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.

Elise Pimentel

I am infinitely happier as a creative, running my own business and making a living by changing the canvas of peoples’ lives. But I would be remiss to say that I didn’t often think of what it would be like to still have guaranteed income biweekly, a routine and schedule that I could count on and weekends off. It’s difficult when you have to miss events with people you care about, or work opposing schedules with your partner and I crave the structure that a “regular job” can provide at times.  Read more>>

Kelsey Weirick

I feel like when it comes to art, this creative essence becomes an integral part of our being. Because of this, a regular job feels inauthentic and at times, like a cage for a bird. Artists thrive on passion and if that is lacking where we spend so much of our time, that tends to reflect internally. I strongly believe that our passions are no mistake or coincidence – passions are meant to be followed as they guide us towards our soul’s path. Read more>>

Lolly Shera

I am thrilled that I made the leap to become a full time artist. As a kid, I loved to draw and paint with watercolors. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, my parents took us on many camping trips and we spent a lot of time outdoors, hiking, boating and skiing. I graduated from college with a degree in Environmental Education and eventually found my way to public education, teaching first and fourth grade in our local elementary school. It was a good fit for me to teach kids about the environment, along with math and reading, etc. Read more>>

Joseph Wheeler III

Artist are the only people in American societies forced to wear multiple hats through most of their adult years vs so called regular job holders. All of my doctor, lawyer, insurance broker, and various corporate leadership friends have one thing in common. They came out of college able to repay their student loans and each had a clear path of job options related to their chosen careers. Artist are often forced into sub paying jobs not related to their path just to survive. This is mentally taxing. It makes Artist feel under appreciated and in some cases we are. Yet the strongest of us know that our gifts have a divine purpose and to fulfill our paths as Artist is a gift not a curse! Read more>>

Monica Cowsert

I love being an artist. I love being my own boss. I love that I can be grubby at work and listen to music or books while working. I love the smell of paints and all the smelly paint things they say not to smell. And, I am happy being an artist…but it’s not as easy as it sounds. Also, I am a terrible boss. I used to own the cutest retail store, and people would always say…how much fun. You get to go to market and shop for all these neat gifts and clothing items. It was amazing…but it was also paying for those things and setting budgets and being ready to work weekends and holidays. Read more>>

Isaac Castillo

I am not sure that I am happier as an artist. I’ve heard people say becoming a full time DJ is easy to obtain but hard to maintain. I would say so because when dealing with entertainment and music industry, the trends and what society dictates acts as a catalyst to how successful I can be. At the beginning of my career, I had over 30 like minded people who wanted to be creative for a living, with me at any given time. Some wanted to be famous photographers, DJs, musicians, models, nightlife, graphic designers etc. and we would all meet at certain crossroads of our lives. Read more>>

Ezgi Sertcetin

Actually, I am in love with doing what I do now and this gives me satisfaction. I have my freedom to create my artwork and express myself without being limited by anything. This is very important for being creative. Some people may think that an Artist just fastly paints some draws or pictures and the artwork is created but this is not the reality. Every work of art, either painting or sculpture, has its own unique story inspired by events that affect us. Read more>>

Jason Burkey

I truly believe that any artist will at some point be tempted by the stability and consistent income of a regular job. That’s a very normal thought to have! For me that thought hit me hardest in 2018. I was getting married and buying a house during the driest acting season of my career – almost 6 months with hardly any auditions. Needless to say, I was losing my mind! I really started to question whether being an actor was a career I could realistically maintain, especially when I now had to provide for my own family. So what did I do? I enrolled in a trade school to become a locksmith, of course. I wish I were joking. I got it in my head that I wanted to have a job that was stable and where I could work with my hands, so that let me down a rabbit hole of researching how to become a locksmith. Thank God for my wife who is always there to encourage me and remind me of who I am. When she found out I had signed up for a locksmith school, she looked me in the eye and said, “Get your money back because you’re not a locksmith, you’re an actor. This is just the business, there will be ups and downs but that doesn’t mean you quit.” I love my wife. And as usual, she was right. I got my money back, started coaching and taping actors on the side until things inevitably picked up again and I’ve remained consistently busy as an actor ever since. Read more>>

adamariz

Definitely happier! I’ve noticed a trend that when I am not working on music I become easily irritated and tend to feel sad. During the pandemic, I was working full time, in college, and somehow managing to drop music pretty frequently. Eventually it caught up to me and I became extremely depressed and my soul was tired. I realized while working a 9-5 or 6ish sometimes, I hated it. I felt empty. I thought to myself, “I can’t work like this for the rest of my life”. Now, I know some people are built to work office jobs, but not me. I NEED to be somewhere we’re I can be creative. Not just because it’s something I enjoy, but for my own mental well-being. Eventually, I stopped working there and since then I have grown as an artist. Not just in stats, but creatively. I’ve tried new styles and collaborated with artists I never thought I would. Read more>>

Gabe Ratliff

Yes, I am happier as an artist. I couldn’t have it any other way, even if I wanted to. Occasionally, I’ll have a brief thought about what it might be like to have a regular job again. Then, I remember the blood, sweat, and tears I gave for someone else’s dream. I’ll think about all the commitment, passion, and time I gave for the dream they were fulfilling. I must also add that because the people we served were kindred, I was so committed to the company’s vision that I didn’t just drink the Kool-Aid. I helped make it. I’ll think about how one day I, along with several people on my team were laid off just like that. After several years of 70-hour workweeks, constant exhaustion and fatigue, poor health, and missing special life events with family and friends, my part in their dream was over. That was, of course, when my dream of ärtful began. Read more>>

Alexis Pouncy

Not a single day goes by where I have ever regretted my decisions with my career choices. Being a creative and running my own business hasn’t been the easiest career decision. There are days where it feels like I’m on top of the world, and others where it feels like I’m barely treading in the water. Even with the difficulties, it keeps life interesting and helps me to grow more as a person and artist. Read more>>

Rosa Valdovinos Phillip

Having a ‘gagillion’ art jobs has always been exhausting. Yet, I can’t imagine myself doing anything but multi-tasking all these careers. Growing up in a family of all girl siblings my dad always told us we have to work hard for the things we want and always do more so we wouldn’t have to depend on anyone. Having that mindset has allowed me to be, one, an annoying over achiever who at times exhausts herself. But, two, someone who knows she’s capable of anything she sets her heart on. But it’s hard, we all have limits, I’m constantly wondering whether I’m doing enough, whether I should be doing more, or just stip and commit to one full time job, and over thinking in such a frustrating way my anxiety spikes up. Read more>>

Lori Peltier

I am extremely happy being an artist. I have had a regular job, and after years of realizing that I was giving my time for someone else’s benefit, I decided that it was time to put forth the time and energy towards benefiting myself and my family. I taught music and art to students ranging in age from pre-k – adults for over 15 years. I am now producing and running my own brand called Sea of Life. It allows me to be an artist and represent myself through the brand. There are many platforms out there to establish your creative side. It sure is a lot more fun than sitting at a desk from 9-5! Read more>>

Natasha Ragland

Am I Happy as an artist / creative? Do I ever wonder what it would be like to have a regular job? I feel that Art and Music are my life’s purpose, and those are the things I excel at, so that is what I chase after. What if I had to get a regular job? I contemplated the resposibilities of being a parent, but always chose not to go that route. I know that there’s only enough time to do the most important things, and for me, my creative pursuits were the loudest  calling. Read more>>

Jordan Marble

To say that I’m happier as an creative would be a somewhat bias opinion, Yes: I’m very happy to be an creative. I believe being a creative is a regular job. It’s the level in which you do your job that determines if its ordinary or not. One insight that I would pass along to other creatives it to never stop working, always treat your passion with love. Read more>>

Terrance Brashun

I find myself to be most happy when I’m being a creative. It can be frustrating, no doubt, but the joy of seeing everything come together as good as I imagine it or better is an amazing feeling. I have a regular job for the time being and everyday I push forward, waiting for the day to come when I can live off the profits of my creations. I just feel pinned down sometimes. Working a 9 to 5 is cool, but its a mental trap and I sometimes get frustrated when I feel it binding me. Read more>>

Divine Valentin

I am most happy when I am creating because I feel like I am doing what is natural for me to do. I have had regular jobs since I was 16 years old. It wasn’t until I experienced adversity in the workplace that I started to realize that the nine-to-five work life wasn’t for me. I am originally from the Bronx. I have an accent, something I didn’t realize I had until I moved to Phoenix Arizona. I talk with my hands and I use a lot of slang. Read more>>