As an artist, there is probably nothing you love more than to get in your studio, pick up your brush or tool of choice, and then spend hours creating your newest masterpiece. The only thing that gets in your way is your 9-5 job. You wish you could quit your day job and just spend your days and nights painting or chiseling away at your art, but without a reliable paycheck and the health benefits that your full-time career provides, you fear that you would not be able to survive.

It can be a bit depressing at first, but the good news is that you can make a major transition and turn your art into a full-time career. It may just take some time. By making an effort to ditch the office job, you will not only get a chance to focus on your art, but you can improve your health, cut out some of your anxiety, and feel better overall. Let’s talk about the benefits of turning your passion into a career and how you can do so.

Why You Should Ditch The 9-5 Job…

If you have the desire to leave your day job, then this is the time to do it. In addition to trying to do something that you love, by quitting your job, you are actually improving your physical and mental health. By sitting down in front of a computer all day, you can strain your eyes, hurt your back and neck, and even develop carpal tunnel with repetitive movements. If you work a manual labor job, then the aches and pains can only get worse.

Working at a standard day job can also be harmful to your mental health, especially if you work long hours week after week. This aggressive schedule can lead to burnout and eliminate the work/life balance that you need to spend time with your family and work on your art. Even the commute to work can be bad for your mental health. Long drives and tense moments on the road can fill you with anxiety, and you can easily bring that stress into work. Plus, sitting for long periods of time is bad for your posture.

The point is that a change is not only good for your art but also for your health.

…And Focus On Your Art

On the other hand, if you are able to do what you love day after day, then you can improve your mental health. Working for yourself allows you the opportunity to make your own hours, spend more time with your loved ones, and express yourself creatively, all of which can benefit your mental health. You will also have more chances to take breaks where you can walk outside and get the exercise necessary to feel physically strong and mentally refreshed.

Plus, working as a full-time artist allows you to work with like-minded people in a community all of your own. That is in addition to the fact that just creating art can improve your mental health and help you to work through past traumas.

With that said, even though there are many benefits to quitting your job and turning to art, there is still the issue of making money.

Transitioning To Your Art Career – Get Online

If you need your paycheck to support yourself and your family, then you likely need to stay at your job for now. However, once you leave your job and start to work for yourself, you will realize that you no longer have the backing of a company to help market your services. You can start to do that for yourself by building a website, creating social media profiles, and by reaching out to other artists about potential partnerships.

You can use social media to show your best pieces and sell them right there on the spot. Consider creating a separate business page where you showcase your art and provide links to where customers can go to see more of your work.

You can also utilize platforms like our own to help sell your art. Arts, Artists, Artwork helps modern creators embrace e-commerce and helps them operate their own online store. Our artist marketplace is built and run by artists and has the lowest commission rate you’ll find at 15% Once you’re ready, it is also advisable to have your own website to display and potentially sell your work.

When it comes to building a website for your art, you can make one yourself or hire a web designer, but either way, your site should look professional and provide an easy route for customers to buy your work. Show your best pieces, take customized orders if you like, and then promote the site on your social media profiles.

Create A Business Plan

If you are serious about turning this into a full-time gig, then you need to set goals for yourself. A good goal could be to challenge yourself to make a certain amount of money in the next few months. The goal shouldn’t be too lofty, and it should be achievable. Then, promise yourself that if you reach the goal, you will then take the steps to go full-time.

Part of that business plan will be deciding how much to charge for your work. This can be tough because you don’t want to go too low and undervalue your work, but you don’t want to charge so much that customers can’t afford it, no matter how much they like the art. When coming up with a price, you need to think about the costs (brushes, paper, etc.) that you pay to produce the work.

If you sell your art, but are just barely breaking even, then you won’t be doing yourself any favors. Once you determine your expenses, you can determine how much you can charge. Think about how much of your art you may be able to sell at a time, and then make your final determination about the price.

Supplement Your Income

If you create your business plan and determine that you may be short of your financial goals, then all is not lost. Instead, you can now think about ways that you can supplement your income with your art.

For instance, in addition to selling your paintings, you could create and sell digital stock artwork online that other people can use for their websites. You could also work on freelance projects throughout the year, like those on Upwork and Fiverr. If you are good at speaking to and teaching others, then you could also teach art online or become a tutor. Many creative people also start YouTube channels where they paint a picture during a video or show others how to make art. Try all or some of these tactics, and your potential earnings are only limited by your vast creativity.

As you can see, there is a path to turning your art into a full-time career. It just takes dedication and a solid plan. Consider the tips discussed here, and make your dream a reality.