I actually think for many people, while journeying to bigger art jobs, you'll be happier and healthier keeping a steady day job that isn't art, and nurturing your personal projects, than miserably and unhealthily churning out $10 commissions.

Its complicated and it's not a one size fits all solution. I know I had teachers who told me "if you want to be a artist you need to only take art jobs, no matter how bad it pays, because it will light a fire under your ass"

Since I wasnt independently wealthy, I couldn't do that, so when I had to take a ~non art job~ after college to pay my bills while I worked on my portfolio, I felt like a failure. Like I didn't want it enough. Despite working hard on my portfolio every day.

When I started taking commissions, I was kind of miserable. The pay wasnt good, the clients were a mixed bag and I was young and new to professional art so I didnt know how to advocate for myself or set boundaries. "But at least I'm getting paid to do art!"

It wasnt art I liked. It wasn't art I could put in a portfolio and be proud of & it wasnt art that was helping me hone my skills. I was trading my personal time, and my artistic energy for very little money and while SOME were fun to do, mostly I was just cruising for burn out.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with commissions if you enjoy it, if you can balance it well, or even if it's your only option. I dont want to make any blanket statements. But I see a lot of young artists who think, because of its accessibility that it's the best place to start

When really I think that for non-established artists who cant charge much, its rarely worth it. If you want to take a few commissions for fun, or to buy some coffees, sure. But if we are looking to make a career?

I can't stress enough how much better it will be, and how there is NOTHING wrong with finding a nice, stable job that you can do for a little while, and give yourself the physical and emotional space to keep doing your own work. Your relationship with art will be so much better

It took me SO LONG to get my first pro art job, mostly because I was so stressed, so burnt out and miserable that I couldnt even THINK about personal work. All while thinking (erroneously) that working as a barista was evidence of my lack of resolve

Being able to say you're getting paid to do art is intoxicating when you are new to it! Its "the dream"! I totally get it.But if you can comfortably support yourself in another way, that allows you to fund your own growth, while still working towards a more sustainable art career

Do that. Don't let anyone, yourself included, make you feel or think that you are less of an artist because of how you make ends meet. It's not about artistic purity, its about keeping space for yourself to stay passionate and motivated to do art in the first place.