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“Is art my job or is art my hobby?” That’s the biggest decision you have to make when pursuing your creative passion. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to keep art as a hobby, there is security working within corporate that you just aren’t guaranteed as a self-employed artist. As long as you keep a job, you’ll be getting a consistent paycheck, possibly insurance, PTO, a 401K, and more; all of it placed at your feet. It’s definitely a safer route and there’s even the potential opportunity of moving up in a company, granting you even more benefits. You’ll be able to work on your passion in your free time, you’ll have no expectations and deadlines. Your art isn’t being forced because your art wouldn’t necessarily be your income.

Then, on the other hand, maybe you’re so done and so ready to get out of the rat race for good! You would rather be working hard for the things that you’re passionate about instead of the same 9-to-5 lining someone’s pocket with your time. You’d rather be your own boss and create your own schedule! Maybe you just don’t like being told what to do? Instead, you like to learn and grown on your own without a manager, a co-worker, or some rude customer telling you how it’s supposed to be done. Do you find yourself dragging your feet going into work everyday? Is there some voice in the back of your head begging you to pick up a paintbrush … A stylus … A piping bag … Chisel? Anything! Just a burning desire deep within you to create and express yourself in a way that’s unique to you? Then perhaps pursuing your passion is the life path for you.

That’s the struggle for me right now. I’ve been working in corporate jobs for over 13 years now and I’ve finally decided to really try and hone my craft while working towards my dream of becoming a full-time artist. It hasn’t been easy so far, I’ve tried and failed before, but I know that this is something that will take time and in my heart I know this is the choice for me. It’s the start of a brand new year and the time for me to make a change! Looking back, I can see where I’ve gone wrong and now I think I’m ready to begin again while learning from my past mistakes. If you find yourself in the same position, maybe I can share a few suggestions that can help you on your own personal journey!

First, and perhaps the hardest, is to try and take responsibility for your finances. Pay off your high interest credit cards, cancel some subscriptions, tighten your budget, dig through the couch cushions, think of as many (reasonable) ways to save your money wherever you can. It might sound obvious but it’s just so easy to spend your money nowadays! So many little expenses here and there can slowly drain that precious cash flow and keep you from being able to take time off of work and put time into your art. Live comfortably and not excessively! I know rent is a big one but, if you have to down size or start finding reliable roommates, do so.

Two, find a job that you can tolerate. There’s nothing wrong with jumping around from place to place until you find the right fit for you, after all, “The best time to look for a job is when you’ve got one.” If you’re ever feeling stuck just remember that there are other opportunities out there waiting for you! It won’t come to you, however. You’re going to need to go out there looking for it! I’ve worked more than my fair share of crummy jobs before I found one that I could at least tolerate—I no longer feel so burnt out from work that I have no desire to work on my art. Sure, it’s not perfect and I still can get quite frustrated with it, but I’m now able to use those feelings to drive my passion and push myself to get to where I want! Your job will either be a raft to keep you afloat or a stepping stone on your path to success; find whichever works for you!

Three, make time for what you love to do. Are you a morning person or a night owl? At first, I would always be too exhausted after work and would struggle with the motivation to sit down and focus on the thing I cared about most—my art! After a long day at work the only thing I’d want to do would be to climb into my pajamas and relax … So, obviously, that means that I work best in the morning. Reserving an hour or so in my morning ritual to plan or work on art has been an almost therapeutic experience for me! And those good vibes that I start my day with carry on throughout the day, keeping my mind aflutter with creative thoughts even while working on the most boring tasks. When do you feel productive? How can you squeeze art into your busy schedule?

With all this being said, remember what they say, “Be careful what you wish for.” Now, I’m not trying to discourage you from chasing your dreams. But, sprinkle a little grain of salt on everything that you do. Not everything you do will serve or fulfill your desires, sometimes you’ve just got to do what has to be done even if it’s not what you want. Being an artist isn’t always sunshine and rainbows and there will be a lot of people trying to take control of your journey or change your dreams to something they think will suit you better, but you must stay true to what you feel in your heart. I would rather be facing the challenges in life doing what I love than be stuck somewhere that didn’t bring me joy or fulfillment for the rest of my time here on Earth. As soon as I sit up in bed, the first thing I do is repeat “Art.” three times to myself to help me always keep my focus on my most important life-goal … To become the artist I know myself to be!

Don’t become a starving artist, nourish yourself so you become a thriving artist! Don’t just feed your body but also your mind and creative soul. Make an oath to yourself that you won’t lose sight of what’s important, that you won’t let your passion drain you, and that you will achieve what you want most in this world while keeping yourself safe and healthy enough to triumph in your pursuit! Surround yourself with a community of like minded people who understand your journey and can cheer you on! Stay aligned with your goals and be true to the real you.

Thank you Artsy Peeps for taking this stop on your journey to be with me. All of the digital drawings you saw here today, are now in my Redbubble account. Hit the butterfly pea flower tea picture down below to get to my RedBubble account. Next month is so exciting! There’s so much happening in February, we’ve got Valentine’s Day, the Superbowl, and I’ll be going on a little road trip with my partner! It’s a pretty cool place with a big art community as well as quite a lot of history behind it too; think you know where it is? Go ahead and leave a comment! I will be excited to share more with you next time. Ta-ta for now, Artsy Peeps!