For anyone who has ever dreamed of having an art career, but never thought it was possible because you have a full-time job, this post is for you! It is possible to have a creative career and a full-time job.
9 to 5 No Longer Defines the American Workday. This means that most of us don’t have the time to commit to a traditional 9-5 job AND pursue our creative dreams. I am a full time teacher at a local community college. This means I have lesson preps, committee work, and meetings. Added to this is a large stack of papers to grade – ALL THE TIME!! But there are ways to make it work. If you’re willing to be flexible and get a little bit creative, you can have both a successful career and a fulfilling creative life. Here’s how:
Define your goals – what do you want to achieve as an artist, and how will having a full-time job impact those goals?
Having a well-defined goal plan is essential when it comes to being able to create and share art successfully with a full-day job. These goals should reflect not just what you want to create and share, but how you want to create and share it – for instance, whether you want to simply create personally fulfilling work or create work intending to sell. Additionally, you should also be aware of how having a full-time job will impact your ability to create art – while it can provide the financial stability that allows you to grow as an artist without needing sales right away, it will also likely mean less time available for creating artwork. Change up your definition of success to fit with the unique situation that comes with having a full-time job – find creative ways by which you can still create and build meaningful relationships in a way that fits your lifestyle. For example, I am more interested in creating artwork and less flustered in getting these sold right away. I am keen on building meaningful relationships that will be rewarding in the long run. I would like my art business to thrive and succeed and provide me with an alternate career when I retire. All of this takes time. I started early. So should you!
Make a schedule – block out time in your week for working on your art, and stick to it!
If you’re looking for ways to make running an art business possible while still having a full-time job, start by making a schedule for yourself. For example, for the first few weeks you’ll want to allocate a few hours a day each week for updating your social media profiles, continue to create artwork each month, and even take some classes to help improve your artistic skills. This being said, it’s important to consistently stick to your allocated time for working on your art if you want it to have a positive impact on your life. So focus and don’t be afraid to block out space in your week for yourself and your project – this will make all the difference! Choose a planner or a notebook and write your plans. I have a daily undated planner for work, an undated monthly planner for my art business (this is because I cannot work every day on it), and an idea book on how to grow my business.
Find a supportive community – whether that’s online or in-person, make sure you’re surrounded by people who understand and support your dreams
Creativity knows no bounds and a successful art business requires passion and dedication. As an artist, it is necessary to build a supportive community of those who understand and share your vision. Nowadays, taking advantage of social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook can be a great way to climb the ladder in the art profession. Additionally, having an active presence at local farmers markets and exhibitions can also give much-needed exposure to your work as well as provide a great opportunity to establish fruitful networks. Whether you choose to start locally or online, finding a community of cheerleaders for your project is essential for success!
Get organized – set up a system for tracking your sales, expenses, and inventory so you can stay on top of your business
Managing both a full-time job and an art business can be complicated, but when you employ the use of the thriving powers of technology and organization, it can be done. Getting organized is key to running a successful art business. For instance, using an AI app such as Later for scheduling time for posting your art on social media is a lifesaver. Use a system to plan out all sales, expenses, and inventory. That way you’re always on top of what’s coming up in terms of orders, deadlines, bills, and more that come with owning an art business!
Don’t give up! Pursuing an art career can be challenging, but it’s worth it if it’s what you’re passionate about.
Pursuing an artist career may bring about its fair share of challenges, from a slow start to stalled sales. But don’t lose heart! Despite these issues, you must always remain passionate and believe that pushing through such barriers is worth it. To help build on your efforts, join social media platforms for artists and art-related pages– this may help open up your artwork to the viewing public and attract people who may be interested in supporting your work. Most importantly, don’t forget that we all have to start somewhere; Rome wasn’t built in a day after all! With patience, dedication, and willingness you can have both a full day-time profession as well as an art business.
Pursuing an art career can be difficult when you have a full-time job, but with careful planning and dedication, it is possible. Remember to take time to define your goals, make a schedule and stick to it, build a supportive community, get organized, and most importantly never give up! It will take patience and hard work, but in the end, your creativity can allow you to create something meaningful and enjoyable. No matter how daunting the process may seem, stay focused on your goals –the most important thing is to pursue what you are passionate about first and foremost. Even if it takes years, success follows hard work – so let your creative spark lead the way!