We think the world needs more artists, more creatives and more folks unwilling to spend their days as a cog in a giant corporate machine. We don’t necessarily dislike cogs or machines but we think the world clearly needs more artists and creatives and so we wanted to try to figure out how more artists can make it work financially since this is one of the major obstacles blocking so many artists and creatives from pursuing their art full time. So, we asked folks who have been able to make a full time living through their creative work, how they did it.

Olivya & Christine Soth & Ly

We’re grateful and proud to be earning a full-time living from our creative work as slime business owners. We never imagined or planned on earning a full-time living from slime, but our dedication and hard work have made it possible. Read more>>

James Ewing

Yes I have been able to earn a living from my creative work. It was a long circuitous journey. I was always interested in photography even as a child. My father nurtured this interest by gifting me cameras and letting me use his darkroom in our basement. Read more>>

Natasha Herbert

Gratefully, I have been able to earn a full-time living doing photography. It wasn’t easy and I know every journey is unique. I worked a full-time 9-5 job all while doing my side hustle. Having to balance both was very difficult. After having a conversation with one of my co-workers he told me about a book called “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” Read more>>

Madison Hines

Converting all my passions into full-time work has truly been exciting, however earning a full-time living from my creative work has not been an easy task. As an artist, there are seasons where you make a lot of money and seasons where you don’t. From this aspect, I can champion myself because I learned how to navigate under pressure and find solutions to any problem. Read more>>

Piper Olivas

The inconsistency within the creative industry has definitely forced me to put aside my original hopes of becoming an Artist in order to earn a real living. Luckily, I’ve managed to stay within the art field – working for Art dealers and Art Galleries through the years. At first I navigated the business side of the art world as a necessity, now I’ve grown to love it as much as I love the creative side. Read more>>

Jorg Dubin

The creative life is not an easy path. I have been a full time working artist for almost 50 years. One of the things I pass on to the younger generation is to learn as many skill sets as possible. The more you know beyond your first love, (painting, sculpture etc), the less you will have to work at a “real” job to support your creative endeavors. Read more>>

Josefina Rodriguez

Being an artist is a pursuit that brings me immense joy, and allows me to explore my creativity and self-expression. However, it has been a challenge to earn a full time living from my work. Read more>>

Stefania Nistoreanu

Beyond the poetry of an artist’s life, it’s no secret that earning a full-time living from your creative work can be challenging. Oftentimes, your hard work, dedication, and competence aren’t enough. You need to develop business skills, be a good communicator, have charisma, and luck. On top of that, it’s great if you can surround yourself with people who think way outside the box. They can give you great ideas. Read more>>

Kelsie Kimberlin

Hi, my name is Kelsie Kimberlin and I am a popular Ukrainian-American singer/songwriter with a strong social media presence. Over the past two years, I have released more than a dozen songs and videos which have had more than 10 million views, plays, and streams along with global radio play and a great deal of media coverage. Read more>>

Hunter Cole

I have been able to earn a full-time living from my photography and videography work. Read more>>

Ellen Burford

Like many other, I took my business full time during the pandemic. Leather work had been a hobby for years and the break from my office job in tech really clarified that I was ready to jump into my own small business full time. Read more>>

Marianna Jessica

Trusting the process is a letting go of fear. Read more>>

Zach Hoheisel

I’ll never forget the day I was in a business class of some sort in college. The teacher asked me what I wanted to do for a living, I told him I wanted to hunt, fish, and enjoy the outdoors, but I wanted to do it with a camera in my hand. His answer was “so how do you plan on earning a living?” I could tell this wasn’t a question, it was more of a statement. He didn’t believe it was possible to earn a full time living with a camera doing the things I loved. Read more>>

Marsha Page

Being able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, and become a pro makeup artist, took a huge leap of faith. I juggled two careers at one point. One in the legal profession, as a corporate paralegal, and the other, as a Retail Makeup Artist for MAC Cosmetics. During this time, I also married and had my two daughters. Read more>>