Since I was a teenager, I've pretty much always had a job. I've waitressed and barista-ed. I've nannied and taught english. I've worked in writing and marketing. And I've taught art (my favorite job of all).
With every job I've had, the question has always been:
How do I make money so I can keep making my art?
After 15 years of seriously grappling with this question, I've figured something out that feels true to me:
There is making money and there is making art. Sometimes those two things overlap and sometimes they don't.
98% of the professional artists I know have (at least) two jobs. They have the thing they do for money -- usually teaching or design -- and they have their art. The art-making is a job of its own. It takes many hours of thought and labor and sadly, much of the time, it does not pay.
For the 2% of people I know who make a living selling their work, they also have two jobs. They have the job of making their art and the job of running a business. They hustle. They are not scared of selling. They also (usually) have a safety net. This is a partner or family member who can support them if the selling is slow.
Let's get real for a minute. America is a brutally expensive place to live. Healthcare costs are unreasonable in this country (try having a baby - ha!). I see a lot of artists beat themselves up because they are not making more money from their art. I see them feel ashamed that they need to find other ways to support themselves. Maybe that means leaning on a partner or family member if they're lucky enough to have them. I've felt shame around this myself. At the center of these feelings lies an unhelpful belief:
"If I'm not financially supporting myself through my art, am I not a serious artist? Is my art-making just a very expensive hobby?"
Oh boy, I've had this question.
This is what I would call a core negative belief. In every core negative belief we have, there is something deeper we are telling ourselves. Something we believe to be true, but doesn't have to be. Let's look at the belief I stated above...
Within this core negative belief, we might be telling ourselves:
1. If my art doesn't generate money, it's not important work. 2. "Real artists" don't have day jobs. 3. The impact of my work should only be measured by its performance in the market.
For me, I find it most helpful to think about making money and making art as two different things, each with its own set of rules.
I have rules in place for making money that help me thrive. These rules include working for myself and setting my own rates. I also have rules in place for making art that help me thrive. These include giving myself permission to follow my interests and taking a break when I need it.
So, What are your rules around making money? What are your rules around making art?
Consider how you can separate these two spheres of your life so it empowers you vs. holds you back.
