The world needs artists and creatives. Unfortunately, being needed doesn’t often easily translate into financial stability. The struggle is real for so many incredibly talented artists and creatives and so we think it’s important to hear from creatives who have made it work – there is so much to learn from the folks we’ve featured below.

Dakota Floyd

I never planned to be a full-time screen printer. Ever since I started playing in bands in high school I had been interested in screen printing. I made my first attempt at printing my own merch while interning at an arts center here in Atlanta. Read more>> 

Brooke McIntosh

I started using social media professionally in September of 2021. I signed on with a makeup company to work as a representative and promoted products primarily on Instagram and TikTok. Read more>>

Arpan Karki

While my band hasn’t achieved full-time earnings from our creative work yet, our journey spans nine years, approaching our tenth. Read more>>

Qais Alsindy

Making a living from art is undoubtedly challenging. Initially, navigating the art world to find collectors, art dealers, and gallery representation was a daunting task. Read more>>

Jackelyn Marcos

When I first started my photography business, I was working full time and in the process of obtaining a bachelors degree in an unrelated field this was almost 14 years ago. Read more>>

Beth Millner

Through a lot of hard work, community support, and some luck, I have been able to earn a full-time living from creative work. Not only that, but I’ve been able to grow enough to support three full time and two part time employees! Read more>>

Jael Lewis

Monetizing my creative journey began at the bend of a junior-year seminar table at Franklin Marshall College. Time was winding down to graduation; Read more>>

Dace Kidd

Since my childhood I was always thrilled to see how someone is moved by seeing or receiving an artwork. My parents were very enthusiastic and encouraging when I chose to become an artist. Read more>>

Leona Perez

“From Passion to Profession: Turning Art into a Full-Time Career” It wasn’t easy. There were moments of self-doubt, financial struggles, and long hours of hard work. But with each new project, my confidence grew. Read more>>

Laura Hodge

It’s certainly tricky to earn a full time living as an Artist. As an Artist – I am very creative. Like many Artists I am a Multi Hyphenate, meaning that I do many different Art related jobs, in the Performing, Creative, Visual and Media Arts as well as being a Teaching Artist in Dance, Theatre, and Visual Arts. Read more>>

Tami Jo Urban

I received my Bachelor of Fine Art in Drawing and Painting in 1996 from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI) and my Master of Fine Art in Medical Illustration in 1999 from University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI). Read more>>

Jenny Nielsen

The arts and creative work have always been part of my life. But after earning my undergraduate degree in fine art, I struggled to make the arts more than a hobby for many years. Read more>>

Berta Artigal

Luckily since 2016 I can make a full living from my work as a creator. I am freelance and work on different illustration assignments, mural projects and my own projects. Read more>>

Gwendolyn Houston-Jack

In 2009, I found myself under-employed. I believe the average person knows and understands two part-time jobs do not equal a full-time job. Read more>>

Jen Naugle

I attending Ringling College of Art and Design, and as a freshman I had to take an introduction to black and white photography class. Read more>>

Scott Strickland

It’s a very tough subject and there’s plenty of ways to do it. I recommend giving my talents and my calling to a higher power to help empower the work. Read more>>

Jerome Allen-Smith

I come from a low-income background, where most of my life, I lived with only my mother and sister. In that environment, the one thing I strived to utilize was my drive to change circumstances. Read more>> 

Hilda Tam

The first creative job I ever got was at a grocery store as their in-store graphic artist. I had graduated from a university as a Studio Art major several years prior and was trying to look for any job that would hire me as a graphic designer. Read more>>

Meagan Lown

For as long as I can remember I always wanted to make a living as an artist. I always referred to myself as a “part time (insert current job title) full time artist.” Read more>>

Kay Curtis

I decided to be an artist before the age of 10. When I left college at 18 after two years I had already been producing hand block printed greeting cards to buy books for my courses. Read more>>

Gary Mackender

In both fields of the visual arts and music, it’s a bit of a struggle to make a living. It’s taken me quite a few years to find my own voice but I am fortunate that I am now able to sell many of my art pieces and also have as much work as I want to take on as a musician. Read more>>

Martel Rudd

Growing up I’ve always wanted to be a performing artist. Dance has always been a natural talent and passion of mine. Leaving my hometown to embark on this journey of turning my passion into a full time career was faith lead. Read more>>

Lupe Galvan

For over a decade, I worked as a professional artist creating illustrations and fine art. I did everything from book covers, to spot illustrations to landscape and portrait commissions. Read more>>