First of all, lets start with the fact that there is no shame in having a part time job to support your art.
I think that it’s important to talk about our part time/full time/some of the time hustles as artists. I think that during all those years I thought I could never be an artist, one of the reasons was because I thought art was always a full time job. Seriously. With artists just talking about their art all day, why wouldn’t I have? The idea of me just quitting my job to try and sell my art for the first time? Not a chance! Turns out that no one does it like that. There are tonnes of artists moonlighting with their art or moonlighting their art with something else. I was ignoring this potential career because no one was admitting that they did it. The lack of discussion around this subject was a barrier to me that I didn’t even know about. So let’s talk about why it’s totally ok to have two jobs, and why we should talk about it more.
Well, why don’t we already talk about it more?
Is there a sense that customers are disinterested in our other jobs? I don’t think so. I think that it makes artists more human, more rounded, and people always seem to love to delve into other areas of artist’s lives. Just look at posts on instagram by artists that get high engagements, it’s often when they show a little bit more of their lives and their selves beyond just their art. People like a good story about people. Especially aspiring artists, they love to see your journey as it gives them the confidence to make their journey too. I personally don’t think that the decision comes from pressure from our fans. I think that artist’s deliberately choose not to talk about it. Sadly, I think that’s because there is some kind of shame in it.
But where does this shame come from?
Is it an old fashioned thing? Is it just all a little bit too obviously about the money? I’m sure there always used to be an addage somewhere that talking about money is low class. The insinuation that the discussion is tasteless is childish because the discussion is, in fact, important. Also, yes, it often is about money! So let’s talk more about how artists get paid and make a living, let’s talk about the fairness of commission prices charged and customer’s contemporary perceptions of what things should cost in a mass produced world where many residents of the third world are exploited for cheap labour. It’s not classless to talk about money, it is entirely necessary towards progress.
But can I be a successful artist if I have another job?
Honestly, I think that this is the crux of the matter with a lot of artists. The idea that if we aren’t self sustaining through our work then we aren’t a success. The conversation is stifled through fear of looking inferior. As far as I can see though, success is relative. I define my success when I achieve specific things, and none of them are self-sustaining through my art. Gaining big commissions, being stocked in stores that I love, being accepted to trade at admired and renowned events or featured in a cool exhibition. These are just some examples of what I deem to be successes in my work. Even if it’s not your idea of success, that’s fine! We are all allowed to be different. So I’ll go one further with my argument here and reveal a (not so) secret…
I love both my jobs!
Right now, I don’t want to do my art full time. I think it’s ridiculous that the art community so often synonymises passion with talent with career monogamy. I have 3 whole days a week where I can work as hard as I like on my illustration and ceramics. For the remaining 4 days a week I have a very rewarding, enjoyable and often intense job as a Fundraiser and Events Organiser. I have worked in fundraising for over a decade now. Raising money for worthy organizations and designing incredible events that I can be proud of is very fulfilling for me. Thing is, my art is fulfilling too. Not only do I not have to choose, but I find it beneficial to have both of these areas in my life.
The ways in which working two jobs is a huge benefit
The stress of making your art work on a financial level is clearly huge. The nature of the work is that it is unsalaried, work is never guaranteed and there are a number of threats that make your income stream unreliable. Having another job, salaried and with regular hours, negates this. It means that my business stays FUNNER for LONGER. I only need to do what I enjoy and there is very little pressure on me.
It’s not all about the money either
Another benefit is that each job compliments one another whilst stimulating different parts of my brain. It might sound exhausting to have two jobs, and sometimes when they are both busy it is. However, they are different enough to one another that each is a break in itself. The skills I strengthen in each role also always become a help to the other job. I create illustrated posters for the events I design and the organization skills I developed in Events Organisation over the years are key to my illustration business. We all know that self employment can often be a very lonely and even sedentary lifestyle. Taking my pup over the the farm where I work with other colleagues four days a week ensures that these aren’t issues for me either.
Verdict?
The starving artist who would die for their art is a tired cliche. I find having two jobs rewarding, good for me and financially beneficial. If we can reduce the stigma around this and take away any notion that it denotes a lack of success, I think we’d benefit from a great many more artists in this world.