Whether we do art part time, full time or in our spare time, it doesn’t make us
any less serious, less talented or less worthy than anyone other creator out
there.
The only thing that matters is that, in lieu of the reality
of our life situation, we always find a way to look back and think, and I was still making art.
I’ve been a part time artist, with another job to pay the bills. Meaning creative work was a partial source of my income. In this
situation, I kept one eye cocked to the commercial possibilities of my ideas. As
a result, my projects often netted a modest, but not insignificant return. And
by focusing on being heard first and paid second, getting my name out there and
finding my voice, I earned just enough money to support my lifestyle,
underwrite my addictions and keep my career alive as an amateur.
One foot in, one foot out. And I was still making art.
I’ve also been a full time artist, with no other job. Meaning
creative work was my primary source
of income. In this situation, the quality, quantity and frequency of my
thoughts determined my livelihood. Creation became the organizing principle of
my life. As a result, I
committed enough to build an iconic brand, a profitable enterprise and a
prolific body of work that did the talking for me. By growing my audience and diversifying
my product and service lines, my annual earnings increased every year.
Both
feet in. And I was still making
art.
I’ve been a full time employee, with art as my side job. Making
creative work was a supplementary source
of income. In this situation, I started to make art independent of my need to
make money and keep the lights on. As a result, that freed my work from the
burden of having to support myself. Creativity wasn’t so claustrophobic anymore,
now that I wasn’t worrying about money. And by removing the acute business
pressure, I had the sovereignty to experiment with new mediums and genres and
ideas.
Both feet out, some toes in. And I was still making art.
Are you?
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