Is Going Pro Worth It?

Jeremiah asks: “You’ve mentioned that the business side of your careers takes more time than the art side. I enjoy my non-art job and put a few hours into my artwork most days. Is becoming a professional artist worth it, or should I keep art as my hobby?”

First, define what “worth it” means to you. What does a successful life look like in your book? Don’t buy into the myth that you can’t be a professional artist with a day job. If you like your current job and prefer the stability of employment, you can stay where you are while developing your art career during your off hours. Being a professional is less about the money you make or the time you spend and more about showing up consistently, whether or not you’re in the mood to create. It’s all in the dedication.

If you decide that leaving your nine-to-five is the path for you, do it wisely: make sure your art is earning you as much or more than your job and that you have six to twelve months of expenses saved. (This is especially important if you provide for a family.)

We can’t tell you if it’s worth it for you, but we will say that if you’re willing to play the long game, you can make it work!

‍Malachi asks, “Do you have to go to college to make money as an illustrator?”

‍Absolutely not! However, that doesn’t mean college has no value. It all depends on your needs as an artist and student. If you learn best in person, need extra accountability, and want a built-in community of students, college is a great option. It’s also a great maturing experience for anyone who’s never lived away from home. However, you can develop all of these things without going away to college.

The main things you need to succeed in illustration are an excellent skillset; a solid portfolio; and a network of new, current, and former illustrators who can run with you, show you the ropes of the industry, and offer mentorship. Whether you obtain these things at art school or elsewhere doesn’t matter, but all three are essential.

Regardless of which path you choose, make studying business a priority as well. It will help your career exponentially!

‍Marc asks, “I have an hour or two a day to make art. If I don’t have time to build a social media following, is it realistic to self-publish, or should I focus on getting old-fashioned gigs??

‍Don’t dismiss your goals just because your time is limited. It’s amazing how far you can go in a little time if you release perfectionism. You might not have time to create an elaborately edited reel, but you don’t necessarily need to; sometimes brief, authentic, imperfect posts are the best anyway. Give what you can in the time that you have.

Old-fashioned illustration gigs are great and you can get plenty of them if you have a solid portfolio, an agent, and a willingness to contact art directors about the projects you want. However, owning your work and directing your career is liberating, and we’re big proponents of self-publishing. Of course, you can always do a mix of both. We find that as artists create what they love and share it, it’s easier for them to land jobs making similar work.

Take into consideration the kind of lifestyle you want. Are you satisfied illustrating anything, or do you have a personal vision you want to create? These questions can help you determine the best path for you.