Six Truths to Know Before Becoming an Artist Full-Time

Art as a career.

I’ve wanted to write about this topic for ages but wanted to be in the right frame of mind to properly address it. Incidentally, this happens to be now as I sit in bed resting my laptop on Rupert the giant hand-warmer/soft toy hedgehog. So let’s cut straight to it.

It would be an understatement of epic proportions to say that art as a career path is difficult. It is challenging on many different fronts, and as I’ve mentioned several times on Twitter, there is a very little support or funding for nurturing artistic talent. If you’re considering pursuing art full-time, I wish you the best – but here are some home truths to prepare you on your way.

1. The Stigma

As you probably already know, there is a stigma attached to becoming a full-time artist – the idea that it’s a ‘lesser’ career choice with zero substance, which comes from a complete lack of understanding regarding how much research, planning and practise goes into an artist’s work.

It always fascinates me that the same society which marvels at beautiful architecture and intricate art at historic sites, is the same society which fails to understand the extensive dedication and study many artists put into their craft.

2. The Space

One I personally continue to struggle with; it’s difficult to find an adequate and secure space for my art desk (where work can be left mid-progress for the next day) and art supplies. Not having the right space can really throw your creativity off track, stunt your workflow and blur your work/life/create balance – as much as we love to create, boundaries are vital; producing art in your bedroom will make it difficult to switch off when you need to rest.

Lack of adequate space also limits your ability to work as you’d work best; art storage, room layout, desk layout etc. For most artists, all we need is a private room or study where all of our art and supplies live, and is solely ours to access so we can work, leave and repeat. That being said, London office space prices are extortionate and surrounding areas are no better; in one case here in Reading, I’ve been quoted £600+ monthly for a basic one-desk sized space with no windows, poor transport links and horrendous yellow lighting. No, thanks.

3. The Work/Art Balance

If you’re working as a full-time artist, your work and passion will combine – which is incredible in some ways but also adds an enormous pressure for you to deliver as an artist to enable financial stability. This, in turn, can have a detrimental effect on your creativity which can then impact your overall success. For many artists, this is a major factor for why they choose to create as a side venture; even if some of us define success differently, money is a crucial aspect without which none of this would be possible.

4. The Costs

Depending on your specific art style, most art supplies and resources can be expensive. It’s safe to say that between testing out various supplies, replenishing trusted items and attending art courses, the costs definitely add up; not to mention bills and possibly a hefty price tag for office space rent.

5. The Returns

When creating art for success, there is a danger of losing yourself to the crowd and for arguably the most important reward; money. It will be tempting to create mainly what you believe will sell, losing your individuality in the process.

If you’re in it for the long-run, be wary of selling yourself short for social media ‘likes’ and quick sales; as necessary as online interaction is, and as essential as money is (as I mentioned earlier in this post), the most important return is your impact, your body of work and your legacy as an artist.

6. The Creative Pressure

Most artists are no stranger to the pressures of creativity; days where it’s dwindling, erratic or just impossible to deliver which can sometimes (we’ve all been there, right?) result in a mini mid-life crisis of self-doubt, panic and/or frustration. Whilst creativity comes naturally to artists, the ability to produce art according to our vision can be unpredictable and the pressure can be intense. And social media, for all of its positives, often contributes hugely to this crisis; just open Instagram and loop yourself into the infinite scrolling doom through works of artist after artist – you know, actual artists whose work is and will always be better than yours – masterpiece after masterpiece, highlight reel after highlight reel.

The reality is that every artist has faced their own limitations and restrictions, and hopefully learnt from them, despite what we hide from social media.

Having said all of the above, there are many successful full-time artists who are in a content place in their careers, so don’t let this post deter you. This is more of a guide to help you navigate the obstacles I wish I’d been made aware of when I started out on my journey – if you have anything to add, leave your feedback in the comments or give me a shout on Twitter.