up until 4 am once working on a poster for an approaching tour. I have formed meaningful friendships, reconnected with old pals, visited lovely places, helped design cool merch, discovered depths of creativity I didn’t know were in me, made beautiful music, and played exciting shows. Read More>>

MORIAH

Yes — I’m genuinely happier as an artist. But I would be lying if I said I’ve never fantasized about what it might feel like to clock in somewhere, collect a steady paycheck, have benefits neatly packaged, and not carry the emotional and financial weight of building something from scratch. Read More>>

Rebecca Bennett

Creative work doesn’t clock out. It follows you into the shower. It taps you on the shoulder at 2 a.m. It turns dinner conversations into mental notes. Sometimes I imagine a simple desk job. A predictable schedule. A predictable pay check. Maybe answering emails, attending meetings, finishing tasks that had clear definitions of “done.” I imagined closing a laptop at 5 p.m. and feeling finished. Read More>>

Tytiana Steele

For me, being an artist and a creative are inseparable; I am at my best when I am building, designing, and painting. After eight years in Film and Design since graduating from EMU, I’ve reached a pivotal moment in my career. I found myself at a crossroads: Do I pursue art full-time? Read More>>

Munesu , Reye Manyengawana

Well, I’m happy being an artist but I do think about having a regular job, in the sense that life as an artist is very financially volatile , scrapping pay check to pay check, worse if you come from a developing country , survival often takes precedence of career advancement and passions. Read More>>

Matthijs Rijsdijk

I am happiest on stage. Truly. Performing is the most alive I have ever felt on this planet. There’s something about stepping into the light, feeling the energy of a room shift, sensing that people are with you — that makes everything make sense. It gives me purpose. It makes me feel useful, powerful, aligned. Like I’m doing the one thing I’m genuinely built for. Read More>>