wow I'm so so touched by all the comments on this video- I'm doing my best to reply to them but please know I'm reading them all! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and for listening to mine. I've been so surprised to read so many similar journeys/feelings which really helps me feel less alone- thank you ❤

I quit a 6 figure job to take a 70% pay cut to be an addictions counselor- I failed because I saw the harsh reality of the mental health industry and went back to corporate life. By taking that risk I lost my pension, financial security, and will now have to work longer in order to retire. I have regrets but at the same time I am proud of myself for taking the chance.

Most people do not succeed in pursuing their dreams because they just simply do not get started and put up obstacles and excuses as to why they cannot do it. Good for you taking the plunge and investing in yourself. Best of luck to you.

I quit 2 times and I’m in the process of trying one last time. From my experience, having not one or two, but 4+ sources of income BEFORE you make the move is extremely important. At least one of these sources CANNOT be related to your talent and must be 100% independent from a boss. The other 2/3 can be freelancing, or performing work as well as royalties. Investing in a financial (high interest or dividend) to grow over the years can help you if you can sustain yourself for a few years to prevent you from panicking if you fail. It will be your “safety net”. Avoid DEBT as much as possible. Learn to budget. Quitting your 9-5 is all about money management. You are talented, you already know you have worth. Now learn to earn money from it in MULTIPLE ways, and learn to manage that income.

Thanks for telling us you failed. Love that honesty that 99% of youtubers hide.

I did the same thing and I also failed, now I'm in a journey to find a job but I didn't have any luck yet. I can't say I became more creative, actually it got worse. I don't fell like a creative person and I don't feel the same joy as before. Art became toxic to me and rarely re the moments where I'm happy doing art. The one thing I'm grateful is that I also have a partner to help me with my plans and my family to support me when I need.

I also quit to become a full time artist and I fortunately did manage to make it a full time job. The sad part is a see a lot of artists way more talented than I am not make it. There is so much luck involved on top of having to have talent. Being in the right place at the right time...things totally out a person's control. I was around 30 when that luck hit me. The longer you stick with it, the more chances you have of the luck portion kicking in, with the benefit of getting better each time you produce work. I also got an F in high school art and failed college art...twice (though I think that had more to do with my autism and the way I need to learn than anything else). It took my wife even longer, she did not make it as an artist full time until she was in her 40s, up until then she fell back on graphic design to pay the bills. It can be very disheartening but all it takes is for one moment to completely change your trajectory for the better. You are young and have a lot of talent, stick with it. You never fail until you either give up or come to an end.

Dear Sofia, I feel this message is super powerful. Usually you only see fairytale stories on YT, and a real experience like yours, which I think fits with the majority of people has a lot of value. Mostly, I feel it has a very positive message, like nothing to regret :)! Cheers from another 34 year old pursuing art on the side ;)

I really needed this. Mid 30s and burned out with my corporate job and wanting to take a sabbatical, this has really given me some things to think about. Thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing your experience.

Far too many people leave out the, "I have a partner who is financially supporting me," or "I'm a trust fund baby and will never have to work a day in my life." By leaving this out it creates a totally false and misleading picture. Thank you for being honest about the money part. I have a call scheduled this morning with a friend who is trying to make it with her art. I'm considering it and the numbers just don't pencil out. I don't have the savings to quit so I'm in the keep working and keep creating stage. Thank you for your insights on how to do this.

New subscriber here! My name is also Sofia hehe but thank you for this. I am 28 and now looking for a full time job because I couldn’t make a living out of my art, and I started to feel like a failure sine every youtube video showcases a “i quit my job to become an artist and became rich” meanwhile i was struggling so much. Thank you for being real and opening up, it helped me a lot ❤

I’ve turned 30 and returned to art school last year. Totally reckless but I’ve never been happier. I know I won’t regret this in the future.

I'm facing the same challenge: quit my 9-5 job during the pandemic to follow my dream of becoming a full time freelance illustrator PLUS moved abroad after that, so obviously I have no ideia what is like being financially stable anymore 🙃 I'm looking for a part-time job and I can't wait to pay my rent without having to sacrifice my mental health. I feel better knowing that I'm not the only one facing these struggles. Thanks for sharing you experience here ♥

I'm a thirtiesh lawyer. Came from the top school in my country (it's a developing country in Asia) and worked in a top law firm. Future is set practically. Then I quit the law firm before I turned thirty (I became a lawyer quite young) and started learning how to write fantasy novels and digital art. Compared to you, I have no background whatsoever in drawing and writing, but I just thought there was more to life than making money. Since the cost of living is low, I could stretch my money saved to 3 years. I stretched it even more by going to a remote countryside since the only thing I needed was the internet. Made a small amount from writing. Ended up investing in a small farm even though I didn't plan it before. I went from wearing suits to writing, drawing, and farming. Writing is earning small. Farming is starting to break even. Drawing is still learning basics. Now, I do some side lawyering for small cases, not for money but for chickens or renting a tractor and so on. Thanks for sharing your journey.

I'm a professional artist that went full time after about 7 years of slow, planned growth, and then after the pandemic had to weather large losses in my life and "coast" in my career until I was able to really focus on making new work again. My income atrophied in that time and I'm only now trying to climb my way back up. I often felt like I failed and was angry that circumstances completely outside of my control uprooted all the work I had put in and the progress I had made. It was as if I was back at square one--I grieved that for a long time. Watching this video has been a good reminder that even though I lost a lot momentum over the past two years and it feels like I'm starting over, I'm not really. I still have all the experience I've accumulated and I'm a different, more capable person now than I was when I started. I'm more prepared than ever to get back on track if I can put the work in again. So, thank you for that! I also just wanted to say that I'm grateful that you acknowledged your financial privilege and the safety nets you had, and that you probably should have done more research ahead of time. I've seen so many artists just quit their full time job one day and go, "Alright, time to figure out how to make this work!" and then get mad when they don't suddenly have a full time income in 6 months. It's refreshing to hear from someone who dove in the deep end too soon and was able to reflect on what they could have done differently to set themselves up better. Because realistically, if you do it the safe way where you're still supporting yourself with a different job, it will take on average 5-10 years of dedicated effort to get to a place where your art can stand on its own--and even then, it needs to be supported by a lot of different skills that you've (hopefully) developed in the meantime. I'm so glad you got something out of it and had the opportunity to do this for yourself, and that it opened your mind to other avenues in life you hadn't considered before. That's so amazing, and I hope you enjoy your creative future!

Thank you for sharing your experience. It takes courage to decide to take the two years for your art and step outside the norms of society. There is nothing wrong with it though modern society often makes us feel that it is. You started a lot sooner than I on your art journey and I commend you for it. I did everything society tells you to do (ie, stable 9-5 job, retirement account, a mortgage) but life’s unexpected things still happen no matter how much I planned. I wish I had also made sure I also pursued a passion that created inner joy in life. Do those things sooner than later whenever you can. But now is better than never. And you did that for your life. And though I agree planning is always a good step in any decision making, I think it’s important to let the art journey be intuitive and leave room for exploration and organic growth which I think you did. Take it from someone who’s a big planner, but at times to a fault. I think it slowed my creative growth. I think planning for the big things is key, like you set a timetable, set aside a budget and funds and had a support system. I’m still learning as I go on my art journey. I’m much older than you so don’t worry about your age. Just have the courage you’ve shown to keep pursing your passion in a fulfilling and productive way if you want it to be a career. You have time. It’s better than never starting at all. Debbie Millman is quoted, “I think it is actually more important to have courage [than confidence] because you tend to be more afraid to do things that you’ve never done before and thru which you have no previous experience of success.” Excuse me for rambling so long. I wish someone told me the same a lot sooner in life. I just wanted to applaud you for your courage. 👏 It was very encouraging to hear your experience. Best to you 😊

I am the total opposite I went from a contract concept artist to a full time government worker. I didn't feel like I failed but I also feel that the career choice wasn't financially stable. Now that I have secure this current job, there may be a chance I will freelance on the side. Love the message of the video and quite inspiring. Kudos to you.

Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m 35 and pursuing art as a hobby for the moment, but I hope to make the switch in a few years and leave my 9-5. I’m the sole bill payer, so I need to be a bit more careful/have a bigger buffer with savings before I can take the plunge. I’m trying to remind myself to enjoy the journey and focus on improving my skills, rather than getting myself down about not being able to make the switch now. We’re all on on our own path and your commentary on societal expectations is something that really resonated with me. Good luck!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I'm also in my 30s and want to be a full time artist. For me, it's especially difficult to not compare myself to younger artists. Here's to hoping that everyone here accomplishes their goals ❤

It’s interesting because I think if you have the temperament to work a full time job, most people will be more financially stable that way. But a lot of artists simply can’t do that. We do this because we’re artistically talented, yes, but also because, “just working a job” isn’t a fit for us for whatever reason.

So many people were inspired to turn their passions and hobbies and career dreams into full time jobs during the pandemic. It was like an epiphany but it's so risky. I did my dream career as a hobby for over 20 years before taking the plunge and since then have always run it on the side of having either a full time job, or in more recent years, side hustles that top up the income. I always made sure I had a ton of back up funds because income is insanely unpredictable especially in the creative industries. It just doesn't make enough at our level. I don't even think I would want my business to be my full time income. I never want it to become a chore or an obligation that would take away the joy I get from doing it. I like the variety I currently get from doing multiple small jobs and side hustles and the day to day freedom that gives me. The light bulb moment is when you get to certain age and you stop caring about career progression and start to enjoy what you do, and what you have already, rather than always reaching ahead. It took me years to reach it but the contentment I now have is priceless.

🌺😂 I'm literally going through you're experience. Although I had a few reasons for leaving my last job, but I'm just doing Art, living on my savings and now I feel I need to get a job again to support myself. I live with someone but we both pay the bills. However, I feel good that I took this time to just focus on my Art Business. I've learnt what direction I want to go in and I'm glad I did it 😊

Thank you for talking about this so honestly. I'm sure I'm not your usual demographic, but there is a lot of parallel between my story and yours: I also quit my job at the end of 2021 and pursued art full time. I also failed and burned through most of my savings. I also learned a lot I am significantly older than you (late 40s) and am taking what I've learned to point me in a direction where I can re-focus and try again, and if I can see a way for this to pan out at my age, I know you'll find your path at your age.

Thanks for sharing. I couldn't help but find so many similarities between your story and my journey. Feeling guilty for not producing enough art (even though that is what you'd think the main part of the work would be), not being productive enough (even though it felt like I was always doing something), and feeling overwhelmed. I'll be 36 in March, watched all my friends hit certain milestones and now I'm considering getting a full-time job again. Like you said, I have no idea how I thought I would be able to make a living off of my art right away, haha. I started painting pet portraits during the lockdown period, built a website, social channels, Etsy, sold at markets, etc... But at the end of the day it's a marathon and not a sprint and a small creative business takes time. Some more than others. Watching your video helped me take the thought of failure out of my mind.

What I really appreciate about this story is how you put the effort into making your dreams come true. Even if it didn't happen right now, it doesn't mean it won't. I have tried many versions of following my art passions and have failed in many ways at this. But it all comes back to picking yourself back up and rethinking how to get where you want to go. Unsolicited advice for any other artist out there is if you are going to quit your job and go into your art full time, first create a full business plan (just so you have a strong direction with ideas of how to source revenue,) and second make sure you have a healthy emergency fund to fall back on if things take a long time to pick up.. because in most cases they do take a lot of time. With this emergency fund, it also helps to be pretty aware of how much your monthly cost of living is so you can adjust your emergency fund to be around 6 months of savings. And if you can't do those things, I would recommend at least doing some kind of part-time work to keep yourself afloat - because I have crashed my bank account down to almost nothing multiple times when being too impulsive with my dreams and not being realistic about how much time things take

Hey Sofia. I did the same. And even worse. I wasted my savings and on top of that got 15 000 euro debt. BUT. 6 months ago managed to monetize my creative efforts and the income now that i make covers my rent at a decent/modern studio and partially the debt payment. I do for my pleasure door-dash with bicycle few days a week and that covers the rest and i got enough left for food and small expenditures. Everything is growing, my income and my plans, except my debt, - it's getting smaller and smaller. It's a hell of a ride and. Mix creativity with quality. People. Love. And. Follow. Quality. Nowadays i do even less than when i started 6 months ago and get better results because i focus more on the quality and creativity. And client circle knows, that it takes longer, - but it's gonna be worth it.

Thank you for making this video. I've recently experienced something similar, having quit my job to invest in my writing career. I don't regret it at all because I grew so much as a writer (and also had the extra family time)! But, I never ended up making enough to count as a full or even traditional part-time income. I also had to go back into the workforce. I've been struggling a bit over the past year because I did see it as "failure", but I've come to realize that just because my monetary goals weren't achieved doesn't mean the time was wasted. Every moment was valuable and I'm incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to, as you said, invest in my creativity. This video feels like an affirmation of that. 💜

Thanks for sharing your experience! Been an artist (comic book artist) for almost 20 years. I tried a 9-5 job when I was young, and could only endure it for 2 days. I thought that wasn't for me and started working in the comics industry. And that's it. Most of my financial struggles were because of my parents' mortgage and their hospital bills. Now I'm considering getting a "real job" because I'm pretty tired of dealing with tragedy after tragedy alone. That's an inverted experience here.

I can relate to your experience. I quit my job by the end of 22 and started my art project on a full time in 2023. It was the happiest year in my life, as I finally took the leap to enable myself thinking that I was worth it, despite all the odds. By February 24 I had to start working a full time job again, as my savings were running out, but I have a totally different perspective than two years ago: I succeeded into sowing the seeds of my own creativity, and they are still blooming today. Had I not taken a one-year break, I would not be able to keep up drawing/writing after work. But this sabbatical year, as you call it, (although it is just a non-paid year of work as you were practising to make a living,),was enough to make me confident in my art skills and to build up good habits that will help me, I hope, to make my art project come to life, even if it comes later than what I initially planned. I hope you won’t see your experience as a failure. Having a full-time job and practising art on your free time also shows that you have a lot of potential and a high capacity to adapt to situations. This is basically called intelligence. Anyways, I wish you the best in your art path, may it bring you to develop a full-time art career you dream about!

Thank you for talking about your experience so openly. I can see myself in some of the things you mention. I turned thirty last year which was when I took a couple of months off after finishing my PhD because I was so exhausted. The "two months" are still going and during this time I got back into making art, something I haven't done since early high school. I've also had time to dedicate to my other hobbies and to visit my family for an entire month, something I haven't been able to since I've moved away. But last year I also had to move countries because my partner got a job abroad, so I ended up in a place where neither of us speaks the language, with no real clue what to do but with constant stress and anxiety about my finances and with worry that I'm not doing enough and not being productive, and that I must find a paying job. Except now the prospect of going back to the kind of work that I left last year is incredibly daunting and off-putting... So even if it doesn't change my situation, it's nice to hear that I'm not alone in my struggles.

It's crazy to me that with 45.5K subscribers, you are still a "small creator" on KZfaq. Thank you for sharing though. It helped me to realize maybe the goal isn't to be a full-time artist but to at least have 2 years to focus solely on art & getting better. Saving up to make art for 2 years seems more reachable than trying to be a full-time artist soley with no other incomes.

Thank you for sharing this journey with all the honesty. I do recognise myself quite a lot, as turning 29 I took a sabbatical to pursue my dream of travelling. My husband came along, but then Covid hit, and instead of 1 year; it turned into three ... I do totally get the stress finances can put on you even though you chose this :) Anyhow ... we ended coming back to a pretty similar career, but we are very different persons now; a stronger couple and so proud we followed our dreams. And it is while travelling that I discovered my passion for art and started drawing and painting :)

Thank you for sharing your story! I'm not an artist, but I'm also on a sabatical. Due to numerous reasons (mainly burnout) I decided to move out of my family house, to live alone for six months while taking video production classes. I graduated during the pandemic and the job market was relatively scarce so I had a couple unfulfilling jobs. Good thing was that I was able to save enough to take the plunge and go on this short break from the real world and be a student again. I see all my peers having careers, buying houses, having families, and although it's not what I want I envy them because they seem to go after what they want or check imaginary societal boxes, while I'm still trying to get to know myself and what I want to do. Two months in, I'm very nervous about my finances and whether I made the right decision, but I've never been more at peace.

I understand you so much! This is exactly what I’ve come through , trying to be an artist too. And this feeling when everybody has families, babies, savings, and so on… while, I am still just a student who is trying to be an artist is so familiar. And of course, some kind of failure always followed my step. And judging people also scared me. I thought I wasn’t going enough. And it took me 2 years to end up with it

Failure is common, success is uncommon. The reason we think success is more possible because the ones who failed don’t talk about it, and the ones who succeeds do. It’s like gambling. Thank u for ur honesty! Moving forward and looking back on the past as learning process isn’t corny, it’s great imo stay positive ❤

YES. I have a friend who saved and did a phd in a sabbatical break. I’d love to save and do some language study. Normalising investing in things other than kids and things society prefers is so important! Great video :)

I'm 29 and work a creative corporate job. But i have been on the fence thinking whether i'd like to quit my job and go full time freelance. I'm trying to just coast and take my time for now. The KZfaq algorithm is definitely sinister especially showing all the late teens/early 20s artists who suddenly make it and become rich. I'm liking that more of these more realistic types of videos are popping up now of people in my age range on like, real journeys. Hoping the best for you and all my fellow late 20s and 30s and beyond who are still on our wonderful art journeys!

I've just been through a similar road to you, where I tried a new path I thought I wanted to go down for the past 2 years, and am about to end it as I start my new job next week. Ultimately the obstacles and the return I'd get from continuining down that path weren't worth sticking to it, but I got to really spend time exploring it and learned a lot about myself through the process. I'm really grateful to my partner who allowed me to explore things and supported me during this time, which as you said and I agree that we're very lucky to have that support network, but it's out of my system now and I won't be pondering on the what-ifs anymore. It's comforting to me to know others who have had similar struggles during the time (baby showers/marriages/buying houses I totally get that!) and I hope that those who are wanting to but yet to try exploring something, have the courage to maybe even take some time in their spare time to try something new after listening to this. Thank you for sharing your experience!

Thank you so much for posting this! I'm commenting from my empty youtube account because I'm in almost the exact same place you are haha, I just quit my job almost 2 months ago and am concentrating full-time on my art. It was really helpful and validating to me to hear your honest story of where you are and the wonderful things you learned about yourself and were able to do with your life after having these experiences. I feel like it's so common to hear from people who are already "very successful" and/or have come from a full career in art in some form that started back in their school days. Though their stories are beautiful and should be told, heard, and valued, I can't relate and it made me feel a bit alone and isolated in my stage of life. Hearing your reflections on your experience was refreshing in that way, and I really appreciate you having the courage to be vulnerable and honest about your path.

This definitely helped me feel less alone. I am a 45 y/o that just started Art school and have no clue what I’m doing. LOL! Currently on my 6 month sabbatical from my healthcare profession and I am really questioning my decisions. 😂 I know it will all work out at the end of things but the uncertainty is overwhelming at times. Anyhow TYFS! ❣️✨

I'm you, but 7 months into the sabbatical, my partner cheated so no safety net anymore either and I'm almost homeless. Hurray! BUT I've grown and changed so much it's unbelievable! Like 7 years in 7 months. I used to suffer from anxiety, depression and a long list of other problems. Now, I'm at peace. I do what I love, drawing healed me and I feel free. If I succeed to have the life that I dream of(nothing fancy really) that would be cool, but if I fail - oh well. I've gained more than I've lost. ❤🐇

You should be proud of yourself, at least you tried and that takes courage. Thanks for your honesty 👍❤

Thanks for sharing your story. I know many who went straight into grad school only to encounter obstacles and a very harsh job market and became bitter. I think seeing life as a sabbatical is the way to go. Some woman wrote about her assistant professorship at an elite university; unlike some places where tenure was within your grasp, this uni was notorious for dumping folks out-they preferred to poach well established faculty, not retain young ones. Her friends worried for her, but she said I’m going to assume I won’t get it - so then what? This time becomes precious for gathering up whatever skills, experience, and portfolio I need for the next phase. Now in her case - surprise! They gave her tenure. But the approach meant she didn’t over-stress through those six years, she used her time wisely so that at the end she’d have something. Like you, looking at your savings and your situation and giving yourself a chance to equip yourself for the next phase. I think that staves off bitterness.

I'm 32 and taking a time off to perceive my dream to write a book. Thank you for a lovely video. I feel very similar as you described! Especially about feeling guilty of not being productive enough

I think these "non-problems" are HUGE problems and they influence peace in dramatic ways. Many just never pursue their own passions. You are very brave😊. Many try and end up depressed for not being able to kickstart things like in a year and thus not being able to keep up with their peers incomewise. This led me to some very dark places.

I’m about to turn 24 in a few months and everything you said about societal pressure while being an artist really resonated. One important thing I’ve been learning over the past few years is that there’s nothing wrong with our paths looking different. I’m learning to value money less and my time, my art, and other people infinitely more.

This makes me feel seen! I'm not sure what is next for me as I apply for jobs, but knowing that going back to a job isn't an indictment of my skills or personality, but a practicality - that makes it easier to bear. I'm glad you were able to find a job you love!

Your video felt like I was listening to myself. 😂 I quit my full-time job as team leader in August 2021. I also wanted to take a sabbatical year and wanted to focus on my art career but didn't really have a business plan. I wanted to recover. I also lived from savings just earned around 1,2k per year at that time as artist. In the end 1 year and 2 months. However I decided to work in part-time office job so my art career can be 50% of my time in the week. I quit that new job after 6 months. Took month off and now I am working in a new part-time job for almost a year now. I learned so much from that year and I feel like since I work in two jobs 50/50 my at career got a boost. I guess in my sabbatical time I was too stressed to succeed as artist and that is why it kind of failed. Now I am chill. I earn enough money but have still plenty time to paint and do all the art business stuff. It is the perfect combination for me now. It feels good to see people have almost the same journey as myself. ❤

Hey, I’m a college freshman. Studying for a business degree and looking to pursue art on the side in the future. Thanks for being vulnerable and chill about everything. Your insight is helpful as I try to integrate art business in my life.

Thank you sharing your experience and being vulnerable? As someone who is trapped in a job, I really admire going down that path, no matter the outcome. Hopefully, it will inspire others to do the same!

First of all, all the very best to you! I stumbled on your video quite randomly. I m glad I did. I am not an artist, however I didn’t consider quitting my full time job and get into art. Ultimately though I decided against it. The art market in my country is far too unpredictable for the kind of art I wanted to create. Kudos to you for taking that risk. Regarding the problems you spoke of-namely societal pressure or expectations etc., I go through these exact same feelings from time to time. I live in India, here society is far too heavily built on marriage and family. Being single still in 30s makes the world seem a cruel place at times. Listening to you made me feel safe a bit, thinking that it’s a normal stream of thoughts and feelings when you don’t fit into the common social box.

You are not alone..I'm in the same path too ❤ Quit my job 2 years ago to start a fashion label which didn't go well. I'm 33 years old this year, experiencing a midlife crisis with no money. 😮‍💨 But I don't regret my decision.

Hi there, thank you so much for this video as it is bringing light to one of my struggle. I don’t usually talk much about myself, but seeing and reading so many comments here, encourage me in doing so. I used to work in a small company were I undergo mental and sexual harassment from one of my colleague. At the end of 2021, after 4 years doing this job in this condition, I finally got the strength to confront the situation and take actions. I quit this nightmare in 2022 with the plan of doing one full year of travel in Japan with my boyfriend, a long time dream of mine. I never felt more proud of my choices, regardless of the fear of my relatives, because I did it for myself. During that year, I reconnected with my passion for drawing, and now I am back in my home country, I am facing the difficult choice of finding back a job in my field or pursuing this passion I have but in which I lack confidence and my family profoundly disapprove :( Since I am back, I cannot bring myself to draw and I struggle going forward, in either ways. I feel stuck and as if I am loosing my time and it is stressing me out. Your video is reminding me that I need to take actions, that I need to give myself the chance and be proud of my choices to keep moving forward. So thank you ❤

Man... everything you've recounted, I've been going through since the start of the year. It was literally just yesterday that I panicked last over my age and lack of structure, somehow mistaking all of that as being directionless in life (or at least be perceived that way.) Thank you so much for sharing what you did and the way that you have! It means a lot.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I’m in my thirties as well, soon to be 33 and I’ve considered myself an artist all my life but I have never attempted to make a career of painting traditionally (I painted faces for a living for over a decade as a professional make up artist) and I’ve always wanted to re-explore my artistry with traditional painting and even digital too. Now due to some major life changes I never planned or anticipated (an intense car accident) it’s brought me to a time and place I can explore painting again and hopefully I can grow as an artist in new ways 😊 I just acquired some student grade and professional grade gouache to play with and paint again ✨ Hearing your story I resonated with wanting to create a life and work life you enjoy and have something to look forward too. I’ve been in positions in the past where my work was more miserable than enjoyable and then nearly running through my savings and having to take on work again whilst making my art career the part time gig. But as you shared, there’s so much one can learn about themselves along these journeys that life takes us on and its a tremendous feeling knowing you tried your best and accepting that it’s okay to make adjustments along the way; sacrificing short term gratifications in the pursuit of life long enjoyment and happiness. It’s all a process with baby steps and leaps of faith 🥰 I’m sending you lots of love and good vibes! May you find pockets of peace and joy along the way to becoming the artist you’ve always imagined being! I know you can do it!! Ps. I love your monochromatic paintings and this self portrait you painted is beautiful! The gold outline was a lovely choice too 😍✨

That happened to me. I started working for myself for six months and ran out of all my money and had to get a job. My partner was able to support us for three of those months nearly exclusively.

It's so interesting to hear how the process went for you and I really appreciate you opening up ❤ I'm in a similar boat but not having as much success on social media and questioning every day whether I'm doing the right thing 😭

Wow this is so me when I quit my 9-5 Job last year. I'm transitioning into a new career in my early 30s, cause there's nothing else to learn in my previous industry, no matter how much I convince myself for motivation. Luckily I'm old rich and living in a low cost area, so I'm able to get by however, now my partner wants me to find a job again after 6 months of mental break. I'm getting into these interviews related to my past work (cos they pay more). It reminded that I've been masking for decades for the sake of money, and how I hated it. Now my goal is to find a job that I'll love like he does. I'm done chasing jobs that just pay the bills and you're just forced into it cos you had no choice.

I do not think you failed, you wanted to invest time in your art and the results show with how skilled you are now, your art is fantastic, so what if you didn't make a huge income from it? I still think it's amazing what you did and that you still succeeded even if not in the capitalistic sense, you still achieved something greater, deeper and much more substantial and important. This is the type of thing humans are _meant_ to do, not slave in an office for survival.

Hey there, Teh Algorithm suggested your video and I'm glad I clicked because this was a very sweet and interesting one! Also, very satisfying as your painting was lovely and seeing the process quite soothing. Anyway, this is not the point of my comment, lol My point was that I loved your video and your POV. I think we don't value enough "failures" in terms of what it means: failure is not a metric, it doesn't mean anything in and of itself. It should be taken in its entirety: yes, you didn't succeed in reaching the original goal but what did you learn while doing so? What did you gain during the journey? What other opportunities this so-called failure actually gave you? What new knowledge do you have now? And it's also a way to not have regret later on, which is quite something already. So, anyway, lovely video and i wish you all the best in your next endeavours :)

THANK YOU Sofia! Not only for the story of your journey but the portions (like the shading & defining parts of the face) you focused on showing of your self-portrait. This was SO VERY helpful to see!!! I will re-watch this particular video MANY times.

I am 37 and have never worked a job I loved... I don't think I have ever even had a job that I wanted to be at. Every job I ever worked, even ones I initially thought I would like, ended up just being a source of income I didn't want to be doing. I am also still in the "poverty" level. I have been living on about $9,000 a year for many years and live in an apartment with my friend. I completely understand that stress of feeling like I am not doing enough or working hard enough. I have been working for myself as an online reseller for a couple years and currently work a few hours a week at an actual "job". I have no idea what I am doing with my life though. I have an art background growing up but don't really feel any sort of "passion" for it anymore like I did when I was young.

Thanks for sharing this is really relatable. Failing doesn't mean that it's over. You still have the opportunity to do it all again

Hey hey thank you for showing your amazing and honest journey!!! Usually I don't really comment but your video touched me! I'm 28 and an art teacher, after exploring myself creatively throughout all my art studies I decided upon teaching, but I know that I'll end up doing the same someday.. I have that same thing engrained into my brain that art is not a job and deep down I might be scared, cause capitalism is scary. But teaching brought me a stable income while exploring my art without feeling like everything has to be monetized, I havent posted in two years (until today!!) and feel like it has given me the time to get to know myself and my art more. I've started saying that I'm an artist whose hobby is teaching. Big steps!!

It's so cool to hear a different kind of story that actually shares the difficulties and downs in a taken path in life. I love how you managed to see the positive sides of the hardships, as lessons and investmints. I wish you get to your goals and acheive all you want🙏 Keep up the good work💪❤️

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, you have no idea how much I needed to hear this. I'll be in my thirties in a few years and my working history has been a complete catastrophe after i had my master’s degree... after a few years of working I ended up losing my job due to health reasons, but honestly it was the best thing that could have happened I was absolutely miserable. I applied for other jobs for over a year without much success, and now I finally decided that 2024 would be the year where I pursue an art career, which is what I have always wanted to do. I'm very stressed about it, like you said, not being good enough, not being productive enough, money, etc. I'm also realistic I know I am probably not going to make enough money to support myself after just a year and i often I keep wondering why I am even doing this if I won't be ''productive' enough'. But your experience and perspective has helped me tremendously, it is still worth a shot!!!! Like you said, I am investing in myself, growing as an artist but also on my wellbeing. Even if I can't fully make a living with my art after a year or two, it is still worth it and it doesn't mean i can't keep pursuing art later on even if i end up working full time/part time again. Thank you so much, you have motivated me to continue!!!

I did too, it was embarrassing but i dont regret it and my inner child is proud that i had the integrity to try

I know it’s a process to have your own art business and I will prepare myself to leave my 9-5 job so I will work for 2-3 years or 1-2 years to pay off bills and to start my art business and working on other things in my life, thanks for starting and you dealt with obstacles so you can succeed!

This is so inspiring to me because I quit teaching to pursue art and I feel like I’m failing 3 months in. Now I just think I need to be a bit more patient.

Thank you for making this video! I studied arts my whole life, I graduated and tried to make my art career happen for about three years. The first one went good, then in the second one I just couldn't get good gigs and contracts anymore, things became worse paying and more inconsistent as time went on and I found myself mostly unemployed through the year. I had to make the hard decision to quit and get a non-art job or I would go homeless, so I also do art part time only now.. I still dream of making it my living some day but at this point it's just a pipedream, doesn't seem like it will ever be a reality much less with AI now coming into the picture. I feel really depressed or like a failure often about having given up on my dream but sometimes we have to be realistic and find happiness somewhere else.

Thank you for this. I am in my early 30's and I'm currently rediscovering myself as an artist after almost a decade of being in a creative rut. I'm trying to find balance between my full time job and creating art on the side. This gives me hope that it is not too late to establish my own creative style and to maybe one day have a little side business. Even if that never happens, I still find joy in simply creating!

I’m doing the same thing. Thank you for sharing your story. I’m experiencing the same emotions so I totally get where you’re coming from.

I love, love, love that you did this. I feel like what you did is a great life hack. Using your savings to basically homeschool yourself in art is such a good idea. I kind of did the same except I went from a part time job in another field while homeschooling my kids, to quitting that part time job (I have a partner willing to support me) to focus on getting better at my art and growing my youtube channel. It’s scary but I’m also glad to have invested in yourself this way. I’m glad to hear you had success using your new skills on my resume. That makes me think if this doesn’t work out I haven’t wasted my time. Love the painting btw.

Thank you so much for your vulnerability and transparency in sharing your experience! You have such a lovely and positive outlook on balancing life needs with pursuing your passion and dreams in art! You brought up so many great and relatable points about being in your early 30s and going for it. Your self portrait is gorgeous too, love the monochromatic work! Wishing you all the success and joy in your art journey 💙🩵🤍

Sabbatical year would be awesome, I did that once but need another year. I’ve saved up again and am tempted to. That’s awesome how it helped you on your job search!

I’ve done something similar. I did go to art school (in the 90s 😬) but I’d moved out of home when I was 17 so I’ve been working the entire time. I turned 50 last year and finally took the opportunity at the end of 2022 to use my savings to support me while I focus on my art full time. While I’m also at the point of looking for a ‘regular’ job again, the last 18 months have been crucial to reconnecting with myself and my art, and finally backing myself 100%. I don’t consider myself any type of failure that I’m going back to the job hunt, I’ve been so privileged to take time out, and as you mentioned, capitalism do be unsupportive of this!! Thanks for sharing your story ☺

Thanks for opening up about your experience! I'm at a similar stage and your story has definitely given me food for thought. It's not easy to navigate societal expectations and stay true to yourself. My great respect to you for doing just that. Hitting that subscribe button :)

I still hesitate to try living off my art. I am 42 now, for my whole life I am told to use my talent, not wasting it. This builds such big pressure, that I mostly lost fun and creativity 😮‍💨

Mad respect for giving this ago. Thanks for sharing your story.

Thank you for this 🙏 I went very similar journey about the same time, only being 10 years older, and in photography. Currently back to job search.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! The true hero of this story...is your landlord, so give em my salutations!;)

Thank you for sharing your story! I wouldn't call this true "failure" as you're still moving in a forward direction! Baby steps are still steps.

Thank you for being so honest I love knowing what you’re thinking along your whole journey! I thought I was alone when it came to over thinking about all the small steps and also counting the bits of money along the way just adds to that stress and guilt of perusing something they not a lot of people understand. Currently trying to work up the courage to get on tik tok maybe KZfaq. I only just recently made a Facebook page. Social media is a lot more when you already have to do the math of your business as well as make everything. I hope you and any other artist reading this achieves all their business goals as well as any other goals they have towards their passion✨💕 I believe in you!!!!!

Thank you so much for sharing your story - it's such a brave leap. Not sure how I stumbled on this video but I'm doing something eerily similar now - I had terrible health issues in 2021/22 which led me to find a new job, which was so tedious and draining that I quit very quickly and now I'm on a 'gap year' (I call it that too) trying to set myself up doing something more creative. My plan is also quite thin and its only funded by savings and there isnt a fallback and my rent is enormous --- the stress can get intense if you lose faith momentarily, even though 0 isnt for a couple of years but.... it's so much more fulfilling. Meeting more interesting and similar people who respect your work gets intoxicating pretty quickly - and the work itself has an effect too. Just wanted to say thanks for sharing this because your thinking was so similar and I'm glad it sort of worked out for you. And anyone else thinking about doing this: she's right, have a concrete plan if possible.

The more you put yourself out there, the more opportunity for success! You'll get there.

Most artists who are fulltime were familly or independently wealthy. I am in the literary workd more than art and its quite acceoted that most writers, of fiction at least, tend to need a top up job. A professorship etc even if it is seaslnal. And these are some of the very accomplished writers. Others are speakers, write essays, contest judges etc. I quickly realised that it was unlikely I was ever just going to luxuriantly write all day and not do other things, certainly not all year or all month. And not always my own zany projects. I think for artists, writers, poets etc, maybe theres this idea that if you have to do these other things you arebt making real art but heres the thing...those other things also keep you on yop of your craft, especially things like teaching or making courses or consulting. Your brain expands, your subject matter becomes more real and relatable. Good on you fir taking the plunge and good on you for giving visual arts what i think is aoee sober minded take on how to become a paid artist and balance that with adulting. The fairytales are few and far between.♥️

I failed the first time around and succeeded the 2nd. Then again it wll depends on how you evaluate success. Did I make living? Yes. Did it make me happy? Not really. I had what on the surface sounds like a dream job. I sold my wildlife art prints to tourists in the summer months. Then when the season was over, Id fly off somewhere warm for the winter amd look for wildlife subjects to photograph. Id use my references the following summer to make new artwork. And so it went on for over 20 years. All my trips were tax deductable. I fulfilled the initial dream, but dreaming is the best bit The rest was hard work. I had to work all hours in summer to make enough money. Id be burnt out at the end of the season and needed a month to recover before I could begin to relax again. I was never truly happy because I couldnt do the art I wanted to do, i had to make art that people might buy. Fair enough but in the end making art was just how I made a living. Not a bad job, but not as I dreamed it would be.

This was such an interesting video, so cool to hear about how taking that time off from work helped you grow as a creative! Subscribed :)

I saw the title and I was oooh gotta click on that! This was inspiring :D I am 36 and I’ve been living by myself for almost 3 years now. Never happened before, it was either parents or partner. I am going through an art journey right now where I do it seriously for the 2nd time in my life. But I did not take the big leap and quit my job so it’s a big difference lol! I am lucky to like my job even if it’s not a dream job. Also I am putting money aside for whatever (don’t want to own a house I really don’t know what to do with that lol) so who knows what might happen? It’s a very cool story. Thank you and kudos for sharing this! I thought “what a badass person” lol

I quit my job so my bf could follow his dreams, and we also agreed that since we could afford it I would also take a year off to write full time. It was right before covid so it ended up being two years instead, but I also failed. I'm still glad I tried. I learned a lot about myself, and my now ex bf. Everyone should take some time to explore their art, weather or not they can actually take time off work.

The way this video HIT! Algorithm working overtime today. Thank you for sharing your story Sofia, so unique and inspiring.

I am a similar age and about to do this myself., so it was good to hear your perspective. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much for this video. I am currently 3 months into my decision to do the exact same thing as you did! I have exactly the same problems as you did, and your video made me feel less alone.

I was fired last year. Went insane and started freelancing. I am currently making the minimum I need to pay the bills.(barely) I always separated my art and my graphic desing work but decided to start selling my work as well. Also making commisions again, selling stickers etc. I felt like I lost my way to art while doing graphic design and Im trying to relearn than. I used to draw so much while in my first job, I missed it. This whole thing might not work but thankfully I have work to do on the other side of graphic design. I would really like to sell my own art one day but who knows. As for companies that hire graphic designers at them moment there is no work available where I live so maybe I can develop my skills this way instead of waiting for a miracle. And I am having so much fun!

Also… incredible self portrait! Xx

I just quit my job, and your video gave me calmness. I still have doubts about my decision but I now is not a rush decision. I want a job more on the field of art, hopefully I will fing one

To me, anyone who have the ability to quit their job, is already successful, even if they make way less money than they usually do. In fact, it's the opposite, those who can't let go of their jobs are the failures. Quitting your 9-5 job is a sign of success, because you're not longer a property of a company.

Honestly, good for you. Tons of closet creative people never take the first step. You did. Now you can move onto step 2. That puts you miles ahead of the curve.

Subbed from the title alone. Haven't even watched yet, but you have my respect. Daunting as it was, at least you had the courage to step into the collesium! Awesome!

Quit the job, explore for yourself, and then find another job you LOVE. Looks like a win to me.