I remember seeing this quote on Twitter back before it changed ownership. I can’t for the life of me figure out if they coined the phrase or if they were quoting someone else, but nonetheless it sticks with me to this day.

Everybody’s an artist until rent is due. Is there anything more inherently human than the desire to create?

As an artist with a full-time job, I can’t help but wonder what I could do with 40 extra hours per week. How much could I learn? How quickly would I improve? If I could put even half of the energy I put into my job, could I even make a living as an artist?

I can’t help but mourn the artists we’ll never get a chance to admire because they don’t have the privilege of getting to choose between making art and working to afford their basic needs.