Full-Time Creative

March 19, 2025


Many emerging artists are under the impression that becoming a full-time artist means leaving behind all other endeavors and focusing solely on their craft. While this might sound ideal, the reality of being a "full-time" artist is often far from this simplified narrative. If you're on the path of turning your artistic passion into a career, you might have felt the pressure to make a choice: devote yourself entirely to art, or continue balancing other work while pursuing your creative ambitions. However, what many fail to realize is that being a full-time artist isn’t as black and white as it seems.

Full-Time Artist

The term “full-time artist” doesn’t always mean that creating art is the only thing you do, or that you’re solely supported by income from selling your artwork. Rather, it’s about prioritizing art in your life and committing significant time and energy to your creative practice. In other words, being a full-time artist means that art takes a central role in your routine, even if you're still working a job that helps cover your bills.

For example, if you're working a 9-to-5 job and then dedicating 6-8 hours every evening to your creative projects, you’re still a full-time artist. Your day job may not be related to your artwork, but your commitment to art is just as real and important. This idea challenges the common misconception that full-time artists are only those who live off their sales or work exclusively in their studios.

Balancing Art and Income

While it’s a beautiful vision to think that you could sustain yourself solely through your art, for many artists, this isn't the reality. In fact, most full-time artists supplement their income with outside work. Whether it's a part-time job, freelancing, or some other form of income that supports their life, these jobs allow them to focus on what matters: creating art. This isn’t a failure or a setback; it’s actually one of the most practical and beneficial approaches.

Having the freedom to support your art practice without relying entirely on sales or commissions creates a unique opportunity to explore your creativity without the pressure of survival. It gives you the space to experiment, develop your style, and really zero in on what you want to express as an artist. This “hybrid” model allows you to have both financial stability and the time needed to grow as an artist. You can take risks in your work that you might not have been able to if you were depending on art sales for survival.

Dangers of Chasing Sales

When artists rely solely on their art sales, it can lead to a certain pressure to create in a way that appeals to the market. This is when art becomes formulaic—artists might start making work that’s designed to sell, or they may repeat themes and styles that have proven successful in the past. While there’s nothing wrong with creating work that resonates with others, it’s easy to fall into a trap where the art becomes a product instead of an expression of your true self.

Artists who balance other forms of income with their creative work are often freer to create what truly speaks to them, without needing to follow trends or chase after what’s popular. By having the financial stability to explore new ideas, they may find more fulfillment and originality in their practice.

Time to Grow and Develop

When you're not entirely dependent on your art for financial survival, you also have more time to grow. The pressure to create and sell might cause you to rush your process, but having outside income gives you the luxury of time. You can reflect, explore, and let your artistic practice develop organically, instead of forcing it into a pre-designed box for commercial gain.

In the long term, the slower, more thoughtful approach to developing your work might pay off more than the immediate need to "make a sale." It’s during this time of exploration and growth that you may discover new techniques, find your voice, and understand the deeper aspects of your art. Those small moments of discovery are often what make an artist’s career truly rewarding.

Working Mulitiple Jobs

Some of the most committed artists are those who juggle a day job with their passion for art. They might not be financially dependent on their artwork yet, but their dedication to art is unwavering. These artists are often more “full-time” than those who only create art to make a living because they are committed to their craft on a deep level, finding ways to balance life and creativity in a way that allows both to thrive.

A Balanced Approach 

If you’re an artist trying to figure out how to sustain yourself while focusing on your work, remember that there is no one-size-fits-all path. Many successful artists support themselves with other work while developing their artistic careers. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to be one or the other. The key is to prioritize your art and dedicate as much time as you can to creating and developing your practice, even if that means working a “normal” job to cover your expenses.

In the end, being a full-time artist is about passion and commitment, not just about how you make your living. Embrace the flexibility of having other sources of income to support your journey as an artist, and use that space to truly explore your creative potential. When you can focus on making art that is authentic and true to you, the world will take notice—whether you’re making a living off it right now or not.

Becoming a full-time artist is not about the title or the pressure to make it your only endeavor. It’s about creating art that comes from a place of freedom and purpose. Keep pursuing your passion, and the rest will follow in time.