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.

Paul Lukes

The short answer is yes, I earn a full-time living from my creative work. But it’s been imperative to diversify my income sources and not rely on one channel. Working on having a few repeat clients who need my type of work on a regular basis is integral. Read more>>

Oly

I’ve been working as a full time clothing designer and seamstress for the last 10 years. I began my business when I was 17yrs old, just barely out of high school. I’m a third generation seamstress/creative and have been practicing my craft since the ripe age of 4. My grandma use to help me make little wrap skirts for all my dolls. Read more>>

Daisy Faith

It’s definitely very difficult to create full time income from being an artist. I don’t know if I have the answer to that. I tried to study and read books and figure out what other artists were doing and ultimately what works for others didn’t really work for me. Read more>>

ALFREDO CACERES

Well it’s up tough process. Especially getting into the circle of musicians in Los Angeles area takes a long time. I’ve earn a living with music also in my hometown Guatemala and I also part-time work in Dallas Texas so I have an idea of what it takes to start from zero. Read more>>

DJay Mando

It started slowly, DJ’ing parties for free and just raising awareness, but as time went on, I became more established and well known so that I could work with more reputable clients and earn a living Read more>>

Hershel Abram

Yes, I am currently a full-time artist, musician producer. My creative journey started as a childhood musician to a manifested reality through discipline and consistency. Nothing good is easy and nothing easy ever lasts. I spent years submitting music to record labels, performing for pay-to-play gigs throughout the west coast and the mid-west, submitting music to radio station, music supervisors, playing county fairs and looking for exec’s outside of music award shows to share my demos with them. Read more>>

Brynn Casey

Yes! I am currently making a full time income from my creative work. To be clear, it was a SMALL part time income at the start 8 years ago, but its grown over time to become a sustainable business + FT income! Read more>>

Kelsey Lee

I haven’t always had the ability to earn a full time living from my creative work, but in the past few years, I have been able to play and teach music full time. It hasn’t been easy and there have been a lot of sacrifices and challenges, but it has been well worth it thus far. I started in grade school practicing the balance of performing and working a lifeguarding job. Read more>>

Edith Pair

I remember my parents being less than thrilled when I decided to go to art school knowing how difficult it can be to make a living. They stood behind me and knew I would come up with something that would be fulfilling and put food in the table. Starting by opening a gallery in 2006, it was the worst economy to open a gallery not to mention I am not the best at selling my own artwork. Read more>>

Michelle Barkway

Earning a full time wage from my painting and illustration work didn’t happen until four years after I sold my first painting. In those four years I spent time, energy and money honing my artistic style, learning about the business of art and building a community of supportive creatives. As with most things worth doing, there were no shortcuts. Read more>>

Marissa Kay

Art is such a broad field and it has a life of its own. Over the past 10 years of doing art shows, tattooing, painting, etc I’ve learned that adaptability is one of the most important traits an artist can have. Whether that relates to the freedom within an individual art piece, or that relates to the overall path in which your art might take over the course of years. Read more>>

Caitlin Maupin

I can proudly say now that I make a full-time living from my artwork, but it did not happen overnight. My interest in art came very early in childhood. That being said, I always envisioned a life where I could hopefully do what I loved for a living. This was the biggest question rattling in my head all throughout college. Read more>>

Kali Harris

When I first became a piercer I was told they had a 5-6 year shelf life. I really believed it. Being in the body arts industry can be very challenging. You work long hours and often in the late evenings. You have to work the busy days which are the weekends. Read more>>

Isaiah Foster

I have reached an incredible milestone in my life—I am now a full-time photographer, successfully taking care of myself and my financial obligations. This achievement didn’t come easily; it was a journey filled with countless ups and downs, early mornings, and long nights. I poured my heart and soul into pursuing my passion, even though it meant leaving the security of my 9-5 job. Read more>>

Anthony Pepi

The music industry is definitely one of a kind. I have started the hard way and working my way up literally from the bottom. I have come a long way since I first started 10+ years ago. Being a graduate of Berklee College of Music really helped in getting to know musicians, made me a better musician and made it a little easier moving to Los Angeles. Read more>>

Kesia Barone

I always knew I wanted to work for myself as a designer, but it definitely didn’t happen overnight. I got hired at an architecture firm just before I graduated with my degree. A year earlier, I had worked on a residential project for a family friend, which helped bring in some freelance work in addition to my 9-5 at the firm. Read more>>

Andrew Bernstein

I fell in love with the creative process of photography while in high school in Brooklyn, NY. I was fascinated with every aspect: Learning the technical details of how the camera worked, lighting, composition and darkroom techniques. I was able to nurture my love for photography by doing assignments of all kinds in high school and when I moved on to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Read more>>

Ransford Doherty

Have I been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work? Yes. Read more>>

Khrystian Green

In 2016, I started off creating 3D models I could implement into the sims 4 for fun, there was a space in the community for artists to learn through their hobby, and I took advantage of it. At first, it was only for fun, but as I grew bigger, the more the support grew in both artistic and financial ways. Read more>>

Andrew Lux

So I’m very close to a point where I’m using music to pay for full time living. It started in 2020 when I was financially broke and I was reaching out to people if they needed help in their music. Before I even spoke with them I actually made a song I knew they would love so when I showed them an example of what I could make for them they were more interested. Read more>>

Nora Larimer

After earning a BA in fine art, I spent much of my time since college just painting and getting better at my craft. I also became a professional picture framer to help pay the bills. This enabled me to work at home while raising kids. I did many outdoor festivals during this time in the midwest and Florida, too. Read more>>