Give up their day job and paint?

Following yesterdays post I got asked the question by an Artist who is working full time outside the Art industry, when is the right time to give up their day job and go and paint for a living.

I believe that every Artist is capable of earning a good living from their Art, but I also believe that you should not be in a rush and give up your day job.

Just because family and friends say you are a talented Artist and love receiving your paintings as gifts, does not mean in the future they will buy your paintings when they are for sale.

Before you use family and friends as your yardstick for going full time, because of the wonderful things they say about you, ask them how many original paintings they have bought off other Artists?

The answer is usually very telling.

Also do not let likes on Facebook put stars in your eyes unless they are translating into sales.

Look at it this way.

Your Art can be your bread and butter one day, but until it is you need to approach it as a hobby.

Earn a living doing whatever you can do and allow your art to grow and force you to stop because you are making more from painting than your job.

Do not rush out and become a full time Artist, keep your job and allow your Art to grow to the point where all your sales and commissions force you to give up your job.

Be patient, a little success and a few sales does not make a life time of sales.

For me this is the wise way to do it.

The worst that will happen is you will have a hobby that helps supplement your normal income, doing something you love.