How Many HAMB ARTISTS make a Living with it?

Okay, I'm wondering how many of you artists on here actually make a living, as in your only source of income, from your art. I know some of you do and I would like to hear what you do to keep the faith.

I haven't had a job since 1978 and although it has been tough and I probably should have had a job many times, I would not trade the experiences, good and bad, for nothing else.

Although I'm NOT An Artist like most of you, I still love to see the Friday Art Show and experience what talented peole we have in this small but vital force in the rod and custom industry. And away we go...

Mikey do it
www.mikeyspinstriping.com
"does bad thangs to good cars"

 

You can make a living as an artist? Well, that changes everything!

 

i do. ive been tattooing for 26 years.
one day, ill get sick of it and get a real job, lol!

 

I started airbrushing cars on t-shirts in 1961, have painted maybe a hudred thousand shirts since....but I never ever had a job.

 

I've been in business since 1972 , and still at it !

 

Full time since '85. Sometimes my stand-up comedy pays the bills and rarely a rock band, but mostly it's been airbrush. (Stand-up vids on youtube under Chuck Carman.)

 

Own a a Graphic Design business for the past 10 yrs
Doing custom auto graphics and pinstriping and signs.

 

Full time since 82

 

I have always considered pinstriping a,"profitable hobby" even though it was essentially a second full time job for many years.I had to take a medical retirement at age 50(no one would hire someone who has had multiple back surgery)and it was then that I started doing it as a means of survival.
Fortunately my needs were modest and it kept my head above water and the wolves away from the door.
Officially retired 4 years ago and it has since turned into a full time job that makes me a pretty good living.Not a millionaire but never planned on being one anyway.I work an average of 3 days a week doing mostly repair work for body shops(I currently service about a dozen regulars)which is a very lucrative business.Occasionally do new cars(did 2 this week)and small sign work(truck doors,etc.)and motorcycles.
Life is good.

 

Tattoo artist for 10 years. Make a living enough to support the family and have a few nice things.

 

tattooing 15 years strong...www.ancientarttattoo.net

probably alot easier to sell this kind of art,but i still consider it art.

 

I've been an artist/industrial designer full time for the last 15 years.

 

been doing it for too many yrs to remember when i started full time, did lunati cams logo ,about 1966, do pistripping,glass ecthing, cartoon,lettering,ect.ARTWORK BY BLUEFOOT

 

Full time graphic designer/art director since 1956. I was 19 when I started.

 

Been livin off of pinstripes for 6 years now.

 

I'm a landscape designer. All I do is draw up plans for commercial and residential developments. Not only does that include doing the blueprints for the landscape layouts, but concept renderings, monuments, entrances, signs, and etc.

I also, do some freelance graphic designs and illustrations, although I don't advertise. My schooling (degree) was for illustration, but it has been pretty lucrative for me doing the landscape designing.

As a suppliment to that, I play in an oldtime stringband that plays early Piedmont blues, Ragtime, and early "Hillbilly" music, all predecessors to Bluegrass

 

I hope to one day do it for a living. For now it only suplimants my income. I needed the health insurrance for my family so I work for another. Keep on rockin it all!!!
The Theo has spoken.

 

I've been in the trade over 24 years, in my own business 20+ of those years. It has it's very good times and its bad times, I made a move from NY to I was hoping for an easier life in Charlotte, NC. In 3 years I lost everything, and limped back to NY. This is the worst it's ever been for me..... this economy, the cost of living in NY, it's just down right scary now. I would never trade it for anything else. My only regret was not doing it 20 years earlier. I specialized in vehicle work.... lettering, pinstriping, graphics, cartoons, glass etching. I worked in paint and vinyl. I did paint jobs if I was slow enough. I offered a lot and worked on everything from planes, tractor trailers to tool boxes and toys.

 

I've been independent since '04. Hope to keep at it! (No one can fire me at least) It's different every month, what keeps me going is looking back and knowing I've paid my bills every month so far, and having some faith that it will always come together somehow and working toward it! Freedom=uncertainty, yet the possibilities are wide open.

 

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Freedom=uncertainty, yet the possibilities are wide open.... "EXACTLY"

 

I admire those who can make a living at this. I need my day job to pay the bills and just paint ugly art for something to keep my mind occupied. I'd love to be able to paint everyday and make a living at it. . Sometimes I can't even give it away.

 

I've been doing this shit so fucking long I think I Airbrushed Christ's Loin cloth.............

 

Add me to the list.
www.metalworksdfw.com

 

I have some of your art in my garage... love 'em!

 

<b>Well Howdy Gang,

I believe the following would be applicable to this thread, mostly for So Cal Pinstripers but check it out anyway!

Right now I'm in the middle of planning my show themes and special interest activities for my 2010 events schedule!

I have (8) weekend events (Sat & Sunday) for a total of 16 event days and 8 one day events (Sat) for a Grand Total of 24 event dates!

I am looking to hold some panel jams during the season and was wondering if anyone would be willing to help in organizing them.

What we need to do is to get on other Pinstriper networks and send out bulletins, messages, e-mails etc. to figure out which dates would be best for everyone by popular vote or poll etc.

So far all the dates are open and can be viewed at http://www.moldyshows.com

One Panel Jam date that is a for sure thing is going to be the Kustom Kulture Extravaganza which will be held on July 24th in Altadena, CA

Even if you are not interested in helping with these events, please let me know if you are interested in participating in a panel jam or two and we will keep everyone posted! The best way to do this would be to e-mail me off of the contact page of the MoldyShows web site, that way I can put you in a dedicated e-mail list for up dates! At the same time once we know what we are doing we could start a thread specifically for the jams here on the H.A.M.B. like this one http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428543

Well there you have it....

Thanx Big time,

tha Moldy one

 

i paint and do art work 8-12 hours aday and love it and i'm the boss

 

The Shroud of Turin? You did that? I've been trying to fakeout carbon14 dating for years with simulated patina. lol - I was a golf course artist (no, really) for years, until 2008. Golf courses are pure financing and the money stopped completely. Sitting on 5 incomplete courses. Yikes. Thought I'd learn about doing car art. Double yikes! The competition is amazing. Visit Motorburg.com sometime, see what I mean. Triple yikes ...

 

How to make a million dollars as a artist...start with 3 million.

 

"Carpet bombing squaresville since 1950" Take the money and run. acme graphix

 

I'm a Graphic Designer. Been doing it since '07