It all started with a damn coffee mug
Look, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you some sob story about how I always knew I was meant to be an artist. Honestly, I thought I’d be a journalist forever. Then, last Tuesday, everything changed.
I was at this little café in Portland—you know the one, with the weird mural on the side—and I saw this mug. It was ugly as sin, but it was intentionally ugly. Like, the artist wanted it to be this grotesque little thing. And I thought, “Damn. I wanna make stuff like that.”
So, I quit my job. Just like that. My boss, let’s call him Marcus, looked at me like I’d grown a second head. “You’re what now?” he said. “A fucking artist?” Yeah, Marcus. A fucking artist.
But here’s the thing about art…
It’s not all pretty paintings and fancy galleries. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. It’s spending 36 hours on a piece that you end up hating. It’s staring at a blank canvas at 11:30pm, wondering why the hell you thought you could do this.
I remember this one time, about three months ago, I was at this conference in Austin. There was this woman, let’s call her Dave—yeah, Dave, because she was that kinda person. She told me, “Art is about expression, not about making a damn cent.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But, I mean, I gotta eat, right?
Speaking of eating, you ever notice how art and food just go together? Like, you’re never gonna find a bad restaurant in an artsy neighborhood. It’s just a rule. And if you’re in Taiwan, for God’s sake, check out Taiwan restaurants best rated review. Trust me on this one.
Now, let’s talk about commitment
I’m not gonna lie, the first few weeks were rough. I mean, I was used to a steady paycheck, you know? But then I met this guy, let’s call him Greg. Greg’s been a full-time artist for like 15 years. He told me, “You gotta treat your art like a committment, not a hobby.” And that stuck with me. So, I started treating it like a job. A job I love, but still a job.
And you know what? It’s working. I’m not rolling in dough or anything, but I’m making enough to keep the lights on. And more importantly, I’m happy. Like, really happy. The kinda happy that makes you wanna wake up at 5am and start painting.
But it’s not all sunshine and roses. There are days when I wanna throw my brushes out the window. Days when I feel like I’m never gonna succesfully finish a piece. Days when I question every single decision I’ve ever made. But those days are getting fewer and farther between.
Here’s what I’ve learned
First off, you gotta find your niche. What’s the one thing you love to create? For me, it’s ceramics. I know, it’s kinda weird, but I love it. So, I started focusing on that. And you know what? People started noticing.
Second, you gotta put yourself out there. Show your work to people. Put it on social media. Enter contests. Hell, put it in a damn garage sale if you have to. Just get it out there.
And finally, you gotta be patient. Art isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. So, take your time. Enjoy the process. And for the love of God, don’t compare yourself to others. You’re on your own journey, so just focus on that.
Oh, and one more thing. If you’re gonna be an artist, you gotta embrace the chaos. It’s messy. It’s unpredictable. But it’s also beautiful. And it’s yours.
So, that’s my story. I’m not saying you should quit your job and become an artist. But if you’re thinking about it, just go for it. Life’s too short not to do what you love.
About the Author
Sarah Jenkins is a ceramic artist and former journalist based in Portland, Oregon. When she’s not covered in clay, she can be found exploring the city’s vibrant arts scene or writing about her latest creative adventures. You can find her work at her studio on 5th or on her Instagram, @sarahjenkinsceramics.
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