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.

Camilo Nuñez

I’ve been a full time free-lancer artist since 2011, I first started as a photographer assistant, that was my first job when I was around 16 years old, then when I was studying at University I met several friends how were interested in drawing, illustration and painting, then I got hooked by painting and street art. Read more>> 

Elianna Panakis

Juggling several jobs and projects simultaneously isn’t for everyone, but for me, it’s the only feasible way to stay afloat without relying on a traditional 9-5 or service job. Read more>>

Meredith White

Earning a full-time living is something I still navigate! Just because something falls into place at one point in your career doesn’t mean it will last forever. Read more>>

Haley Bearden

About three years into my business, I had decided to go full time. At the time I had a lot going on. I was also working a full time job while pursuing my dream business and becoming full time with that. Read more>>

Susi Engl

I do make a full-time living running LV Craft Shows, and though I am not creating my own art, I provide a platform for hundreds of artists to sell their original crafts, gifts, and so much more. Read more>>

Liv Novotny

I started painting murals at age 18. I had painted my whole life, but didn’t think art was a valid career. I went to college for journalism and graphic design, and worked for magazines and newspapers while I was apprenticing under some local muralists on the side for fun. Read more>>

Belen Saenz de Viteri

I am from Ecuador, Guayaquil and since very early on my childhood, I’ve had an interest for drawing. I decided that it was a path I wanted to follow, and therefore I started my search for American universities that would allow me to develop my craft. Read more>>

Shakira Hunt

I started my entrepreneurial journey early 2019, just after I fired myself from my full time interior design job in 2018. As creative entrepreneur my focus and primary practice is photography, but rooted in my traditional training through design, which is what has influenced the expansion of my artistry into creative/ experiential production. Read more>>

Sylvester Britton

Yes I have . But I had to have three paying gigs a week. Preferably the weekends.(Friday sat and Sunday) also do open mics on the weekdays. Read more>>

Seth Resnick

I graduated from the Syracuse Newhouse School of Communications with a degree in photojournalism, but the school’s reputation doesn’t guarantee success in the real world. Read more>>

Laura Tinajero

It has been a very long road full of difficulties. For several years I had a small business, an academy, where I helped children and adolescents who had learning problems or needed help with their homework. Read more>>

Amy Hayes

I have been earning a full-time living from my creative work for over 10 years now. I actually started out in interior design, having studied in London and Paris before ending up in Melbourne, Australia working for a boutique design firm. Read more>>

Kevin Clone

I started doing art and drawing from an earlier age. Something that most kids are interested in. But as i grew the curiosity never went away. I continue to take classes and learned alot. Read more>>

Jazmine Freeman

“As a teaching-artist, I have been blessed to earn a full-time living from my creative work. Since the ripe age of 2, I have been training in various styles of dance. Read more>>

Fred Bogert

I committed my life to being a professional musician in 1970. It took @4 years to get started, and during that time I struggled hard, worked hard and made almost no money. Read more>>

Word Life

Yes, I’ve been fortunate enough to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but it definitely didn’t happen overnight. It was a journey filled with persistence, passion, and a deep love for representing my Puerto Rican culture. Read more>>

Tuyana Chimitova

I earn a living through two main creative avenues: my paintings and graphic design. My paintings are sold through exhibitions, galleries, and online platforms, and I also conduct workshops. In graphic design, I create logos and visual materials for companies, helping them build recognizable brands. Read more>>