u/cat_gloves

I've been a professional artist and graphic designer for 14 years. I've done illustration, animation, branding, marketing, web design, UI design and front end web dev. I've had the highs of earning six-figures, working for AAA global brands, and I've had the brutal lows of freelancing and living off of little jobs here and there.

The last 10 months have been awful: after getting clipped in August of 2025 from my last full-time contract, I have been fully unemployed with almost no cashflow, and no contract or full-time bites despite consistent applications. The market feels completely cursed and dead right now, and I'm starting to seriously question if I can keep doing this.

More than the job hunt itself, the cumulative toll this career has taken on me has been significant. My mental health, sleep schedule, work ethic, boundaries, sense of self-worth, my ability to trust people, and even my personal relationship with making art have all taken major hits. What used to feel like a core part of who I am now often feels like a source of anxiety, imposter syndrome, and exhaustion. I've also dealt with exploitation and mistreatment along the way — situations where I felt taken advantage of or outright harmed, but didn't have the energy or resources to fight back.

There have been a few bright spots in my career, and there were moments where I felt like I had achieved the stereotypical 'dream'. But if I'm being honest, the majority of my career has been very, very painful, with lots of struggle and suffering mixed in. I just feel wrung out.

I'm at a point where I'm genuinely considering walking away from art as a career path. Not as a temporary break, but as a real pivot toward something more consistent and stable. At the same time, I'm scared of regret — what if I walk away and later wish I had stuck it out? Or what if the "stable" path ends up feeling just as empty?

For those of you who've been in (or are in) a similar spot:

• Have you seriously considered or actually walked away from professional art?
• What helped you make (or not make) that decision?
• Any regrets, or feelings of relief, you didn't expect?
• How did you handle the identity shift?

I'm not looking for toxic positivity or "just keep grinding" advice. I'd really value honest, grounded perspectives from people who've been through it.

I’ve (36F) been working professionally in art and design for 14 years. I’ve had the highs (six-figure years) working for AAA brands, and the lows of freelancing, but for the last 10 months I have been fully unemployed with almost no contract or full-time opportunities despite consistent applications. The market feels completely dead right now, and I’m starting to seriously question whether I can keep doing this.

Beyond the job hunt, the long-term toll on myself has been significant. I’ve also dealt with exploitation and mistreatment along the way — situations where I felt taken advantage of or harmed, but didn’t have the energy or resources to push back. I just feel wrung out.

I’m at the point where I’m genuinely considering walking away from art as a career, not as a temporary break but as a real pivot toward something more stable. At the same time, I’m scared — What if I walk away and later wish I’d stuck it out? Or what if the “stable” path ends up feeling just as draining?

For those who’ve been in (or are in) a similar place:
- Have you seriously considered or actually walked away from professional art?
- What helped you make (or not make) that decision?
- Any unexpected regrets or relief?
- How did you handle the identity shift afterward?

I’m not looking for toxic positivity or “just keep pushing” advice. I’d really value honest, grounded perspectives from people who’ve been through it.