The Balancing Act of Art and Business
Making art and running a business aren’t supposed to feel the same, but in today’s world it feels like you can’t do one without thinking about the other.
As a creative, I often feel tugged in two directions: the part of me that wants to sink into making, and the part that knows invoices, emails, and spreadsheets are waiting. It’s not always glamorous, but ignoring the business side only makes it harder to protect the art.
What I’ve learned is that balance doesn’t mean perfect symmetry. Some weeks, business takes over. Other times, creativity flows and deadlines get pushed. The goal is not to pit them against each other, but to recognize that they feed one another. The structure of business creates space for art. The spirit of art gives meaning to the grind of business.
It’s a cycle I still wrestle with, but I’m learning that balance isn’t about splitting energy 50/50. It’s about knowing when to lean into one side, and when to pull back to the other.