life as an artist

This new blog entry by Elsie from a beautiful mess clearly illustrates life as someone who works creatively for a living. Check it out here: Things I wish I had known.


Snippet:

5. What are some common misconceptions about your career?

Elsie: Oh man, there are so many! People say to me all the time, "must be nice to just stay home and paint all day" or "I wish I didn't have to go to work and I could just make crafts all of the time". Those kind of statements are funny to me because they are super untrue. I have lots of friends who have normal jobs and can spend part of their working day playing on the internet and still get paid for it. Working as an artist isn't like that. Yes, you can leave and get coffee anytime you want, but you don't *ever* get paid for hanging out. I love it because I survive on deadlines and late nights, but it is a lot of work. Working as an artist & designer is the job I have chosen and I wouldn't trade it for literally any job the world. I don't think very many people can say that, but it is also a career that is full of personal sacrifice and hard work. It's a very fulfilling job for me and I love it, but it makes me sad when people think that it must be really easy.

Jeremy: A lot of people think that the goal is to get signed to a label. I've gone that route before; though it has it benefits, in the end it means nothing. It always comes back to you having to work daily to promote yourself and try to move people's emotions with your music.

Rachel: There is a lot of research time involved in having a scrapbook kit club as well as a vintage goods store. I have to stay on top of the latest trends in both markets and search out the unique pieces that will appeal to customers that are familiar with normal products. I have to spend a lot of time online for both. It may seem like starting either business takes little time but there are so many elements that are time sensitive, involve large amounts of work all at once, take up a lot of space at home, and include tedious, uncreative tasks. Its a fabulous way for me to live right now but I agree that there are personal sacrifices that are made. Free time and plenty of sleep to name a few...