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Interesting topic Pat, thanks for bringing it up as I find myself in the same boat as you - on one hand resenting my job because it takes so much away from my art, but on the other hand appreciating it immensly because it is such reliable income.
Right now I am burning the candle at both ends working a 40 hour week plus a 90 minute commute each way (thank goodness I have no snow to shovel). I work in the studio until 2am and then get up at 5am and have a hard time staying awake on the drive each way. I get a second wind around 9pm and am wide awake - can't sleep if I tried. Saturday's I always sleep like a log until 10am and am mad that I wasted half the day already. Such is the life of trying to have two careers instead of a career and a nice hobby.
I am torn because at this point, I probably have enough work lined up to quit my day job and sculpt full time - but that is such a scary step.
My husband works too, but we are not sure how much longer that will be because, unfortunately, he suffers from Parkinson's which also adds large medical expenses to our budget. Until recently, my art career has never even been profitable, so I'll try to do both for as long as I can and play it by ear until it is clear that I can make a dependable income from it.
Anyway, it is interesting reading how others of you have dealt with the dilema of when to take the plunge and go full time. I think it is a slow process getting there, but if persistant and willing to put in long hours, it will happen eventually.
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