If you ever dream about turning your passion for art into a full-time career, you're not alone. Many aspiring artists share your vision but wonder how to become a professional artist while working a day job. Finding the perfect balance between your daily grind and artistic aspirations is challenging.
In this guide, we'll dive into the art of juggling brushes, deadlines, and office meetings and give you practical tips to help you balance a full-time job with an art career. Plus, learn about a proven process that can turn anyone into a professional artist in just one year.
Challenges of Starting an Art Business While Working Full-Time
Building an art business while working a full-time job is definitely a balancing act, but it is possible. By recognizing a few common challenges ahead of time, you’ll feel more prepared to navigate them with flexibility and confidence.
- Time and Energy
Your time is valuable, and when you’re working a nine-to-five, it can be tough to squeeze in studio hours. Some days, you might only get a few minutes to sketch or prep a canvas, and that’s okay. Progress doesn’t have to happen all at once. Even small steps add up.
You might also feel mentally or physically tired after work, which can affect your creative energy. Instead of aiming for perfection, focus on consistency. Carving out short, intentional creative sessions can help keep your momentum going without leading to burnout.
- Focus and Motivation
It’s natural for your attention to be divided when you’re building something new alongside your job. You might feel stretched or unsure where to focus your time. Try setting one small, clear goal at a time, like finishing a piece, posting to social media once a week, or researching local galleries. Little wins build confidence and keep you moving forward. We suggest joining the Mastery Program (which can be completed in one year or more). It will guide you step-by-step through skill-building, creating a business, and provide encouragement for the journey.
- Balancing Creativity and Business
As you grow, you’ll learn to balance making the art you love with building a business that supports your goals. It might take a bit longer to find your rhythm when time is limited, but that’s part of the process. Give yourself space to experiment, practice, and learn.
15 Practical Ways to Overcome the Challenges of Becoming a Full-Time Artist While Working a Day Job
You're tackling everything from time constraints (that feel tighter than a well-stretched canvas) to the delicate dance of managing finances. By developing solid professional habits, you can turn these challenges into opportunities because our habits create our future by changing our actions and thinking. Consistency is key.
Let's look at how to start your own art business by implementing these practical tips.
Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash An artist is planning how to start a business while working full time.
1 - Create a Schedule
A well-crafted schedule is a compass to guide you through the maze of responsibilities when launching your own business alongside a day job. It not only carves out dedicated time for your creative endeavors but also provides a structured framework, ensuring that no aspect of your budding art career is left untouched amidst the hustle of your weekly work routine.
There are 168 hours in a week. If 40 hours a week are for your 9–5 job, and 56 hours are for sleep, there are 72 hours left. Designate 40 hours for painting, and you still have 32 hours left for family, reading, commuting, etc.
Use time blocking to segment your days or weeks into dedicated work, art business, and personal time blocks. Write your schedule—the actual hours—in a digital or hard copy planner before your head hits the pillow Sunday night. Then, obey your schedule! Consistency is key, so keep track of how you spend your time throughout the week. If you did not stick to your schedule, make adjustments for the next week.
2 - Set Priorities
Setting priorities safeguards your energy by consistently directing you toward the core elements that will propel your artistic aspirations forward. Without clearly defined priorities, it's easy to become distracted by activity that keeps you busy but may not benefit your business.
Prioritization helps you focus on what truly matters in becoming a full-time artist and ensures that essential business activities are not neglected. Decide what tasks are most important and do those first. Write down what you aim to accomplish for each week, each month, and each designated work period or time block.
3 - Plan in Advance
Launching a business while navigating a full-time job is an intricate dance. Planning in advance makes you the choreographer, orchestrating each move with precision.
Anticipating challenges, setting milestones, and strategizing your artistic journey beforehand optimizes your time and transforms your aspirations into a well-executed performance on the canvas of your career.
Plan your art projects, marketing strategies, and other tasks in advance. This reduces decision-making time and helps you maximize your available time.
4 - Use Productivity Techniques
Implement productivity techniques to help you stay focused and accomplish more in less time. A few helpful techniques may include:
-
Pomodoro: Break your work into intervals—typically 25 minutes of focused work followed by a five-minute break. After completing four cycles, take a longer break. This method helps maintain concentration and prevents burnout.
-
Block Distractions: Identify and minimize potential distractions during dedicated work periods. Turn off non-essential notifications, and consider using website blockers to limit time on distracting sites.
-
Weekly Review: Schedule a regular weekly review to reflect on your progress, adjust goals if needed, and plan for the upcoming week. This practice helps you stay organized and adapt to changing priorities.
Experiment with these productivity techniques and customize them to fit your workflow. Consistency and adaptability are key as you navigate through.
Photo by Surja Sen Das Raj on Unsplash. Artist's day job desk, organized with productivity techniques, inspiration, and a timer.
5 - Delegate & Outsource
To alleviate your workload, consider delegating non-core tasks that don't require your artistic touch. Whether it's administrative duties, social media management, or website maintenance, outsourcing these responsibilities can free up valuable time and allow you to focus on the creative aspects that truly define you as a full-time artist.
6 - Leverage Technology
Leverage project management apps, scheduling tools, and art-related software to streamline your business processes. For example, use ChatGPT or other AI-related technologies to help you create content for your blog or social media platforms. Automate repetitive tasks where possible, such as scheduling social media posts or setting up automated email replies.
7 - Keep Art Supplies Organized
A well-organized space boosts efficiency by minimizing time spent searching for supplies and enhances creativity by creating a conducive environment for focused artistic expression.
Desk of artist Dimitra Milan, organized and prepared to create more
8 - Batch Tasks
Group similar tasks together and complete them in one go. For example, dedicate a specific day or time block for administrative tasks like emails and bookkeeping or marketing tasks like creating and scheduling posts for social media.
Batching similar tasks minimizes distractions, enables you to complete more tasks quickly, and simplifies your life.
Similarly, you can organize your work by batching tasks in your creative process. Whatever you do to one painting, do to other works in progress during the same work period. This technique enables you to work on multiple pieces of artwork simultaneously, boosting your productivity.
9 - Work on Smaller Projects
Creating smaller art pieces is strategic creativity. Bite-sized pieces demand less time and resources and allow more frequent product releases to keep your business dynamic and your audience engaged despite your busy schedule.
10 - Set Realistic Goals
Be realistic about what you can achieve given your time constraints. Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. For example, paint 40 hours per week for the next 12 weeks. My weeks will start [DATE]. Paint between the hours of 5 am–7 am and 7 pm–10 pm, Monday through Friday, and paint 8 am–4 pm on weekends.
Break these goals into smaller tasks, making them more manageable and less overwhelming.
Remember: you can adjust your goals as needed.
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash. A small watercolor painting.
11 - Network Efficiently
Efficient networking while managing a day job involves strategic engagement, focusing on quality connections rather than quantity.
Attend local art events, engage in online art communities like the Milan Art Community, and leverage social media platforms to build meaningful relationships with other artists, potential clients, and influencers in your niche, maximizing the impact of your networking efforts for your budding business.
12 - Use Lunch Breaks
Transforming lunch breaks into strategic power moments can be a game-changer. Use this time to respond to emails, update social media, or even plan your next art project. Maximizing these short windows can help you make meaningful progress in building your creative venture.
13 - Seek Support
When appropriate, communicate openly with your employer about your entrepreneurial artistic pursuits. Seeking their support and understanding can create valuable opportunities and foster a positive work environment.
Additionally, share your artistic journey with friends, family, and other artists to cultivate a network of encouragement and collaboration, fuel your entrepreneurial spirit, and provide valuable emotional support.
Consider connecting with a professional art mentor to fast-track your success and support you in achieving your goals.
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash. A group of artists gathered to share ideas and support each other.
14 - Prioritize Self-Care
Prioritizing self-care is non-negotiable. Your mental and physical well-being ensures sustained creativity, resilience, and the energy required to balance the demands of both your artistic aspirations and professional commitments.
Make time for rest to help you achieve a work-life balance. Most people need a minimum of 6–8 hours of sleep each night for their bodies and minds to function optimally. Listen to your body, and don't sacrifice the sleep you need as a "productivity hack".
15 - Learn to Say No
Master the art of saying no. This crucial skill empowers you to choose projects or commitments that align with your priorities and safeguards your time and energy so you focus on the most impactful endeavors for your business.
Don't overcommit to opportunities or projects that you can't realistically complete without compromising your job or personal life.
Launch Your Art Career While Working 9–5
As you embark on this dual-path adventure, remember that the challenges are just as much a part of the masterpiece as the triumphs.
Whether you're sketching during lunch breaks, hustling on weekends, or burning the midnight oil, your commitment to making art a career deserves applause. You're not just an artist with a full-time job; you're a visionary, an art entrepreneur, and the creator of your own narrative.
So, as you step back and admire the evolving canvas of your life, know that every brushstroke, every challenge, and every victory contributes to a story that's distinctly yours.
Keep creating, keep working, and most importantly, keep dreaming. Your masterpiece awaits, and the art world will benefit from the vibrant chapters you paint next.
Start Your Art Career With Us
After successfully training over 2,500 students worldwide, the Milan Art Institute has perfected turning anyone into a professional artist in as little as one year. The program provides training and mentorship from professional artists. It allows students the flexibility to work at their own pace—a perfect opportunity for aspiring artists who work at a day job. Embark on your journey from art passion to art profession with The Mastery Program!
