Earning that first dollar is incredibly special and a moment many never forget. We asked some very talented creatives from the community to tell us the story of the first dollar they earned from their creative works.

Mason Johnson

Growing up, I was in a band with my brother. We mostly played psychedelic rock, etc. Because we were playing shows, I met a lot of local bands! My first paid gig was for an album cover for a friend. The commission was only $60, but I was so excited. I remember listening to the album over and over again to immerse myself in the music. Read more>>

Alan Furst

I started painting for personal reasons as a way of self care. I posted what I was doing on social media to my small circle of friends. Read more>>

Patrick Turner

I was contemplating an earlier than planned retirement ( Supply Chain Director) with coworkers and suppliers at a luncheon when I mentioned that I’d have to find a home for the 24×48 painting on my office wall because we didn’t have anywhere to hang it at home. Instantly, two of the suppliers said they would buy it and we settled on $350. I had painted it in 1982 which is about the year that I stopped painting (until restarting during covid), it never occurred to me that people would pay real money for my paintings. Read more>>

ATUNE

When I was much younger, maybe 15 years ago now, I was living in Washington state in a small city north of Seattle called Bellingham. I already knew I was drawn to music and couldn’t imagine another life. But, I didn’t have a clue how to make any money at it. All the stereotypical tropes were repeated to me in a small minded environment. People would say “when are you going to get a real job” or “that’s a cute hobby but how are you going to make any money?” Read more>>

Ryan Joshua

My first time making money from music felt amazing. A lot of artists will tell you that they’d do what they do for free…though we want to make a living off of our art, that’s 100% true—and starting out, we do make our art for free (and usually spend a lot of money to make it). So experiencing that it’s possible to earn money from doing something you love is one of the best feelings in the world. It’s very encouraging. Read more>>

Lara Solanki

I often tell the story of how I got started as an on set Unit Photographer for Film and Television but it wasn’t until my fourth or fifth film set that I was approached with the question of “how much do you charge?”. The first couple of sets I worked on were student films so there was an understanding and agreement that I was on board purely to gain experience. I was on a student film when I met another student filmmaker who clearly believed that she didn’t want me working for her for free. Read more>>

Fiona Flyte

I learned very early in my career that to be an artist is to be an entrepreneur, that is IF you also want to make money. For me that looked like saying, “yes” to the first person who asked me if I could teach her how to sing. Read more>>

Anne Buckle

My first dollar earned as a creative came when I was in high school. A spa owner in my hometown paid me hourly to play Christmas music on my violin in the lobby of her spa for a few weeks in December. It was the most amazing feeling to get paid for my music, and it’s the first time I realized you could be paid for your art! Read more>>

Samara Gonzalez

I played Natalie Wood in a short, ten minute play and I was paid $25. I still have that check! Read more>>

Ron Fortier

Becoming a published writer is never easy. After years of sending getting rejection slips, I received a check for $35 for an 8 pg horror script that would be illustrated and published in a comic horror anthology. Upon cashing the check, I donated all if to a local orphanage admitting my talent was a gift from God and its first fruits belonged to him. Read more>>

Kaila Coleman

The first dollar I ever made was the first opening night I hosted after being represented in The Walnut Gallery. I hosted an intimate party where a couple of my friends fell in love with a piece I took in Japan. Read more>>

Ryan Dalton

I remember so clearly the first time I got paid real money to write. I was still years away from having any books published. In fact, I had only recently begun my first draft of what would become my first published novel, The Year of Lightning. I had spent the previous year or two working on my writing craft, learning everything I could, taking on any writing challenge that came around as a way to get more experience. Read more>>

JD (Josh) Shultz

When I was 18 years old, I had my 1st Art Show in Monica. I managed to sell every painting at the event. It was on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and my older brother Adam was right across from me selling his art. Read more>>