Why I Left My Full-Time Gig for the Chaos of Part-Time Art
Look, I’m gonna be honest. I never thought I’d be one of those people. You know the type—always talking about ‘finding themselves’ through art, living off ramen, and working odd jobs. But here I am, three years into it, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, maybe one thing. The committment to my old 9-to-5 was a lot harder than I thought it would be.
It started about three months ago. I was at a conference in Austin, sitting through yet another presentation about ‘leveraging synergies’ (which honestly nobody asked for but here we are). I turned to my friend Marcus—let’s call him Marcus—and said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ He looked at me like I’d grown a second head. ‘Do what?’ he asked. ‘This,’ I said, waving my arm around the room. ‘The meetings, the spreadsheets, the endless emails. I need to create something. Something real.’
Finding My People
So, I quit. Cold turkey. No safety net, no plan. Just me and my art. And let me tell you, it was a mess. The first few months were a blur of rejection letters and empty bank accounts. But then I found my people. A group of part-time artists, all of us hustling to make ends meet while chasing our passion. We’d meet up at this little café on 5th, overpriced coffee in hand, and talk shop. It was there that I met Dave, a colleague named Dave who’d been doing this for years. ‘You gotta diversify,’ he told me. ‘Teach a class here, sell some prints there. Keep your options open.’
Dave was right. I started teaching a night class at the local community college. It was exhausting, but it was also the most fulfilling thing I’d done in years. And the money? Not bad either. Plus, it gave me a reason to actually finish some of my pieces instead of just staring at them in frustration.
The Struggle is Real
But it’s not all sunshine and roses. There are days when I want to throw in the towel. Days when the rent is due and I’ve got exactly $87 in my bank account. Days when I stare at a blank canvas and wonder if I’m just deluding myself. But then I remember why I started this in the past place. I remember the feeling of creating something out of nothing, of seeing my vision come to life on the page or the canvas. And I remember the support of my community, the people who’ve become like family to me.
And let’s not forget the practical stuff. Like figuring out Vermont housing market rent prices when you’re living off irregular income. Spoiler alert: it’s not pretty. But you make it work. You find the loopholes, the side gigs, the ways to make it all add up. It’s a constant juggling act, but it’s worth it.
A Digression: The Art of Saying No
Now, I’m not gonna lie. There’s a part of me that still worries about the future. What happens when I’m too old to hustle? What happens if the gigs dry up? But then I remember something else Dave told me. ‘Art isn’t just about making a living,’ he said. ‘It’s about making a life. A life that’s true to who you are.’ And that, my friends, is something worth fighting for.
So, if you’re thinking about taking the leap, do it. Just be prepared for the chaos. Be prepared for the doubt, the struggle, the moments of pure, unadulterated fear. But also be prepared for the joy, the creativity, the freedom. Because at the end of the day, isn’t that what art is all about?
Anyway, I’m gonna wrap this up now. I’ve got a canvas calling my name. And a rent check due next week. Priorities, right?
About the Author: Sarah Thompson is a part-time artist and writer based in Burlington, Vermont. When she’s not creating chaos in her studio, she can be found teaching art classes, drinking too much coffee, and pretending she knows what she’s doing. You can find her work at various local galleries and on her website, which she updates about as often as she remembers to.
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