Being an Artist...What does this mean? Can it Be a True Career? Lighten Up a Little

  What does it mean to be an artist?  Is it possible to sell art for a living and make a living at it?  These are the questions I keep asking myself.  In reality I have only really just broke the tip off the ice burg when it comes to my creativity and art, so how can I be in a position to make that decision for my life.

art·ist

1. a person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby.
   
   synonyms:
   designer, creator, originator, producer; 
   old master
   
   "a mural artist"
   • a person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet, or filmmaker.
   • a person skilled at a particular task or occupation

So, #1:  I can call myself an artist.  I make things for hobby, to sell and really to just see what these hands can make after my brain thinks it up.  For some reason to me there has always been a stigma attached to this- that's all over with now.(so that's settled)

2, I need to stop making things purely to sell them.  So to back up here is an overview of what my current reality is...

  I left a career field I was miserable in, to pursue a life of creativity that I never dreamed possible.  I have held myself back in a lot of situations in life due to confidence issues and things I still struggle with from childhood.  So I took this chance to take a huge pay cut, but be happy in life.  I Moved back to my home state of Michigan and set my eyes above:  because the sky is the limit.

  With that being said, I get to work in amazing maker space, learn so much and teach creative classes.  I'm continually learning, and growing and get to do one of the funnest jobs on earth.  One thing I promised myself I would do is set up my own creative business, hence this website and this blog.  I'm still in such a newborn phase of this experience and I already feel myself putting loads of pressure on myself, for what?

  I started my etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/Anothercutedesign) and website at the end of last year(2015), less than 6 months ago- not long at all.  I Already sometimes loose the feeling of just living my creative process.    You know, when that idea comes, you loves how it's looking then your brain explodes with an addition and you have a working idea!  I know this is a business and the end result is to make money but the real enjoyment is to make the art!  To combine my ideas, with the technology I get to master (and use for free) so just go with it.

  I can't focus on failures, just learn from them.  I can celebrate my friend's success' because I definitely want them by my side when that time really comes for me.  A tricky part, and I know is my aesthetic.  For something to really sell, it needs to be pop-culture, trendy, something I don't want for my brand.  So do I have to be a "sell-out" to "sell out" of my merchandise?

  I have so much to explore and to took forward to.  I made this change in my life for  a reason and I have one chance to make these tasks, and this life count.  I will have set-backs, and it may just get down right ugly on here at times but that's all part of the process- my process.  I struggle, get upset, then something miraculous happens that I know would not have been born if it wasn't for that struggle.  I just need to believe in all of that, and believe in myself

  These are the thoughts that are swimming around in my head.  No one may ever read this and I'm OK with that.  I'm looking forward to looking back on my journey, my connection to my work and becoming the artist I always dreamed I could be.