Working a Full-Time Job as an Artist
Discover more from An Artist's Thoughts
Working a Full-Time Job as an Artist
And why it may not be as bad as you think!
Intro
This blog will primarily deal with how to be comfortable working at a day job while being an artist. I sort of wanted to talk about balancing a day job and creative pursuits for a while. I don’t think it gets talked about enough, so I wanted to highlight a few things based on my experience with balancing a job while also doing art. There are many artists out there who still are working a full-time job and may do art as a passionate hobby or might be doing it part-time. This blog is to reassure you that it’s okay to have a day job while pursuing creative projects and that you can make it work. You can still fulfill your dreams. It doesn’t have to be an “all for nothing” situation.
The Balancing Act
I am just one of the many artists worldwide who still have full-time jobs but enjoy creating art. I enjoy creating so much that I want to create full-time in the future, but in the meantime, I am comfortable with where I am now in this season of life.
When I explore the realm of YouTube and try to find others with similar circumstances to my own, they are a bit hard to find. A lot of what you will find is "I quit my full-time job to do art full-time," while those are inspiring videos to give you hope that you too can make it as an artist, they didn’t really match what I was looking for. I wanted to find videos that were closer to home. Artists that might still work a day job but somehow find the time to create.
A few videos I found gave me some encouragement and changed my perspective on having a day job. I stopped viewing my job as a burden and just saw it as fuel for my creative projects. This video here from Elin Lööw, called "Making Time For Creativity & Slow Living When Working Full-Time" was something I resonated with, and I would watch it occasionally as a nice pick me up!
(Plus, I relish taking things slow and the slow life lol.)
Balancing being an artist and having a full-time job can be difficult sometimes. Some days can be stressful, and it can feel like there is no time to do anything creative. However, with proper planning and hard work, you can make a living at your day job while still having time to pursue your creative interests!
Plan in Advance
The most crucial step is to plan what you want to accomplish. Taking the time to plan is essential to balancing your job and passions. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. However, one of our biggest challenges is finding the time to work on our projects. To get a clear idea of how much time you may have, mark out the time you spend at work and the time you spend asleep. Also, mark out the time for other activities or responsibilities you may have, such as errands, chores, dinner, and so forth. After that, you can realistically see how much you can spend on your craft.
Setting aside a specific amount of time that works for you and making sure you stick to that schedule can do wonders, but you have to be disciplined to stick to your plan.
Energy
Other factors that come into play are your energy levels throughout the day. Some artists are more active during the day, and some are more active at night. Speaking for myself, I get tired when the evening rolls in. I sometimes just want to relax and watch YouTube or complete a low level activity until bedtime. But I have to force myself to work on my art at night. I try to focus on my work at certain times in the evenings. Mainly on the weekends is where most of my creative time in spent since I have more time.
Throughout the weekday, I try to keep notes of things I want to do or make sketches and doodles of ideas. Also, some time restraints can push you to find creative ways to get work done!
Do Not Compare Yourself
It's easy to feel like you are not doing enough when you see your favorite artists or other creatives posting new projects they have been working on. Sharing finished pieces, daily sketches, and other works. So, you may end up feeling like you are not doing much or even wondering,
"How do they get so much done? I need to be more like them!"
Well, most likely, it's because it's their full-time job already (like a concept artist or a freelancer, for example). It would be unfair to compare your situation with theirs since everyone's journey is different.
As Elin said in her video above:
"When I began my creative journey, I heard someone say that if you put in part-time effort, you get part-time results. And that can sound a little bit depressing but also a little bit liberating as well. If we are just doing something just one day a week or a couple of hours a week we are not going to see the same output and results as someone who is doing it as their job. So, just feel assured that if you are doing this part-time, you are not supposed to get the results or get as far or create as much as someone who is doing it full-time, so just keep that in mind when you are comparing yourself to other people online."
I 100% agree with her statement. As mentioned in a previous blog, I wrote "How To Overcome Discouragement as an Artist" The negative comparison does not help you progress but sets you back. You are comparing apples to oranges and vice versa. If you are doing art part-time, be the best part-time artist you can be until you make it full-time if that is your end goal. But comparing yourself only distracts you from your mission in life!
Having a Support System
I also mention this in "How To Overcome Discouragement as an Artist" too. Having a support system (even if it's just one person) can be crucial when balancing your job and art. Family, friends, and loved ones who support you and your goals can be big motivators. Plus, you have people you can rely on that can help if you really need help. Again, I explain this in my post, so go check it out if you want to learn more!
Looking at the Positives
From what I noticed, having a full-time job (depending on the job) is viewed negatively. Especially if it's a job that is only partially related to the creative field you want to get into. Some jobs can be soul-sucking. However, always seeing the bad in something can be disheartening, and you lose track of what you are trying to do. However, keeping an open mind and focusing on the positive aspects of a job can be up-lifting.
The positives of having a job I try to focus on are:
Having a reliable income to support my interests.
If the job is related to your interests, that also helps keep you motivated.
Having a job can also open up opportunities that you didn't expect, and if you're working in the creative field, you may even meet and connect with other artists too!
Since you are receiving income from an active stream, you can be open to experimenting with different ideas or trying out different projects. There is no pressure or deadline for your creative pursuits. You can take the time needed to do quality work.
Plus, having a job can give many people a sense of purpose and stability. While many people may want to leave their jobs to pursue art full-time, there are also the ones that don't mind having a full-time job in something else that isn't art. My job fuels me to work hard on my art, and I can spend time experimenting with new techniques and styles. You can spend as much or as little time as you want to focus on your craft and still have a steady income. You can also have more leeway as to how and when you create.
Separating work from your passions can help, too. For example, when I am at work, it's mainly work time. However, once work is over, I can focus my creative energy on my art.
Closing
What I would want you to take from this is that no matter what path you decide to tread— I want it to be a decision that you strongly feel is the right one to make. Everyone is different and has their own personal reason for keeping a day job vs. just being a full-time artist. If you have a day job, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You didn't fail as an artist, and you shouldn't feel put down because of it. People need to do what is best for them, and if having a job is best for you in this season of life, then go for it! Having a job shouldn't keep you from creating. If you are passionate about creating, then let your ideas flourish!
You can make this work. Don't give up your dreams so soon, no matter which direction you go!
What are your thoughts?
Are you an artist working a full-time job?
Do you also have some tips for balancing work and art?
I would love to hear your thoughts! We can all learn from one another. If you would like, leave a comment down below!