Living the Dream (and the Reality) of Being a Full-Time Artist

There’s a certain magic that comes with waking up each day knowing that your job is to create. To take what’s in your heart, around you, your imagination, and your prayers, and turn it into something that others can see, feel, and hold. Being a full-time artist is both a dream come true and a daily adventure—it’s freedom and challenge woven together with threads of color, faith, and possibility.

The great part? Oh, where do I even begin! I get to paint, sketch, and design every single day. My imagination doesn’t have to stay tucked away while I clock in somewhere else—it’s my workplace. I don’t live bound to a rigid schedule, nor do I have to ask anyone for time off. If I need a quiet morning of prayer, a walk in the sunshine, or want to journal on the porch while dreaming up my next piece, I can. There’s no workforce drama following me home. Instead, there’s peace—God’s peace—reminding me I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. I get to do what He created me for, and that fills my spirit with joy.

There’s also the joy of sharing. Art is one of those gifts that doesn’t just stay with you—it spills out into the world. A painting that began with a single spark in your imagination can become something that stirs a memory, a hope, or even a healing in someone else. That’s part of the wonder of being an artist: your personal expression often becomes someone else’s encouragement. It’s a reminder that God uses us in ways we may never fully see this side of heaven.

But I’ll be honest: it’s not all sunsets and sketchbooks. The “other” side of being an artist is very real too. Marketing isn’t fun to me, paychecks don’t look the same every month, and there’s no retirement package waiting at the end. Some days you finish a piece and wonder if it’s any good. Other days you question if your audience is even out there listening. And there are plenty of behind-the-scenes tasks that don’t involve paint or paper—photographing work, uploading it, writing descriptions, setting up shops, managing social media, packing orders… it’s a job that wears many hats.

Finding your audience takes time and persistence, and sometimes the hardest part is deciding when a painting is “done” and allowing yourself to let go of it. I’ve learned that building community doesn’t happen overnight—you have to seek out other creatives, surround yourself with encouragers, and keep showing up even when it feels quiet. The truth is, art can be a little lonely at times, but it can also be a bridge to incredible friendships and collaborations when you lean in and stay open.

And yet, even with the challenges, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. Because the rewards—the freedom, the joy of sharing my heart through art, the blessing of living in the gift God placed inside me to do—far outweigh the rest. Every brushstroke is a reminder that I’m doing what I was born to do.

Being a full-time artist is equal parts wonder and work. It’s trusting God for provision and trusting yourself to keep creating even when you’re unsure of the outcome. It’s both humbling and exciting, and it shapes you as much as you shape the art. You learn patience. You learn resilience. You learn to celebrate small victories and keep pressing forward on the days that feel slow. Most of all, you learn to see your creativity as an act of worship—an offering back to the One who gave you the gift.

At the end of the day, I can say with full confidence: I love what I do. I love the mess, the beauty, the waiting, the sharing. I love the moments when inspiration strikes and the times I have to wrestle through dry spells. It’s all part of the process, and it’s all part of me. And I love knowing that in every brushstroke and sketch line, I’m walking in the purpose He gave me. That is what we are to do here—use our gifts, however small or large, to reflect His glory in the world.

XO, Marie

A Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of creativity. Thank You for filling my heart with color, imagination, and joy, and for allowing me to live out the calling You’ve placed on my life. I ask that You bless the work of my hands, guide my heart when doubt creeps in, and provide what is needed for each new day. May every brushstroke, sketch, and design reflect a piece of Your beauty in this world. And may those who see my work feel Your peace, love, and light shining through it. Amen.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” — Ephesians 2:10

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10

“whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” — Colossians 3:17

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” — Proverbs 16:3
XO, Marie