For part-time writers and artists

You’re never not a full time parent even if you don’t spend all your time with your children, then why are you not a full time artist if you don’t always do art?

Welcome to Follow Your Gut, a newsletter with poignant and reflective writing about the artist life and business from the perspective of a near decade long independent art career (with two young toddlers in tow).

Hi there!

Let’s talk about part-time creatives/artists.

Disclaimer; I don’t write these reflections for anyone to feel bad about themselves. Quite the opposite in fact.

I write these reflections and sort of criticism of the term “part-time”, as a way to hopefully empower you to embody your artistry as a full time identity.

What’s the deal with being part-time?

I think that part of the problem for artists when forced to put a value on their work, is to not recognize it as something wholesome regardless of whether one derives one’s full income from it or not.

Of course, I understand that the label of doing something “part-time” comes from economics. When we do something part-time it means that we generally don’t make a living from it. And in most cases have another job to fill the “other part”.

My problem is this;

To me, being an artist and creative is less of a work or money question and more of an identity question.

Like this;

I AM AN ARTIST. I AM A WRITER.

Whether I’m making art or not at a particular moment doesn’t make me less of an artist or writer.

Whether my bills get paid by my art or writing at a particular moment or not, doesn’t make me less of an artist or writer.

Just think about it…

All dear mothers (it tends to be mothers, but can of course be fathers too), who refer to themselves as part-time creatives while being home with children… Does this mean that you’re not a parent the time you work on your art, and that you’re not an artist the time you work on your home?

This is directly linked to the definition of what work is. And whether work only counts as work if there’s a monetary exchange involved.

For many it’s also a question of time.

If you don’t spend a majority of your time doing something, then it’s just a part time work/hobby/activity.

I’ll be frank with you:

I spend the majority of my time working ON my home as in being with my family and everything that is involved in that. But I pay my bills with my art and writing.

Does this make me a part time artist?

NO.

I’m a full time artist and writer, as well as a full time mother, as well as a full time of everything else that I’ve adopted as part of what makes me whole.

Why so many (probably everyone?) struggle with balance is perhaps more a question of trying to figure out the parts. Not just their respective percentages, but more so what the varying bits really are.

Parenthood, just like artistry, fluctuates constantly, which means more energy risk to go to waste trying to figure out what’s the part time stuff and what’s the main stuff.

I’ve personally stopped doing any such divisions. It’s a waste of energy for me. Because I can never not be myself. And I wouldn’t be myself if I don’t have all the parts with me at all times.

This makes me wonder…

What would happen if more people embodied a full time approach to all their parts, as opposed to dissecting themselves into part-time identities?

• Would it make it easier to charge for your art?

• Would it make it easier to stand up for your parenting choices?

• Would it make it easier to follow your gut?

What do you think?

Thank you for reading as always!

Elin, xx

Ps.