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.

Megan Mcduffee

Yes, I have! It’s been one heck of a journey, and was definitely not always the case. Musical training aside, the real work began once I graduated from college with a shiny film scoring degree. I looked everywhere I could in order to find music composition gigs, which were few and far between. Year after year I networked, honed my skills, went for a second degree, networked more, honed my craft further, etc. For a long while I had a non-music related side job to plump up my income while I was hustling for more musical work. It really wasn’t until one of my colleagues recommended me for a specific job that my career took off exponentially. I had built a very decent portfolio, but still wasn’t earning what I wanted to earn in a year. The project that really spring-boarded me was the video game River City Girls (2019). Getting to compose and produce the massive 60-song soundtrack still to this day has potential clients coming to me, simply because they heard my work in that game. Read more>>

Joanna Seiber

The ability to earn a full time living as a professional musician is a feat many professionals struggle with at the start of their careers. Many musicians in the industry have to work other jobs outside of the music field in order to make ends meet and often feel burnt out as a result. At the start of my career, I saw several paths I could take as a musician. I could teach at a music studio, perform in a local symphony, become a full-time performer at a theme park, or work as a professor at a college. It felt rather daunting to figure out what path I should end up on. However, as a little girl, I would watch my dad, a prominent business owner, create different revenues of income in order to take care of his family well. I noticed how his reputation as an honest businessman affected the community around us and how he used his innovative skills to grow a small business into a larger enterprise. Read more>>

Eric Anton Johnson

I went to school for Graphic Design, and the goal was to get a full time job doing design work. I was fortunate enough to get hired pretty quickly after graduation, but I found that it wasn’t all that creatively fulfilling. I wasn’t excited about the work in the same way that I had been in school. I would get frustrated with the type of projects I was working on. So I took it upon myself to start doing personal creative projects outside of my day job. This allowed me to have a mental separation between the design work that pays my bills, and the art work that I love to make. And having that separation allows me to focus more efficiently on the task at hand. Eventually these personal projects lead to more exciting client work. But I still continue with the personal work because I think it’s important for any artist to spend time exploring and evolving their craft. Read more>>

Stewart Rosburg

I have been able to. The journey was a little something like this: 1. Childhood. I was a homeschooled kid that was encouraged to be creative and be outside a lot. I think the extra time involved with being homeschooled left time for boredom and that led to be more creative–in general. Lot’s of imagining and lots of time to try things. Through gradeschool I used to want to be an architect, obsessing over my own floor plans on grid paper as a 10yr old. 2. In highschool I made new friends who had access to photoshop. Getting in on the early days of tutorials online and learning how software worked was pretty magical to me. By the end of highschool I had moved on from highschool and was appointed the graphic designer for the school. My highschool had a lower amount of hours in class but required some kind of job on campus. It didn’t pay much but it was the first connection (and earlier than most) that I realized you could make money doing something you like to do–and in general, that design is powerful and valuable to people. I designed posters, event mailers, and T-shirts. A lot–a ton of t-shirts. Read more>>

Carina Gardner

Seventeen years ago, I took a leap that would change my life—I started my own design business. At the time, I’d just completed my doctorate at the University of Minnesota, feeling accomplished but uncertain of what was next. The first year was rough: I made only $300 on my own website. Like so many creatives, I faced the reality that passion and talent alone weren’t enough to find success. But I didn’t want to give up. I knew the products were right; I just hadn’t found the audience. Realizing this, I pivoted. I applied to another online shop with a larger audience, and when I got in, everything changed. Suddenly, I was making money—a lot of it. I learned that success often comes not just from the product but from finding the right platform and the right audience. This insight became the foundation of my career. I became determined to understand the art of distribution, expanding my work across platforms, products, and manufacturers. Read more>>

Iana Sultanova Tashkunas

I have always been drawn to my profession, but I was very worried about whether I would succeed or not. I believe that if you love your job, then everything will definitely work out. And only a favorite job can truly bring money and pleasure. When a person develops in his business and sets goals for himself, everything works out. To begin with, I realized for myself that I wanted to work in the beauty industry, then there were trainings, my first job, and career growth. So my work helps me earn money from anywhere in the world, and live in different countries. Read more>>

Huncho Beezy

Um well so far I’m on Distrokidd been with them couple years first started with the 19$ plan upgraded now I can drop when I want on that date it ckme str8 Tommy account. After that I got my LLC Witch I Own Dahuncho Bidness LLC Plus With a EIN Number soon I want to get in a distribution deal take me to next big level do that then go back independent Read more>>

Kyle Foley

Being a full-time musician is as hard as it sounds. It’s obviously not all sunshine and rainbows and it takes a lot of dedication and hard work. There are so many other musicians doing the same thing as you so you always have to be on your A-game. While I personally don’t view my fellow musicians as competition, in a way you kind of have to view it in that sense if only to make yourself better. Use it as motivation, but absolutely collaborate and befriend your fellow musicians. Read more>>

Rachel Damon

I earn a full-time living by pairing two part time jobs, one in dance and one in theater. I figured out in college that I like doing production work, which means lighting and costumes and scenery and stage management – those sorts of things. I was on student work crews at both colleges where we would make the scenery or work on the props and be on the stage crew for shows, and that work not only paid me, but it put me in groups of people who I really felt a kinship with. The very smart creative types who were not as interested in being on stage – by which I mean often times the people who don’t like to be looked at as much or paid as much direct attention to – they prefer to be behind the scenes. That really speaks to a part of me, which is very introverted and intense. The cycle of working on a show has intensity for sure in that it culminates in some sort of public sharing and requires you to deal with the pressures of that launch. Read more>>

Laurie Graham

Imagine this: I’m stuck in what feels like the longest Zoom call of my life, and my boss—the one I used to look up to so much—is throwing these little digs at me. She’s openly doubting my readiness to represent the company at a major event coming up, and as my phone lights up with texts from coworkers cringing at her words, all I want to do is slide under my desk and disappear. It was a raw moment, one of those “hit you in the gut and make you wanna puke” realizations that it was time to make a change. Rewind six years. I threw myself into my corporate role with everything I had. I wasn’t just a creative coordinator; I was a stylist, a confidante, a travel buddy—and somehow, I worked my way up to VP of Operations. I was all in, soaking up everything I could from this powerhouse woman, learning about leadership and success, and reveling in the hustle. But at some point, things shifted. Read more>>

Tara Payne

Tattooing is a sacred art form to me. It has given me the ability to not only create custom artwork for my clients while getting to know them on a spiritual level, but also the freedom & flexibility to raise a family in the process. I began my first tattoo apprenticeship in 2011, while my oldest daughter was only 3 years old. Back then, the process of apprenticing involved getting offered the position, showing up, and at any point they were displeased you were fired. Duties included cleaning, answering phones, drawing & anything else the artists did not have the time or did not want to make the time to do – this is known as an old school apprenticeship. We learned how to make needles, mix ink, draw flash pieces and fix coil machines. It was an honor to start my journey when I did, but after seeing the contrast of today’s new-age apprenticeships, I realized you can learn a lot more when your creative process is nurtured rather than drilled into you. Read more>>

Amanda Donahue

When I started The Scribblist, I was about to start a graduate program for Fine Art and wanted to bring in some extra income. I had a steady stream of projects to sustain me for those two years, and enjoyed all of the work I was creating. Once I graduated, we moved back home, as we had always planned. And then I had to start all over again. I found myself in a new, more challenging market and struggling to adapt. I decided to take on a full time job, and put my artistic career on a brief (or so I thought) hold. The plan was to work full time for one year, cause you know—those bills ain’t paying themselves— and then return to my own endeavors. Nothing in the next two years went according to any kind of plan I had. But as I was approaching the end of my third year of working full time, I knew something had to change. Read more>>

Elliot Kerachsky

I have never been able to make money from just full time photography and videography, at least not yet. I went to school for engineering actually, and worked that for a full time job and have just now quit my job to travel the world and attempt to pursue photo/video full time. I realized I would never be happy at a corporate job, and decided to just push my dreams to the front. From day one it has been scary, and I am yet to make good money doing what I do, but I know that this is just the start. I do wish I realized how much I loved creative work before college, not because I regret going to school, but I may have gone on a different path than engineering. Knowing what I know now, I would say that the most important thing is to be fulfilled by your work, to make every day different in its own special way. That regardless of the money, true happiness comes with doing what makes you feel alive and passionate. Read more>>

Damian Raven

I am not yet able to earn a full-time living as an actor. It has always been my passion and my joy to be an actor and a writer. From the first time I stepped into a casting room for an audition, I knew that I wanted to be an actor. I have achieved some success, I have an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Principle Actor, but I am still struggling to land a role that provides me a stable income. Knowing what I know now, I don’t think that I could have sped up the process. This is a tough industry, but I have always believed that my true success would come to me at this stage in my career, and when you love something, the way that I love being an actor, nothing with stop you from realizing your dream. Read more>>

Josa Comstock

I’m happy to report I do make my living from capturing full-time. There is always room for growth but if I’ve learned anything from being a professional full-time photographer and videographer it’s that every year gets a little bigger and bigger. Although, you might not realize it right away you go from debating getting a 9-5 job because you just don’t seem to be making enough to all of the sudden you’re making what you’d make at a 9-5 and more doing something that fulfills your creative spirit and have so much passion for. I don’t think there is really any secrets to making your passion a full-time, paying job but I do think the time you put in to yourself and your craft you will get back it just may not be immediate. I started off in the photography world spending a lot of time working for other professionals in the field. Learning everything I could, making life long connections and all while also making a good amount of money for my experience and time. The great thing about the photography field is there are so many professionals out there already doing it full-time and a lot of them want to help you grow and build your own company. My closest friends are from my photography ventures and I have an amazing community of creatives I get to be apart of and help bring each other up in the industry. Read more>>

Jannik Obenhoff

Yes, I’ve been fortunate to make a full-time living from my photography work, but it wasn’t an overnight success. My journey began when I picked up a camera at the age of 12, a hobby that carried me through high school. Over time, this passion grew and developed into a substantial Instagram following, eventually reaching over 600,000 followers, which helped propel my career. Right after high school, I took the leap to become a full-time photographer. Those two years were unforgettable—I was traveling the world, capturing the places I’d only dreamed about, and actually getting paid to do it. Building a strong portfolio and presence on Instagram helped me connect with brands, reach new clients, and create a recognizable style that set me apart. That early exposure was crucial, not only for income but also for credibility in the industry. Read more>>

Kristy Gordon

I always knew I wanted to be an artist, but I didn’t always know that was possible, so I went into animation initially because it was a creative career that also provided a paycheck. I find that the universe will always put us back on the right path, even if we take a detour for awhile. So I eventually found myself working at an animation studio that was owner but a very successful local oil painter. Through him I started painting again and got into my first art gallery! Eventually I left my animation job and started painting full time for galleries. Over the last 20 years since taking that leap that changed my life, I have developed multiple streams of income, including teaching art classes, selling paintings in galleries and doing commissions and in that way I’ve created a stable income for myself as an artist. This allows me to have complete artistic freedom in my work as well! Read more>>

Teo Marangon

I feel I’ve reached a pivotal point in my career, where I am more confident than ever in my craft, both creatively and economically. This journey has been marked by a series of milestones and steady growth, shaped by hard work and incredible opportunities. I began my professional career working alongside a multiplatinum producer and mixing engineer at Denmark Street Studios, a renowned studio in the heart of London’s Soho. This environment was instrumental in honing my skills, as I learned directly from masters of the trade. During this time, I contributed to projects released by major labels such as Capitol Records and Ministry of Sound, and even expanded into the advertising world, collaborating with globally recognized brands like Microsoft, ASDA, and Unipol. Read more>>

Meghan Shanley

I have lived in Nashville now for 22 years! I went to school to become a broadcast journalist, but fell in love with music and singing along the way which changed my whole trajectory. I grew up as an athlete and didn’t;t even know that I could sing until I was 17. I wanted to compete in a. Miss America preliminary pageant but didn’t have a suitable talent. Can’t exactly bring a softball bat on stage for a pageant :) So I attempted singing. I sang in front of my mom but interacted her not to look at me since I was still too timid. When I finished singing the song, she looked at me shocked and said “Where did that come from?!?!” Apparently it was good enough to do in public…so I entered my first pageant and wouldn’t you know…..I Won!!! I was rough around the edges and young as all get out, but I found myself on the way to compete at Miss Virginia at the ripe age of 17. That was a massive learning year, but the bug of performing and music bit me good. Read more>>

Zave Smith

I became a photographer because frankly, it was one of the few things I was good at. I started noticing the poetry of visual relationships when I was just a boy. Creating photographs just came naturally to me. When I finished college and was trying to figure out how to earn a living it came down to becoming a photo-journalist or getting into commercial work. At the time, commercial work seemed like both an easier path and a more lucrative one. I was also drawn by the creative freedom that commercial work offered. I had little interest in covering sports, crime, or fires. Weddings, not my thing. I was both talented and hard working so I was able to find work as an assistant to two great photographers in Milwaukee, where I had gone to school. After two years working as an assistant, I was ready to move on and was offered a full time gig in Hartford, CT has a catalog photographer for a department store. Two years later The Franklin Mint gave me a nice offer to move to Philly. I did not last at the Mint very long, after 3 months, the studio boss had me escorted off the premises for reasons that were never made clear. Read more>>