We’ve seen way too many talented creatives quit because they couldn’t make it work financially. No doubt, the financial challenges of pursuing a creative or artistic career are daunting, but we felt there wasn’t enough discussion around how to make it work. So, we connected with artists and creatives who’ve been able to earn a full time living from their creative work and asked them to share their stories with our readers.

Anna Milsilvio

My story is a little unconventional. I spent 37 years working in the healthcare industry, a career I loved, but life took a turn when physical health challenges forced me into retirement and living with a disability. Rather than let that define me, I chose to reinvent myself.

Writing became both my creative outlet and my second act. I’m now a published author of two very different series — a new children’s series written under a pen name, and The Sexual Escape Artist adult romance series available on Amazon. Read more>>

Tom Watters

I do earn a full-time living from my creative work. It didn’t start that way. In 2015, I worked front-desk at the Emergency Room while doing video work on teh side. It took me two years oft that to fully make the transition to full-time creative work.

A major step early on for me was working with a friend’s production company. That gave me the chance to touch every part of the process, grow my skill set, and see what it took to operate at a higher level. Eventually, I stepped out on my own, which meant shifting from being purely creative to also carrying the weight of sales and business. That was a steep learning curve, but it also gave me autonomy and the ability to serve clients the way I wanted to. Read more>>

Babatunde Bakare

No, it wasn’t like that from day one. In the beginning, I started out as a roadside artist, using art as a means of survival buying materials, experimenting, and trying to find my voice in the process.
Things slowly began to change with my first exhibitions, then came collectors, and eventually international recognition. I had the opportunity to showcase my works in both local and international exhibitions, and they were collected by people I never imagined. Each of these milestones gave me the courage to keep going. Read more>>

Ilkim Koc

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. I started my tattoo career in 2013, and from the very beginning, I’ve supported myself through the art I create.

Looking back, if I had the knowledge and experience I have now—especially regarding things like how to use social media effectively, developing my own style, and how I connect with clients, I believe the process would have been much smoother and faster. But every step of the journey taught me something valuable. Read more>>