Full Careers
How to be a multi-media artist and earn a living while keeping a civil service career?
I have been in civil service for 15 years. My childhood passion is to become an artist. Due to financial reason, I have to work to substain my family and siblings. Now, when I am more financially stable, I still bear hope of embracing my childhood dream; though I am now rather stable in the civil service. I have had this thought for 10 years and each time, I will just put it off til tomorrow. Thus, there is always this unfulfilled wish of doing the things you want and leading the lifestyle you desired. Cos, the attractive part of civil service career is stability and predictability. While on the other hand, there is a part of me that 'shout' creativity, passion, adventure, boldness, achievement and excellence. Both were extreme state of being. And I often find myself treading both extremes in unusual situations. Living a full life means alot to me. Thus, my question is how to earn the stability of civil service income and bonuses; yet, have the time to pursue my passion and creativity?
Public Comments
- I totally want to tell you - I have a friend who is a gifted writer. He works in government. I see him in the cafe lots of times on weekends. I ask him how he is doing and he says 'great! - thanks to my federally funded arts program!' He sees his job as a platform that makes it possible for him to pursue his true passion. Many people have two parts of their lives that each help and support the other - they are by no means mutually exclusive. I have seen people who quit their means of support and put total pressure on their creativity - alot of times the creativity suffers because they are so stressed to find ways to get by. They also tend to compromise their creative vision, because if it isnt appealing to a mass-market (or a specific agent) they will not eat. It kind of prostitutes the art. I have seen other people neglect finding ways to support their art - they are called servers and housepainters (no disrespect, but we are talking intermittent work, poor pay and no benefits or security). So please - respect your 'government funded arts grant' and get started on your art!! Hints for getting started: Make a studio space; rent a shared space with other artists where you only pay for the times you use it (in your case evenings and weekends); take a community college studio art class - not because you need it, but because it puts you around other artists for fixed times, in a studio space, often with models, etc. Goooooood Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .
- My sister has a great career she does from home that allows her to live the lifestyle she wants to. The company is awsome and offers 401k, training support and benefits. She has great security and even lifetime residual income. Maybe it would work for you and you could work it around your desire to do your art.http://www.freedomathometeam.com/40467229
