A Career In The Arts: Idealized or Ideal?
Discussing the Nuances of pursuing an art career and dealing with jealousy
My whole life, I’ve wanted to be an artist. When I went to Fine Arts School, it wasn’t really talked about that many of us would end up working service industry jobs after graduation, making art “on the side.” Some of us have jobs in the arts, and maybe 1 or 2% are making art full-time—which, for most of us in my cohort, was the dream. Or at least, it’s what we imagined being a “real” artist meant.
Being an artist in America is wrapped up in a capitalistic narrative that says you’re not really one unless you can financially support yourself doing it. Which, let’s be real, not many people can. Logically, I know you’re an artist if you make art. But the competitiveness and scarcity mindset of capitalism tells us otherwise.
Even though I understand all of this, and I’m still quite young, I still beat myself up for not achieving what often feels like an impossible goal. That feeling of low self-worth only deepens when I get rejection emails week after week, when I compare myself to peers, scrolling through social media, and seeing handfuls of content romanticizing being a full-time artist.
If you’re an artist or creative, you’ve probably stumbled across YouTube videos with titles like:
“How I Made $15,000 This Month Selling My Art | You Can Do It Too!”
“A Day in the Life of a Self-Employed Artist”
“Financial Breakdown: How I Make Money as a Full-Time Artist”
Maybe these videos are algorithmically targeted just for me, but I have a feeling a lot of us see them.
The content is typically a dreamy montage: someone starts their day with matcha and journaling, makes a yummy breakfast, then dives into their art practice, documenting it all with aesthetic lighting and lo-fi music. They break for lunch, take a calming walk, open a PO box full of fan mail or free art, and go back to creating. I do enjoy watching this kind of content—it’s cozy, relaxing, and aspirational. But after watching, I often feel a wave of self-loathing or jealousy.
Why can’t that be me?
How do I get to that point?
Is that the dream and final form of an art career?
Those financial breakdown videos—juxtaposed with serene visuals of yoga, painting, and matcha—almost remind me of Andrew Tate content, if he were a mid-twenties artsy girl instead of a psychotic misogynist. I know that sounds extreme, but hear me out: both display a romanticized, curated version of their lives. Both say, “This lifestyle is accessible. You can have this too. Just work hard!!” And then he gets you to sign up for hustle university.
Now, to be clear, most cozy self-employed art YouTubers aren’t peddling pyramid schemes. But the message is still alluring: this isn’t just what I have, it’s something you can have too.
Is that true? I don’t know.
There’s one YouTuber I love, Uncomfy aka Tammy. I admire her so much: her words, her art, her energy, her apartment, her whole vibe. She’s definitely made the kind of videos I’m talking about. For a while, she was a major source of inspiration for me. But I’d also end up feeling inadequate after watching her. I’d wonder:
Why am I not mailing out hundreds of orders each weekend?
Why can’t I have that gorgeous apartment in Denver, that chill creative rhythm, that success?
Recently, Tammy posted a video announcing a big pivot. She shared that she’s no longer making handmade art as part of her business. Instead, she’s moving toward manufacturing goods and outsourcing labor. She opened up about the physical and emotional toll that making art all day took on her—how she often neglected eating, sleeping, and basic needs just to maintain the illusion of a cozy, effortless life.
Tammy seems genuine, and honestly, I’m so glad she shared that. It offered perspective. It reminded me that behind that aesthetic, there was real strain and sacrifice. It also made me feel less alone, less “incompetent” for not selling out my own shop every weekend.
(Though honestly, we shouldn't feel incompetent in the first place—but many of us do.)
In her video, Tammy also spoke about the emotional consequences of turning your passion into a business. She described the burnout that comes from making art prolifically, not for joy or expression, but purely to make money. That hit me hard.
Burnout is rough in any job. But when the thing burning you out is also the thing that gives your life meaning? That’s a different kind of grief.
Art is my solace. My sanctuary. My spiritual practice. It’s one of my reasons for being alive. If doing it started to feel like something that was hurting me—or if I had to stop altogether—I don’t know what I’d do.
So where do artists find balance within capitalism?
I think it would help if content creators shared more transparency around what their day-to-day really looks like. I’m sure it was hard for Tammy to come forward, especially given how much of her brand (and income) was tied to that image. But she did it. That’s brave.
I don’t have a clean conclusion. I don’t have a five-step plan for solving this tension. But I do think we need to keep talking about it—careers in the arts, what it actually means to be an artist, and why certain creative lifestyles get romanticized in the first place.
Just some food for thought. And it might take a while to chew.
Playlist 5.27.24
Amateur Galaxy Weekly Playlist 5.27.24
Where did the time go? Here we are…
Yesterday I spent my whole day alone in my home working on art. The thing I’ve always wanted. But I was sad and lonely all day. What is wrong with me? When will I find the circumstance that is perfect for me? And why will I never be satiated? I am a spoiled brat. No matter what I get I will always want more and something will always be missing. Is that the curse of all artists?
Playlist 5.20.24
Amateur Galaxy Weekly Playlist 5.20.24
On a Roll….
I Need Somebody To Love - Sylvester
Nu Guinea- Disco Sole
Todd Terje - Preben Goes To Acuapulco
Maribou State - Midas
Parallel Dance Ensemble - Shopping Cart
Khruangbin - Evan Finds The Third Room
Parcels - Gamesofluck
DARGS - Lou's Tune
Flofilz - Inside Out
Arlo Parks- Eugene
Szymon - Feenicks
Nilufer Yanya - Hey
Maribou State - Vale
Maribou State - Manila
Klyne - Water Flow
Playlist 5.13.24
Amateur Galaxy Weekly Playlist 5.13.24
THIS CHARMING MAN
George Michael Freedom!
It Aint Over LEnny Kravitz
Dont Dream ITs Over Crowded House
Forget Me Nots Patrice Rushen
Smalltown Boy Bronski Beat
Just a Girl, No Doubt
A Forest, The Cure
(Feels Like) Heaven, Fiction Factory
Atomic, Blondie
Take Me To Church, Hozier
Have you ever seen the rain, Creedance Clearwater Revival
Hung Up, Madonna
Playlist 5.6.24
Bladee edition Weekly Playlist 5.6.24
ODE 2 BLADEE
hey bladee if ur reading this, this goes really hard. it reminds me of being 19 or 20 cuz thats how old i was when i listened to working on dying everyday. i really like the idea that i have grown up with you. Youre 30 im 25. in a lot of ways its kind of felt like youve been guiding me through challenges in my life. since i was a teenager its just like youve been there for me when i needed you. there were so many hard things you got me through, especially in collage. Nics drug addiction, Cecelia’s murder, Cole’s drug overdose. There were times when i felt so chaotic and painfully lonely. Because of all the turmoil, i felt like i couldnt trust any one around me, like everyone was ill intentioned. At the time, everyone was so selfish. But you were like my gaurdian angel. Somehow it feels like everytime you have come out with a new album to evolve your sound, i have increased a level and have evolved as a person. Its crazy, I even used to eat at mcdonalds everyday in collage bc I needed the dollar menu to live lol. I like the little banana you put as your mouth on the album cover.
COLLECTION MODE
Collecting experiences and being human, not an artist
Am I an artist because I am not sharing my work this month? Or haven’t been focused on making work? This self-pressure is felt by almost every artist I know. We constantly need to be creating work otherwise we are not perceived as an artist - something we need to be identified as. This is probably not explicit to just artists, but my peer group consists of mostly artists, so this is where I have the most insight.
Unless you are a full-time artist and don’t need to have a solid job to pay your bills (these people are of course unicorns) your time for art-making is very limited, and sacrifice is always implemented to choose art over exercise, art over socialization with friends and family, art overeating, and so forth. I can’t help but think - if art is not my full-time role for my time or day then how am I considered “an artist”? Am I just doing this as a hobby and I’m just like anyone else? This is crazy and toxic, but I think about this a lot. This is a very 1 track mind form of thinking, art is of course a part of my life and always will be. I am a multi-faceted person and can do lots of different things, and don’t have to shove art-making down my own throat to have this identity.
We can’t do it all. We need time to see art, see nature, see the world, see friends, see family. If you knew that you would die tomorrow, would you spend your last day laboring or would you spend it on your own life?
SO, I’ve been spending this month collecting, seeing, and soaking up the world. Like a sponge, I need food. My art will mean nothing if I am not learning and experiencing. People can’t just be focused on making and selling. Where will our value come from if our work is vapid, uninformed, and empty?
