21+ Pros and Cons of Being an Artist (Explained)

An artist is a person who is engaged in an activity that is related to practicing the art, creating art, or demonstrating an art.

For example painting, drawing, dancing, sculpture, writing, music, photography, and many more, all are included in the term ‘art’. Sometimes a mathematician or a scientist can be also called an artist.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Being an Artist

Advantages of being an artist	Disadvantages of being an artist
being an artist is not that stressful	1. Average artists even need a second side income to pay their bills
Being an artist can be a passion	2. You may have a difficult time as an artist
Artist mostly works indoors	3. Being an artist it is hard to earn money during economic downturns
Being an artist you can do work from home	4. Being an artist you may have problems getting loans or a mortgage
Artists have a high level of flexibility	5. It is hard for an artist to change his or her fields
Being an artist you can work anytime you want to	6. Many people fail as an artist
Artists can avoid hard physical work	7. Clients can be demanding

Advantages of Being an Artist

Being an artist is not that stressful

It is not that stressful as an artist, may you have a rather relaxed life. You will get enough time to finish your paintings or any staff related in this post of the artist. You can set realistic expectations for your clients from the very beginning so that they know how much time you will need to finish your work.

As an outcome, you can enjoy your work with much time and do not have to suffer from serious stress most of the time.

Being an artist can be a passion

Another advantage of being an artist is that your work may not feel like actual work to you.

It will feel like an artwork even if you did not get paid. It is one of the biggest advantages of being an artist, while on the other hand people have to do their job for money only and do not have other motivation that drives them ahead.

Artist mostly works indoors

It is also an advantage of being an artist that you can work indoors. While your friend or other people in different job posts have to work outdoors in their office in any climate.

For example, the construction workers have to work under the sky in cold or hot summers, while you on the other hand can sit at your home and do your job.

Being an artist you can do work from home

Another advantage is that you can do your artwork from your home. Especially if you are self-employed, you can avoid going to work and back every day.

This could save you lots of time and money, as you will not need any fuel or fare to travel and not even the journey time and also not get stuck in the traffic.

Artists have a high level of flexibility

Being an artist, you can enjoy a great level of flexibility. Especially if you are self-employed, you can make any decision of your own, you do not have to consider anyone else.

It depends on you when you will start your work. If you are an early bird then you can start your work in the early morning and if you are an owl, you can start your work rather late.

You will get enough flexibility about how your work schedule looks and you can make your free time out for yourself.

Being an artist you can work anytime you want to

As we discussed in the 5th point, you can work anytime you want to. If you do not feel good to work then easily you can stop your work and spend time with any other staff.

You may sometimes not feel motivated or inspired then you simply can take a few days off, there will be no one you have to take permission for.

On other hand in other jobs or businesses, they have to take the work [pressure or they have to take permission for taking leave. While you will get your freedom to work on your own time.

Artists can avoid hard physical work

While sometimes painting or drawing can be exhausting, it is not as physically demanding as construction workers or many other jobs out there.

Hence, other people have to work so hard out there and suffer some health issues, but you will have a comfortable life as an artist.

Disadvantages of Being an Artist

An average artist needs a side income to pay their bills

Some average artists need a second or side income for leaving. Especially if you are a person who lives in a costly region.

Your rent or bills may eat up too much compared to your income and you might have to start a side work for leaving. For this reason, artists get tired of his or her life.

You may have a difficult time as an artist

Being an artist, sometimes you will feel demotivated. Those feelings are quite common among artists. On those days you need a certain level of emotional stability to overcome those feelings. It may take days, weeks, or sometimes even months in this creative dessert.

Being an artist it is hard to earn money during economic downturns

Many artists, mostly the average ones, sometimes suffered from financial crises or economic downturns.

During this period many artists leave this work and start to do something else after being in a passionate job. A money crisis or economic downturn is something that will make you change your standard of living and your way of earning too.

Being an artist you may have problems getting loans or a mortgage

One of the disadvantages is that you as an artist may have problems getting loans from a bank.

As the bank will know your source of income as an artist is not that sufficient and for that reason, there will be a problem of getting loans from banks. The bank may not allow you a mortgage for buying a house.

It is hard for an artist to change his or her fields

It will also be hard for you as an artist to change your field after facing an economic crisis if you do not have any supplementary skills.

Moreover, you have to be stuck in this profession and have to work harder and harder for your leave.

Many people fail as an artist

Generally, a huge number of artists fail in their care for the money problem and decide to work for something else. They just search for any job. Hence, you should have a high motive to achieve your dream as an artist.

Clients can be demanding

It is also a problem that, as an artist, your customers can be quite demanding. It is for sure that if you are good at your work then many people will appreciate your work, but there are some who will surely find some disputes from your work and they will complain about it, and you may have to spend some extra time to satisfy them.