Transition: Hobby artist to Fulltime artist

If you read this article, you probably are already a full-time artist or are willing to be one. First of all, welcome to the club. I know how it is to be both because i was creative since i was a little bean. Art was and still is a hobby for me. So i know the benefits and disadvantages of both sides.

Working in your dream job or working on a project you truly love is something we all want in our lives. And even better when you can turn that into a full-time job.
Sadly not everyone has the opportunity to do so - based on life situations, no financial freedom or support, or because you have responsibilities that are more important than this. And that is totally fine. Not everybody has the same priorities and for some, it’s okay to just work in a job they don’t like so much as long they get paid well. Maybe their priorities are in other areas. Or maybe they are in a time where other things are just more important and may care for it later.

But what if you could have both. Would that be just amazing?

One thing i have to say first though before i dive into the whole thing. I want to clarify the word ‘dream job’ (just talking about that here because most artists do art because they love it. I rarely saw someone who does it because of money.. i mean, we all know the tough game with that). When we think about it, we associate that this job would be 24 hours of fun, every day. That we get paid well and that we never have the feeling of working - because we do it with joy and excitement.

This is just half of the truth - and don’t get me wrong - i don’t want to destroy your dreams right now. But even when we love our job, there are parts of it we don’t enjoy. We also struggle and get our heads banging on the table because things don’t always work like we want to. Money can be also a struggling topic for many of the people who work in their best jobs ever. So, yes, it’s easier to get up again when we fall, because our passion, love, or whatever keeps our interest in it, gives us the strength to not give up and move forward. And that is one key to being successful.

So just to be a little bit realistic here. Keep in mind, that your dream job doesn’t mean it’s all easy and happy puppy candy land vibes 24h a day. It can be hard, but the difference between a job you love compared to a job you don’t is that it’s worth it.

Differences between both
There are a few things that come to my mind when i think about the freedom of not having any job and being fully engaged with projects for clients.

Feeling
The first difference that comes into my mind is the feeling of being a professional. With beeing professional, alot of responsibilities come along with that. But more often its the pressure of pushing art out, even when you dont feel like it. You have to make sure, that you, or more your skills, works day in and day out. Thats what you are paid for.
For a hobby artist its easier to deal with art holes, unmotivational times and days where you just dont wanna work on it.
Thats not possible for professionals. Their job is to do art 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (can be less or more, depends on your work) and to get things done. I know from myself how much pressure i feel, when im unmotivated, feeling a little bit burned out, or just dont wanna do the things i have to do. I cant really concentrate on healing or relaxing, because there is still the thought of ‘i have to finish the job’ in the background, which can be tough sometimes.

Deadlines
We all know them, we all have them. Deadlines are often a result of having responsibility for what you are doing. If you dont pay an invoice or dont provide xy-papers to your tax office in a specific time, you have to deal with the consequences. Same goes to a fulltime artist. If you dont deliver you artwork, people will be angry, you get less money, no jobs after this work (because people dont want to work with you again) or even worst. you lose your job because of breaking the contract.
As a hobby artist, you dont have to deal with that, since most of your work is for yourself. Most of the time money is not involved as well. That means, you can work on it, take breaks or throw it away whenever you want.
Of course its important to have some kind of own deadlines even with personal projects, but they are not connected with any consequences. (at least nothing that bad)

Payment
Of course you can charge a little bit of money as a hobby artist. But when it comes to bigger amounts (the amount changes every year and depends on your country), you have to turn your hobby into a job. You have to pay taxes on it and you have to make your work visible, at least for the state. That means, living fully from your work is only doable when you switch over to a fulltime person.

Step by step to a professional