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.

Lauryn Ickes

I absolutely love having a job as a creative/artist. In Alaska, it is so empowering with the amount of female entrepreneurs there are. We all have our different niches, support, and uplift one another. Community over competition, ALWAYS. I do sometimes miss the community in having a “regular job.” Seeing coworkers every day, company parties, etc. But with the number of other female business owners in my area, I definitely do not feel alone by any means. I love this boss babe community that I am apart of. Read more>>

Yosmel Montejo

Yes, I’m definitely happy as an artist, but like everything in life, it comes with its pros and cons. Let’s say it is a lifestyle: instead of working only 9-5 like a “job” you end up working almost all day long. The creative process now-a-days is only a portion of what you have to do if you don’t have a team. Now you have to be also a manager, social media wizard , producer , booking agent etc … it could be a lot. Read more>>

Noah Kahlil

I would say so. There’s so much back and forth between being in the now, but also pursuing a vision. Some days I get caught up on where I’m not, other days I’m like…we’re definitely further along than last year. It helps to have a job unrelated to the music for money. This way there’s no pressure from bills and financial needs placed on the music. I can do music purely for music’s sake. Read more>>

Aydee Lopez Martinez

I worked in regular jobs before and during the time I was in college so I know what it is like to feel like there is something missing from my job. I remember constantly daydreaming about art and knowing that my happiness and well-being was predicated on whether I was able to do something creative after I left my job for the day. Thankfully, today I am a working artist and I get to create, show and sell my work. I also teach mosaic and ceramic art and feel so fulfilled. I am the happiest I have ever been in a job. Read more>>

Jesse Miller

This is a pretty good question for me. I have been working on being an artist since I graduated college in 1996. But I also have a regular job. For many years I was dedicated to becoming a working artist. I was going to shows, selling from shops and galleries, giving demonstrations and leading workshops for art groups. I even taught watercolor classes in my studio for several years. But ultimately I couldn’t afford to keep at it. When my family started growing, I needed a steady income and being an artist didn’t give me that. I had worked as a seasonal lifeguard guard for the city of San Diego for several years and I was lucky enough to get promoted to full time a few years back. I enjoy my job, and am thankful that I have steady employment. Working at the beach is great, and I love being able to help so many people each year, but it doesn’t fill me with the same satisfaction I get when I finish a painting that I think is really great. Read more>>

Audrey Nathania

The short answer would be yes, I’m incredibly happy as a creative! But, the grass is always greener on the other side, especially in the creative field where instability is always in the back of my mind. I sometimes equate happiness with stability, and so I use the term ‘happy’ here loosely when describing my creative journey. For me, creative work isn’t just something I do to make a living; it’s an integral part of my identity. So, all the ups and downs that come with this career impacts me on a deeply personal level, which comes with a lot of self doubt, the infamous impostor syndrome, and the occasional identity crisis. Read more>>

Samantha Bailey

I absolutely love what I do and I wouldn’t change a thing in my journey. I do wonder what it would be like to have a “regular” job but I just couldn’t see myself doing anything else! I get to make an impact on others and that means more than anything to me. When I’m not auditioning or on a set, I teach dance and acting to preschool age students. Seeing them light up and love this art the way that I did when I first started in the industry, brings me so much joy! I could not be happier! Read more>>

Katlyn Garcia

Of course I am happy! I absolutely love what I do and love the clients I work for. I truly believe when you are doing something that you love and enjoy, it doesn’t feel like work and it reflects in my work as well. I don’t think I would push myself as hard or care so much about continuing my education if I wasn’t happy in my career. I am immensely grateful for the Salon family I have found. The girls that I work with are the most supportive and loving human beings I have ever met. I had a “regular” full-time job prior to becoming a hairdresser and knowing what it was like prior to becoming a hairdresser to now, no, I would never go back and that’s a very easy choice. Read more>>

Josh Tomsha

I’m the opposite, would I be happier foregoing the day job and creating? Could I have freedom from the 6 to 3 and still make a living? I’m still wondering if that is the path for me. Read more>>

Meiqi Zhang

Thank you for having me. It’s a great question. Being an artist is a unique and rewarding path, but it does come with its share of uncertainties. I can’t imagine doing anything else, though. The freedom to express myself and create something meaningful is incredibly fulfilling. Of course, like anyone else, I’ve had moments of doubt where I wondered what a more conventional job might be like, but those moments are fleeting. Because there’s an unexplainable joy in knowing that something I create can touch people’s lives, evoke emotions, and perhaps even change their perspective. That’s what keeps me going, even during the tougher times. Read more>>