True imagination is not fanciful daydreaming; it is fire from heaven.
— Ernest Holmes
Embarking on the journey to live your dream as an artist begins with a profound understanding of yourself. This self-awareness is your compass, guiding you towards the life that truly resonates with your artistic spirit. As an artist, living your dream is not about conforming to societal expectations or meeting arbitrary standards. It’s about the freedom to create your best life as an artist and revel in it. It’s about aligning your creative practice with what genuinely brings you joy.
Here’s the truth: it’s not a dream if you’re already living it. When you’re honest about what truly matters to you, you can make art as you wish—and there’s nothing better than that.
Start by asking yourself:
- What makes me happy as a visual artist and a human?
- What do I need to experience a joyful, well-lived artist’s life?
- Am I setting unrealistic expectations for my art’s sales?
Your answers to these questions put you on the path toward living your dream.
Why This Matters to Me
My goal is to help visual artists make lifestyle choices that lead to creative fulfillment. Artists who act on their honest answers with sincere intentions create their best work. As you practice, grow, and learn, your confidence improves—along with the quality of your work and business.
The grand vision? To make the world a more creative place by inspiring artists to live their dreams and share their art with humanity.
That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Guide to Creative Side Hustles & Hybrid Careers—a practical guide to help you design a career that supports your studio, your schedule, and your sanity.
Many Artists Never Realize Their Dreams
Too many artists never realize the dreams they were meant to have. If you’re not living your dreams, it’s time to change. You can do it, but first, you must decide to do it.
These questions will help you begin the journey:
- What do I want to do with my life as an artist?
- What is my dream for my art business?
- Do I have the desire, courage, and capabilities to follow my biggest dreams?
- Who will support me on this journey?
When you answer these questions, you’ll realize it’s time to let go of fear, stop worrying about what other people think, and quit comparing yourself negatively with others.
You don’t have to be famous or wealthy to live your dream. You have to be true to yourself.
Artist, Know Thyself
When you know yourself, you know what makes you happy. Living your best artist’s life is unique to you—it’s about what you’re passionate about, what you desire to do, and what you wish to create.
Consider these questions:
- What does the artist inside of me want to share?
- What is my vision for my art practice?
- What will my art be telling the world?
Be inspired by what you see in the world, and don’t just look—respond to it.
The Art-Life Dream-Work Balance
Here’s the challenge: many artists work in jobs where they have little time or energy to figure out what they want and need. Those artists never figure out where to go or how to get there.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
I call it the art-life dream-work balance (AL-DF). Every artist’s life has a state of balance. Reflect on your own and intuitively know where you stand.
It’s ideal if your art and life work together, and your dreams and work don’t clash. But living your best artist’s life comes in as many forms as there are artists. What works for you is what matters.
Artists shouldn’t go it alone. Find an accountability partner, mentor, coach, or community to help you. I was inspired to write The Artist’s Guide to Creative Side Hustles & Hybrid Careers to give you a clear, practical framework for designing a career that fits your life and protects your creative energy.
Why No One Size Fits All
For many artists, the dream is to become successful professional artists. But there are other dreams too. Perhaps making art is spiritual or has a higher purpose than commercial success—these are valid, viable options.
Some artists express themselves by creating something new and different, regardless of market demand. Others make art that entertains and teaches.
Every artist has a unique story. Some teach or work in art-related fields. Some work non-art jobs and make time for art as they can. Others market their art on a comfortable scale. Some have retired to devote time to their art.
The common thread? They all deserve a sustainable approach that honors their creativity while supporting their lives. Your professional experience isn’t an obstacle—it’s an advantage.
To create a plan and achieve a goal, you must first understand what you want.
From Dream to Reality
Gaining an accurate understanding of your goals takes time. The more you learn about yourself and your art, the more you can see what you want and how to achieve it.
There’s a fine line between being realistic and being unrealistic about your dreams. Be careful not to chase impossible fantasies, but also recognize that if you never try, you’ll never know what you truly want.
Pro Tip: When attempting something new, be honest with yourself. Recognize the value in maintaining clarity of purpose. Why are you doing this, and does it align with your vision?
The Practice of Saying No
One of the most empowering skills you’ll develop as an artist is the art of saying no. This skill is not about being negative, but about protecting your time, energy, and the value of your work. It’s about setting boundaries that respect your art and your worth.
Common scenarios that require boundaries:
When a relative expects free art but pays other artists, or when someone offers $200 for a painting worth $4,000, you’re facing a moment that tests your commitment to living your best artist’s life.
Overcome the insecurities dampening your self-esteem and start standing up for yourself.
Reframe the conversation:
Focus on the best outcome instead of the worst. Hold your head high and project confidence. Your body language and words send strong signals that others receive. Send a confident signal that your art has value and the price is fair.
Practical responses:
- Offer 10% off for first-time buyers.
- For relatives expecting free art, propose a barter: “What service can you offer in exchange? A few days at the cabin? Lawn care? Something in your area of expertise?”
- Try: “I appreciate that you like the piece, but I’m in the business of art and earning an income. I can’t give my work away and stay in business. How about a family discount of 20%? Or what do you have to barter with?”
The worst outcome is no sale, which happens all the time. The best is a new happy customer. You choose your desired outcome and stick to it.
Building Your Support System
You don’t have to figure this out alone. The artists who thrive build communities and support systems around themselves.
Find your people:
- Join or create an accountability group with fellow artists
- Seek out a mentor who’s further along your path
- Consider working with a coach who specializes in creative careers
- Participate in artist communities, both online and in person
- Explore resources like The Artist’s Guide to Creative Side Hustles & Hybrid Careers
The right support system helps you stay accountable, provides perspective, and celebrates your wins.
Maintaining Balance Over Time
Living your best artist’s life isn’t a destination—it’s an ongoing practice of checking in with yourself, adjusting course when needed, and staying true to your vision.
Warning signs you’re off balance:
- You’re consistently exhausted and resentful about your art practice
- You’re creating work that doesn’t excite you to please others
- You have no time for experimentation or growth
- You’ve stopped enjoying the creative process
- You’re constantly comparing yourself unfavorably to others
If you notice these signs, it’s time to recalibrate. Go back to your core questions. What has shifted? What needs to change?
You Can Do This
It’s not too much to ask and is within your grasp to live your best artist’s life. It’s not always easy, but it is always doable.
Remember:
- Just because you can doesn’t mean you should
- Your dreams are valid, whether commercial or personal
- You have control, but only when you realize it
- Getting help is advisable
- It takes courage to change, but when you’ve had enough, replace hesitation with resolve
Start by believing it’s possible. Then take the first small step. And then another. The path to your best artist’s life is made by walking it, one authentic choice at a time.
Not having the courage to say NO has always been my down fall. example…when a relative expects free art from me but PAYS other artist for painting!
OR when someone offers to pay me $200.00 for a painting that is clearly worth my current standard price of $4000.00 .
The first step to improvement is understanding and accepting the current situation, including how much of it you can control. It’s not easy, but you can overcome the insecurities or whatever is dampening your self-esteem and start to stand up for yourself and believe in the value of your art.
Learn to turn the dynamic around by focusing on the best outcome instead of the worst. You already have experience and have lived through the worst, now is the time to hold your head high, be rightfully proud without arrogance, and project a winning conclusion in your head. Body and spoken language send strong signals that others receive. It’s your job to send a confident signal that your art has value and the price is fair.
If the buyer wants to negotiate, give them 10% off as an appreciation for first-time buyers. If a relative expects a free painting, offer to barter with them instead. What service do they have of value to give you in exchange? A few days at the cabin. Lawn mowing by the kid, snow shoveling, or something else in their area of expertise and control.
I appreciate you like the piece enough to want to own it, but I’m in the business of art and earning an income. So I’m sure you can appreciate that I can’t give my work product away and stay in business. How about I give you the family discount of 20%? Or, what do you have to barter with?
Essentially, you are in complete control but only when you realize it. The worst is no sale, so what because it happens all the time. The best is a new happy customer. You choose your desired outcome and stick to your guns. It takes courage to change our behavior, but when the pain becomes enough, or we’ve had enough, we remove the hesitation and replace it with resolve. You can do this. Getting help is advisable if you feel it will help you get there quicker. All the best!