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.

Anna Obolonskaya

Coming from a conservative family household, where corporate job is the only possible way to earn money, my idea to pursue a creative entrepreneurship career was a bold move. When I first got into photography, I was reaching out to all my friends to ask them if they need any photos to be taken. Some were happy to help, and some were promising to reach out “tomorrow”. Very quick I realized that my friends are not my clients. That single thought was one of the most powerful insights I had to transition to the next level. Read more>>

Sway Jones

For myself and many other creatives, earning a full-time income from your craft is the ultimate goal. While in college, I worked several part-time jobs. The closer I became to graduating, the more I knew that I would only use my degree as a backup plan. I knew early on that I wanted to work for myself and I planned to do so through my art. For 12 years now I’ve been a full-time artist. I have maintained this through commission paintings, sign paintings, logos, portraits, graphic design projects and any other freelance projects that were brought to me. Read more>>

Maxine LaQueene

Alrighty so! Currently I work as a full time drag entertainer. I host my own brunch show on 4th street, in downtown Austin, every Saturday! I always say that money is the motivator. Alongside drag shows, I run my own wig business with styling hair for other entertainers and queer people in the community. I’ve been doing drag for almost 10 years and when I tell you, it has been quite the journey leading up to this point! Day 1 of being a drag queen, if you would have told 17 year old Maxine “Hey you’re going to pay your bills with this career” I would’ve laughed in your face and sashayed away. At the time, the drag community was just starting to really take off, and trying to make a career out of it was quite difficult. Read more>>

Olivia Tawzer

I’ve always loved tattoos. As a kid, I had a jar, labeled “TATOO MONEY” that I would put spare change in to save up for when I was old enough to get them. I was also the kid who was always drawing horses at recess and trying to sell printed-out copies of my art on cheap paper. I pursued art in college, choosing painting and drawing as my major. I also started getting tattoos. My dad mountain biked with a tattoo artist named Duffy, so I started going to him. I drew the designs that I wanted tattooed, and we talked about art during my appointments. Read more>>

Cookie B.

I am still working towards making a full time living from my creative endeavors, this being revenues that are enough to operate as a business as well as pay myself a decent amount from this one realm of work. I have 2 businesses on top of my artistry, so wages from each mixed together gets me to a place of security, but my goal is to be funded by one or two only. I went full time in January 2022 by jumping the cliff from a steady 9-5. It’s been a wonderful journey of learning and discovery. It has really been fun putting a rhythm together to produce growth and excellence. Read more>>

MarkAnthony Love

I’m thankful that I’ve been able to support my career and family as an artist. I believe artist work harder than most, being a professional Artist is a life full of ups and downs but I believe in “anything worth having is worth fighting for.” Hard work always pays-off. I started off as most creatives do, delaying my dream out of fear of failing. I talked myself out of my dream without even trying but what is meant for you, You can never run from. Art is Life for me. Read more>>

Brittany Busch

My bread-and-butter is my job as a public school art teacher. Not only because it offers a salary, but also because it gives me access to materials and a daily responsibility to hone my craft. It’s no joke that teaching is the most effective way to learn something; being an art educator has ultimately made me a better artist. As I’m teaching my students, I’m also learning and collaborating, and I bring those ideas to life in my studio on my weekends and summers off. That personal work either sells or I get commission work from it (I shamelessly promote myself on social media). Read more>>

Paulina Manseau

In the film Industry having a steady income is not always easy, in fact, it is rather rare. I had to go figure out where my strengths as creative were and focus on those. I always knew I wanted to be in the film industry, in any capacity and so I started as an actor. The joys of being a performer are many but waiting around to be cast and to be trusted with the material is not. I decided to create opportunities for myself by writing and creating my own content. Read more>>

Tim Heller

I have, yes! I’ve been earning a full time living in voice acting and voiceovers since 2020. Starting out at the end of 2017, VO was just a side gig to my stage acting in NYC and something that was incredibly fun. However, chronic back issues flared up in the beginning of 2018 and doctors said I shouldn’t be pursuing anything that required me to be on my feet, which included theatre and TV work. I took two days to mourn the loss of that career path, pivoted, and focused all my energy into VO work. Read more>>

Elizabeth Sneed

When I started my platform I began with modeling and surfing content while supporting myself full time as an Uber driver. As the movement picked up I began to book jobs for modeling and eventually was referred to my agent that I work with today who manages the majority of my paid partnerships. Read more>>

Roberto C Torres

Over the years I’ve learned how to maximize my craft in order to create a living from it. But, it was not easy AT ALL! I still remember the day my mother asked me to leave the industry and study something else. She had a good intention in her heart and was worried about me because, I wasn’t making enough money to pay my booth/chair rent. I was BROKE financially! Read more>>

Jayla Taylor

I’m currently working as a Fashion Designer for Encore Jeans as well as Designihg for my own brand. Prior to working as a Fashion Designer, I was working Freelance jobs and as a Retail Assistant Store Manager after graduating from Savannah College of Art And Design with my BFA in Fashion Design in 2018. My Fashion Design journey has not been easy but it has definitely been worth it. I know now that the path I took and the time it took to get to where I am now, was all for a reason. Read more>>

Ramona Rideout

By the grace of god and good people, I have been able to earn a full-time living from creative work. Out of college, I tried working in big box retail stores, and looking at the same four walls 5 days a week for 40 hours repulsed me. Now, don’t get me wrong, “your employment doesn’t define you.” – Wendell pierce. 5 years ago through a series of events the retail job and I parted ways. My best friend was working with a company called LTYC (leaders of tomorrow youth center) at the time I didn’t know that though, and for some reason, she called to check on me around the same time the job and I had parted ways. Read more>>

Regina Rached

It has been a long journey. I starting making actual income in 2009 with my first wedding. I was also an elementary teacher back then. It helps to have a steady job with income while trying to build your business. Is it easy? Not in the least, it’s tiring and I’m happy I did this when I was younger. I used a credit card to purchase equipment and paid that off as soon as I could. I took on any photography work I could. After 5 yeas of teaching, in 2014, I decided to go full time with photography and felt confident with consistent bookings of weddings. It was so freaking scary, but I knew if I didn’t try I would end up quitting photography because I was overwhelmed. Read more>>

L.Duane Sevelin

we’ll to be honest my story is unique as I’m sure many artist will say. I was raised partly on a hog farm so I learned how to weld, farm, construction, fencing, all these kind of things which is also creative if you think about it you’re using your hands to create your environment So wait 20 years… Being a up artist in the 70s was not so easy as it is today. Read more>>

Jared Battle

When I started my media company in 2020, I only took photographs of my friends for about $40 a shoot. That quickly became insufficient in profit, as you could imagine. Two years later, with many referrals and networking, I’ve been able to have a constant stream of clientele and increase my rate with the addition of videography services. I used my Instagram page to showcase my work as an online portfolio, bringing in new clients with various jobs. Since then, I would say Instagram is how I get 75% of my bookings. Read more>>

Shana Kroiz

I have been working as a Jewelry Artist since college. I have almost always worked in some form of Jewelry making and or Jewelry education. While in college, I worked first as a bench jeweler for several amazing jewelry artist. I then was lucky enough to work in a jewelry gallery in NYC where I did both retail and was able to design and create jewelry that was also sold in the gallery/store. From there I focused on education and my own One of a Kind Jewelry practice. I began working as a jewelry instructor at a Summer program for high school students. Read more>>

Shariel Fernandez

I’m definitely humbled to say I am able to earn a full-time living for my family doing what I love. I think most will agree that you don’t really know “what you want to be when you grow up” by the time high school comes to an end. For me I had zero knowledge in the beauty field, only what I saw on t.v or magazines, but it’s always been something I wanted to learn more about. In 2013, I gave cosmetology school a shot and never looked back. Read more>>

Claudens Louis

Thankfully I am able to make a living by doing what I love full-time! It was not always like this because I used to have to hustle in order to make money before I started to really understand the business side of being a musician. I remember doing a few different jobs from being an accountants assistant at a construction company to doing valet on Miami Beach but I grew tired of not having enough time to be creative, to compose music, perform, teach etc. So I took a big risk and quit my job. Read more>>

P. Manzell Bledsoe

July 2022 marks 7 consecutive years of making a full time living from my craft. I am very proud of that because in the music business nothing is guaranteed. The music business is one of those ‘twilight zone-like’ career areas where 7 years is infancy, but is also somehow, a good long stretch to be successful (go figure). I’ve seen careers that have lasted 25 years, and I’ve seen careers that have lasted 2 years. For me, I believe the success I am experiencing now is just the residual of never quitting. Read more>>

Osheema Mills

I have been fortunate enough to not only earn a full-time living with my creative work but thrive and make long lasting connections. In 2014, I graduated from beauty school and began working at various hair salons. This early day hustle was where I learned to perfect my style and art. It also allowed me to learn about the inns and outs of the business world. After a few years, Read more>>

RJ Temple

Working in Creative Development for over 20 years, its truly amazing how I’ve been able to maintain a career in a field that shifts and changes all the time. It took a lot of patience, but more importantly understanding how my skillset fits in the Creative Industry. Having a background in music, all I could see was music-based opportunities at the time. The only way I could diverse my skillset was to take a step back and realize the value of my creative capacity to create cool things while solving problems. Read more>>

Caleb Hicks

My fellow creatives know as well as I do that the music industry can be a challenging field for an entrepreneur. The market is nothing short of oversaturated, and there’s no way to maintain consistent income without taking daily calculated risks. When I started this journey 4 years ago, I didn’t have a plan. I just knew that I wanted to make music for a living. My entrepreneurial spirit led me to start a music production business, but truth be told, I didn’t know what I was doing. Read more>>

Natali Zarate

Recently, I can say that I am able to earn a full-time living from my creative work as a free lance artist and as an art educator at Texas Empowerment Academy. During the COVID-19 pandemic I was going through a lot of personal battles with my relationship, my wellbeing and family circumstances so I dwelled in my art as much as possible. Read more>>

Claudia Rodriguez

When I started in the art of makeup I never imagined that it will transform into one of my biggest passions, And it has let me get to places where I thought I could never get to and to work with extraordinaire people and be able to show them the beauty of makeup. As latina its a honor to represéntate at my community in big events like an example “Miss Universe “ “ Read more>>

Jessica L’whor

I have been doing drag for a little over nine years. Six of those years have been full-time. At my last job as a server at Hamburger Mary’s, I remember feeling like I wanted to do drag full-time and wanted to travel, but like most people who say those things — I struggled to do it. One day, working at Mary’s, they called the entire staff in and said that we were closing and everyone was out of a job. And as much as that was terrible, it was a true kick in the butt to make the decision to go head-first into drag. It was probably the hardest six months of my career. I couldn’t eat, pay rent, went through a lot of mental health issues, etc. Read more>>

Chance Dubinick

I am from a very small town in Kansas named Louisburg. I began reselling sneakers after graduating highschool for extra cash. I then learned that making videos online, could generate sales on my sneaker reselling business online. Working very hard out of my parents house, I was able to start making money doing promotions for big brands as my social media pages began taking off. As soon As I saved up alittle money, I dropped everything and quit my 9-5 job yo move an hour away from my hometown to downtown Kansas City to further my career in social media. Read more>>

Kimathi Olenja

One of the biggest obstacles when it comes to earning a full time living in a creative field is getting past the imposter syndrome. I find that a lot of creatives struggle with the confidence to operate fully in their gifts. Once you accept and believe you are who you say you are, you can really start to earn. After that, it’ll take a whole lot of consistency and hard work. It’s important to remember that nothing happens over night. Read more>>

James Sanders

Yes, I’ve been playing on different films and Tv shows. Such as Tyler Perry, Oprah, Netflix, Warner Bros, Marvel, and Hulu, Disney, Nickelodeon and many more companies. Started off as a background extra, then started, getting featured, then started getting principal roles, then started getting a few main character roles. It was pretty easy from day one, however it’s been a long process , I’ve could have sped up the process by taking things into my hands but instead I waited my time and let the universe work for my good. Read more>>

Jason Kochis

I have been working as an artist and designer in the Atlanta area for the past 20 years or so. I originally wanted to draw comic books professionally, but after I started attending Ringling College of Art I fell in love with painting. I graduated with a BFA in Illustration and I moved to Atlanta. I thought I would be living off of my illustrations and freelancing for magazines immediately after graduating from college. Unfortunately, it was difficult to making a living off of freelancing at the time. Read more>>

Chanel Scott

My response is more so geared toward me signing with the TV network Fox Soul. Chanel Scott is a prominent figure in the romantic relational sphere who in 2015 created CheMinistry, a relationship platform, then a live event based in Atlanta, GA, is now an all-new TV talk show aired on Fox Soul. The CheMinistry experience consists of conversations about romance and relationships. Each panel discussion features celebrities and influencers who share experiential knowledge and expertise pertaining to thematic conversations about romantic relationships. Read more>>

Jaila Johnson

I have had the opportunity to work as a social media manager using the skills I learned building my own platform. What started out as a hobby has manifested into a stream of income for me. As a content creator of seven years, I’ve had time to grow and learn with social media platforms like YouTube, which help me further my personal brand as well as my company’s brand. Read more>>

Aaron ‘AC’ Capers

In a way yes, I have been able to make a living from my creative work. Not the way you world imagine, I wish I could say it was from royalties however from the experience’s I’ve gained from my creative works. My experience as marching percussionist would lend itself to me teaching drum lines across the DFW, and with my continuously growing experience playing drumset it made working in Drum Retail that much easier. I no longer work in retail, and teach primarily which is great and rejuvenating to my spirt. The very thing I get the privilege to do at nights, I have the honor of teaching during the day. Read more>>