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.

Katie Cole

I’ve been a paid live performing musician since I was 15/16 years old. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d still be doing this. I’ve now traveled and performed on some of the biggest stages around the world. Read More>>

Laramie Otto

Five years in and being a social media manager is my full time job and that came from a lot of head work and focus. It took me about a year to make equal to what I was making at my corporate full time job but once I hit that I just kept going.  Read More>>

Lina Li

The rise of short-form vertical dramas going global has created a very real and timely opportunity for creators—especially during a period when the traditional Hollywood system has been slowing down. For many professionals in Los Angeles, the past few years have been marked by long gaps between projects, strikes, shrinking budgets, and fewer greenlights. Read More>>

Trenton Adair

Yes—I’ve been able to earn a full-time living through my creative work, primarily through UX/UI design, but it definitely wasn’t overnight. My journey started long before I ever called myself a UX/UI designer. Throughout high school and college, I was constantly designing—first clothing and T-shirt graphics, then moving into freelance graphic design work like posters, magazines, logos, and brand collateral. Read More>>

Adam + Torrey Roberts

Photography is our full time job but it is definitely not always easy! Like anything in the creative world it can be feast or famine so keeping yourself and your brand out in front of people can seem like a never-ending task. Read More>>

KáLyn Coghill

I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, even as a young child. I taught piano lessons, I tutored, I had an online thrift store at one point, and as I got older, I realized that I had a desire to provide services for people, particularly in my community, that they may not have access to or the skill to complete. Read More>>

Chris Glenn

Yes, I’ve been able to build toward earning a full-time living from my creative work, but it definitely wasn’t instant. From day one, I treated my music like a business. Before I even focused on numbers or attention, I made sure my foundation was solid. Read More>>

Svet Jaqueline

I am a full-time photojournalist. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to type those words, as it has become increasingly difficult to achieve in this industry. I started pursuing this career seriously in 2021, during the global pandemic. My introductory years were completely self-funded and admittedly a risk. I think with anything you care about, you have to agree to take early-on risks. Read More>>

Zack Seif

Around 2019, music, specifically live performance, started becoming a substantial part of my income. I had been teaching for a while, which I will talk about shortly, but live performance really took off that year. My main cover band at the time, Remember Yesterday, was playing once or twice a month. Read More>>

Drew Beavers

I’ve been able to support myself through tattooing. Some years were better than others. With a career like this your income is never guaranteed, so you have to constantly make adjustments. After 17 years, it’s been a little easier not to panic when things get slow because you’ve seen it before and understand it’s only temporary. Budgeting is definitely key when you are self employed. Read More>>

Kristin Gereau

For the past 20 years, I’ve earned my living knitting scarves. However, it didn’t start that way overnight. It began when a friend encouraged me to apply to a local art show, the kind where you set up a 10×10 white tent and sell your work directly to the public. Read More>>

Valerie Breshears

I started with finding local organizations. Then, I started selling paintings at events and local businesses. I took classes. Which led to teaching opportunities. Now, I sell at events, teach, and have art for sale at local businesses. I take commissions as well. It all adds up. Read More>>

Brenda Guy

“Talent opens the door, but consistency, branding, and knowing your audience are what turn passion into a sustainable career.” Yes, I currently earn a full-time living as an entertainer and vocalist. While I’ve been performing for over 25 years, I transitioned into full-time entertainment about eight years ago—it definitely was not that way from day one. Read More>>

Cat Flo

Yes — I earn a full-time living from my creative work now, but it was absolutely not like that from day one. In the beginning, creativity was survival more than strategy. I was creating while working other jobs, dealing with health issues, navigating trauma, and figuring out who I was after losing a lot of stability in my life. Read More>>

Jessica Burdg

I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, and I could not be more grateful. I often reflect on the fact that I have been obsessed with books from a very young age, and I know that Little Me would be so in awe of the job Big Me has today. Reaching this point was not easy or quick. Read More>>

Barbara Bravo

I’ll never really understand how I had the courage to become a fulltime potter. What I do know is that it was a burning desire and I focused on the goal. Read More>>