The Artist's Dilemma: Chasing Dreams or Pursuing Profit?

I want to be remembered as an artist, not as an art teacher.

Perhaps as an artist who inspired others to embark on a spiritual journey, but definitely not as an art teacher.

A while back, I undertook a personal development course, and one of the exercises prompted me to imagine the day of my own funeral. In this contemplation, I had to visualize what people would say about me during their final goodbyes.

To my surprise, I was taken aback. Firstly, I envisioned what I'd love for them to say, and then I dared to imagine what they would actually say if I had passed away on that very day.

The article summary:
Embracing The Inner Artist

I've made my choice: I want to be remembered as an artist, not an art teacher or a businessperson. In this personal journey, I envisioned my own funeral and discovered what true artistry means for me. And how far I was deviating from it.
Am I still on time to change direction?

If I'd left the world then, they would have said I was a person with an intense passion for art, someone who was striving to figure out how to earn a livelihood from it. My wife would have likely mentioned how I had tried every possible means to generate income related to art, except for trying to sell my artworks.

In all honesty, she would have been absolutely correct. As soon as I acknowledged my desire to become a professional artist, I became consumed with the quest to find income sources within the realm of art.

I even invested in a book titled 'From Artist to Entrepreneur,' filled with suggestions on how to generate an income through art. But here's the truth - anything that doesn't involve selling my paintings or taking commissions to support myself isn't being an artist. It's entrepreneurship, or perhaps even art teaching, which is entirely fine if that's your goal.

But, during my idealized funeral, no one would be singing the praises of my teaching or entrepreneurship skills. They'd describe me as a true artist.

Perhaps not a wealthy artist, not a wildly successful one, and perhaps not even the most technically skilled artist. But a true artist: one so profoundly devoted to their craft that they would choose to live a life of poverty and artistic obscurity over becoming something else.

And let me clarify – this isn't a call to be a poor and lonely artist!

What I mean is that the temptation to divert my energy toward building an art-related business was quite alluring. It would have brought financial security and moments of joy. In a few years, it could have even liberated me from the burdens of my demanding office job.

But, it would also have consumed most of my time and creativity, pulling me away from my true passion - creating art. Starting a business from scratch demands immense time and energy, especially when you have a family to support.

And you know what? That's not what I want.

I want to create art every day for the rest of my life. I've delayed it for far too many years, always waiting for the 'right moment,' hoping that other business ventures would someday make enough money, so that I could finally do what I truly love.

This time, I'm taking a radical step. I'm going to do something I've never done before: focus 100% on creating art and promoting it, even if it means enduring another decade in an office job.

Because if I were to leave this world tomorrow, I want to go knowing that I spent my last moments making art, not building a business around it.