Working 9-5 (And Trying to Make a Creative Living)

Beth Evans

21/12/25

I work a 9-5 doing sales for a semi-large charity in Plymouth. It's not what I imagined doing with my life, but ironically when my tutor at university asked me what I would do when I left, I did say 'I'm not sure; I'll probably end up in sales'. So pals, be careful what you manifest.

Despite it not being initially on the plan, I enjoy it and I am good at it and I am in a position to leave things better than I find them. Sales isn't the most morally un-ambiguous career to stumble into, even in a charitable sector. It is essentially capitalism. I give myself side quests. I have my own rules, goals and priorities. For example, yes, I have sales targets. But, MY target is to get as many local, independent businesses involved, to make the spaces I work in - wherever that may be - a safe space for Queer people and a place where artists can find opportunities. To champion Artists. I love my job, as much as you can love a job, because I have decided that my job is to make positive change. I have a role that was assigned to me (sales) and I have the job I assigned myself (make positive change).

In many ways, this is our role as artists. We make something out of something that says something which is often a different something to the something you might imagine. That something is dependent on the context. We take an empty page, an empty gallery and we turn it into something else. Why not do the same with our jobs?

Finding silver linings is something I have always done and I found a big one the other month. My job is Business development and Sales. What are good skills to have as someone trying to make a living as an artist, selling their work and publishing books? Business Development and Sales. And, instead of paying to do a degree or evening course, I am getting paid to support a charity AND develop skills that support my passion creatively. I've learned a lot about the art of cold calling, about making connections and maintaining them. I've learned to see the value from both sides and sell it that way. And, the importance of communicating in all of the ways...visually, verbally, through text and in every other way you could imagine. It's my ambition to put together a talk about Business Development for artists. It's something I wish I had in school.

There are cons of course. Mainly the fact that a full-time job is full-time. And that doesn't leave much time for experimenting creatively. I have found that my practice has regressed back to what it was before I had gone to university. And, sometimes I feel like I am mourning parts of my practice. But, I take it as a challenge. Things change and being able to adapt your practice is important. There are loads of examples of artists making work in odd or un-ideal circumstances. Jean-Michel Basquiat was unhoused for a time. Frida Kahlo was bed-bound after an accident and made some of her most iconic portraits.

on the other hand, my need to shake up my art practice around the demands of my role means that I have found new aspects of my practice that I love. Aspects that previously I didn't prioritise. For example, this. The Anti Burnout Initiative. It matters to me, giving artists opportunities. Organising exhibitions and open calls. Half-Baked, the AUP Alumni show, running Collage Club. I am very lucky because I get to make art a part of my job. Not only creating promotional materials for events and such. But showcasing art in my events. Running art fairs as a way to drive income to the charity, yes, but also to create a chance for 30+ artists to make their own income and show off all their incredible talent, skills and ideas. I get to create the opportunities that I would've liked to participate in!

Here are my tips for still making a creative life whilst working a 9-5 job. (This is as much a reminder for me as it is anything else!)

1. Making bad art is still good. Some of the best work comes from experiments, cast offs or napkin doodles you didn't think much of at the time but can be returned to in detail when you have more time later on.

2. Limitation is an excellent tool for expansion - lean into it. Challenge yourself to make work using only your work tools, or bet yourself you can't make 5 drawings on your lunch break

3. Readymades. There are many more types of outcome that you can explore. Be cheeky with it. Take something out of context and call it a Readymade.

4. Do your best at your job but also do YOUR job and be an art guy. Do your thing when you can.

5. You are allowed to do things (art) for fun. Not everything needs to be serious or good or what people expect of you. If you don't have time to make what you normally make, make something else.

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If you have a similar of different opinion of working a job and being an artist, we want to hear it! Email befmakesart@gmail.com to get involved!