Do you ever wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a more standard path? Does everyone have these doubts sometimes? We wanted to find out and so we asked as many talented artists and creatives as we could and have shared highlights below.
Madeline Rae
I think about this all the time. It’s tempting to look at individuals who work for large companies with provided health care benefits, steady routines, and traditional income sources and wonder if the grass is greener. What would it be like to wear only one hat and work 8-5 Monday through Friday with weekends and holidays open? Thinking back, I’ve really never had a traditional job. Read more>>
Joshua Dean
Honestly, I’m not sure if an artist can ever truly be happy outside of their element, that place or mindset where we create. In saying that, living as a professional artist isn’t for the faint of heart. It can be rough, inconsistent and sometimes even heart breaking. I remember specifically this time, years ago. I was in Houston, capturing images in the Theater District. Read more>>
Zac Henderson
Working as an artist is an extremely personal experience. For better or for worse, artists often define themselves by the work they make, and subsequently, by how that work is received by others. This is a recipe for despair if the reception of the work is anything less than exuberant. Read more>>
KayraJay
I love this question because to be totally honest I am not always a happy artist and do wonder what it would be like to go to a cubicle, do mundane tasks, then come home and just chill. But then, I think that would literally make me die inside a little bit each day too. Read more>>
Keanna Brown
I am very happy and love being a nail tech but sometimes it does seem a lot easier to get a regular job. I have gotten a job to have a steady income but it doesn’t last long because I love doing nails. The passion have for nails outweighs the thoughts of getting a regular 9 to 5. Read more>>
Mary McCoy
For me, creating is my foundation for happiness. The creative process, to me, is about building my confidence and balance, working through my emotions, and facing both the big and little moments in life with intention. It is what I want to do on the good days and the bad days. Creating is a constant in my life, and I cannot conceive of a reality where it would not be. Read more>>
Musa Ghaznavi
I have that thought quite regularly. I studied economics for a semester before dropping out. I went back home to Pakistan and started working short gigs in the arts. It didn’t always pay the greatest, but the were plenty of opportunities and the people were usually a lot of fun to work with. Read more>>
Lia Liao
I believe work as an artist is the one right and proper job for me. Starting from my senior school, I have spent much more time in my hobbies than my academic major, and eventually made hobby to my career. I enjoyed the life that can consider entertainment as an input, such as video games, books, films, and then translated them into my illustration works, it becomes a virtuous circle. Read more>>
Kyle Aiden
I was sitting in a hotel room in Chicago, swamped with emails from various directors and costume designers, trying to create and prepare choreography that I was going to teach that afternoon, trying to create a design for the next seasons launch of my clothing line when I realized, I would love a 9 to 5 job. I would be able to show up, do my work, wait until 5:00 and then go home. Why on earth am I running myself ragged to try and make this all work. Read more>>
Leigh Huddle
I think about having a “regular” job every day. With all of the help wanted signs popping up in the last few years, it’s difficult to avoid. But I’ve had regular jobs, so I don’t have to think about it too hard. I know that it’s nice to not have your livelihood bleed into your hobbies, and to not have your self-worth so tightly tied to your work. But if it’s in your nature – like it is in mine – to put so much of yourself in everything you do, then maybe it doesn’t really matter whether or not the job is regular. Read more>>
Desiree Guerrero Richardson
I am the absolute happiest when I am drawing, doodling and creating. I wish I could do it everyday. There is a saying that if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. And that is something I most definitely want to experience. I want to create a living where the only thing I need to do is create. My art makes me happy and I wish I could share that with more people. Read more>>
Liberated Sound
Absolutely! However, throughout my journey, I’ve always had to work because I never made a lot of money off of what I do. But because I’m a rapper, I’ve always have had to work jobs that worked around my musical pursuits. Whether it be traveling or rapping somewhere on the weekends, I’ve always had to pick jobs that would allow me to travel when needed. As a result, I’ve had many jobs. Read more>>
Morenike (Renike) Olusanya
I am, sometimes and at other times I’m stressed out and worried because it’s like running your own company. I guess with time when you stick to it and when it gets bigger, you can employ people to make your work easier. Being a full-time artist, living in Nigeria is a huge risk. Read more>>
Nia Rose
I have this question all the time and I’m actually and actively seeking a salary/ ‘regular’ job because of it. But contrary to some ideals I don’t think that’s a negative thing. Being an entrepreneur and a self-employed artist is often glorified on social media. But what people often forget is that every path you choose has its challenges. With the artist lifestyle comes glamour, creative expression, flexibility but also inconsistent income, a need for extreme self-discipline, self regulated schedule, and lots of rejection. Read more>>
Jimmy Galt
Creating new things, whether frivolous or significant, is always its own pay off. I find immense satisfaction in the act of creation—And getting paid for it is the best! Read more>>
Rob Vincent
I have this battle with myself very often. In my experience, making a career out of being a musician (especially in Nashville) is way more a mental struggle than anything else. But at the same time, it’s a beautiful thing to know that everyone is having the same struggles. I deal with imposter syndrome a lot – thinking I’m not good enough to be making music full-time, thinking my productions/mixes don’t sound as good as “fill-in-the-blank”. Read more>>
Michelle Ley
I honestly couldn’t imagine myself doing nothing else, art has always been an escape for me. When I was a kid I had a hard childhood and it was the only way to run away from my troubles without ever actually having to leave. Nothing I’ve created has really made sense and I’ve worked with just about every medium. Read more>>
Luis Castanon
Actually I’m having a normal job, to be able to support my career, this is a life plan in a medium period, I do it as a support in which my career takes off, because this industry is difficult, you never know when your moment will be just arrives Read more>>
Jay Maggio
The timing for this question couldn’t be more spot on. I just started my taxes for year 2022 and had to total up my income for final state sales tax. 2022 was my best year to date and the galleries that represent me sold a combined total of 76 paintings for the year. I really nearly shed tears of joy so happy to have come this far in my career. I honestly never thought I could be this successful. Read more>>
Alexis Jade
I’d like to start off by saying that I am extremely grateful and blessed to call myself a full time artist. It is something that I have dreamed of since I was a child. However, I wasn’t ever sure that it was an actual obtainable goal. Prior to my first semester of college, I wasn’t aware that you could have a career as a musician in any capacity other than a Grammy Award winning, stadium touring, Billboard top 100 artist. Read more>>