defining the relationship between art and work

Recently, I posted a prompt-style video on TikTok asking for everyone's best small business advice.  I was surprised to get so much feedback and such well-written, thoughtful responses. 💖

Here’s my piece of advice, though I am definitely new to the business-owner part, I have been incorporating art into my work life for years: 

Defining the relationship between your art and your work. 🤭 I have many artist friends who are much better artists than I am, and I mean muuuuuuuch better, but they struggle to make it a career because, at the end of the day, they make art for themselves and their love for expression— and making it their “job” makes it feel like the joy is gone.

I did this, but with video games! I was a full-time streamer for a while, and even had sponsorships and partnered with a game. I paid my rent playing games all day. If I told my kid self that, kid me would’ve been so stoked. But with time, making something that my whole life has been a hobby to escape be something I HAD to do or I couldn’t make rent; it started taking away what I love about it. Now, video games for me are purely a hobby, and one I finally enjoy again.

Art is different! Art for me has always been a job. In 4th grade, my mom received a call from my teacher telling her I wasn’t allowed to sell animal drawings at recess anymore (whatever). In high school, I started getting my first mural commissions and tattoo design requests. In college, I designed sets, did chalk art and murals for businesses, and did chalk signs for the Starbucks I worked for (this was back when they still had chalk art signs 😭). That chalk art led to my first marketing job, managing social media and graphic design for a shopping mall. From there, I went back to commissions and then the pandemi lovato hit, causing the start of my crafting journey. THAT is a whole different story 😂

My point in all this yapping, is that to me, art is that hobby that feels good making into a business; sharing it with others, bringing people together, and getting to know other small art business owners as well. That makes sense to me. Gaming, on the other hand, is something I now know is just meant to be a hobby.

What’s your relationship with work-art balance? Did any of this resonate? I’m curious! 💖

xo,jb