When did you quit your day job?
 

Just starting out in the business, one has to wonder when is it time to quit your day job?

The question seems easy to answer by just saying when enough commissions or work comes in. The problem that I've found is that when you have a full time job, finding time to paint, market, and also do other things that life needs you to take care of can be really hard.

How did you guys do it? Did you step down gradually as in going from a full time to part time? Did you just quit cold turkey and go for it? Did you keep the full time work and just paint and market after you left your day job for the day until you had a good flow of people?

I would also welcome any other advice that any of you could give me that might not be in this section already. Sometimes it feels like trying to crawl out of a well.

Thanks.

As you might suspect, there is no simple answer. It depends on factors like your income needs, your financial reserves, whether there is another family member who also brings in income, your tolerance for risk, your art sales track record, etc. Everyone has to make the decision for themselves as to when the time is right.

Jeremiah, for me it was a very gradual process. My main occupation and source of income in the past was in the construction industry. I used to be a Cement Finisher in the states of Ohio and Connecticut. Construction is a seasonal occupation in the northern states. During winter time I would be layed off for several months, and at that time I took advantage of pursuing a career in art. I would do portraits in pencil and oil, enter local shows, receive commissions whenever I could. Eventually I broke away from construction with no regrets, my back isn't what it used to be, so in a way I was very fortunate to have a seasonal occupation.

The main thing is to not give up, an old saying comes to mind, "where there is a will there is a way. "

I work from 1 pm to 10 pm directing an educational training center and I paint from 8 am to 11:30 am and after 10 pm when I'm not too tired ;)
But I hope to paint full time soon. I'm gradually working on it.

I am in the process of finding that right time myself. First I am creating enough content for a really good (I hope) website and brochure/flyer/direct mail thingy, and enough samples to display in whatever appropriate venues will have me. Also enough material to enter a good trade show - I'm thinking the Royal Winter Fair as I do a mean horse (and dog) portrait. Then I would ask for an unpaid leave of absence if I thought for one moment I would get it, although some companies will do that sort of thing. Failing that I will ask for part time work. Since my company does not like that either, I might consider getting an offer of good part time work elsewhere first, and then approaching my employer.

Having a skill that you can freelance out is nice, too. I've got graphic design and illustration. If I didn't, and I was a reasonably young man, I would be thinking landscaping or construction as per Henry. Up here it offers low to reasonable wages, insane hours in the summer and Unemployment Insurance in the winter.

I might also consider taking a pay cut and taking a more flexible job as a transitional stage.

I have thought this inside out and upside down. The final answer is most likely as Michele noted: Everyone has to make that decision for themselves. I think that for me it will get to the point where no other way of life is remotely acceptable, and then the decision makes itself.

Good luck!

I do agree that it's going to be different to really define any certain way. Different situations can make for a wide variety of choices.

I'm hoping that the ways that each individual was able to do it would help to encourage me and others in a similar situation.

One of the hardest parts about any transition in art is having confidence in your abilities and also in your work. Being critical of older work can work for growth but as far as confidence goes, that can be tough.

If only I didn't have to sleep, it would be much easier to get things done. :)

I second that one!

Here's my story, although I am by no means making a full time salary from my work! Also, I had 2 reasons that I wanted to quit working, one was so that I could spend my time pursuing my passions (art) and the other was to homeschool my son.

My husband and I were (are) low income to begin with, so we found a grant for those in our bracket to buy a first home in an area that needed to be revitalized. We made sure to get a house with a payment that we could handle on one income. It's small and very plain and in an older area, but we can afford it and it'll have some good equity when we go to sell. I also got books at the library about saving money on bills, groceries, etc. Oh yeah, and I sold my car and haven't had one since! (2.5 years now) No cable TV, no vacations, no fancy haircuts, no health insurance, no savings... but no job!

For the transition I started doing a home party thing, and that helped. I have been supplementing with freelance work since I quit that and am also giving lessons to some children in our homeschool group. And of course, I get the occasional commission. ;)

It's not the best spot to be in, and I know it would be even harder if we were older and already had a house, a couple car payments and a certain lifestyle all set up. But I am trying to look at the long term and focus on what the sacrafice will bring us. While I am focusing on art and HSing, my husband is going back to college full time (while working!) so in 5-10 years we should both be making money at stuff we like and eventually getting into a more comfortable lifestyle. In the scheme of things, it's really only a short time to sacrafice, if it means getting to spend the rest of your life doing what you love.

Some of the Impressionists literally went without food some days so they could buy paint. It's all a matter of what's worth sacrificing for. I know we could have a more luxurious lifestyle if I went back to the day jobs I used to have -- but now I have different luxuries: more time with the kids and I get to paint almost every day!

Jeremiah

There's an article at this site, by Chris Saper that may help you.http://www.worldofportraitpainting.com/intro.htm

I found it very helpful.