A decade in art

Tanya Combrinck speaks to artists about how their careers have changed over the last 10 years and what they've learned

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A lot can happen over the course of 10 years. Unexpected opportunities can take you in a new direction that you'd never thought of, or personal circumstances can put constraints on your life. Sometimes your dreams don't seem so appealing when you get close to them, and it turns out that something entirely different is the right fit for you.

This month we asked artists what their goals were 10 years ago, how things turned out, and what they would say to their younger selves.

What's clear is that everyone's journey is different - there's no typical path, and you never know when a new discovery will change everything.

A decade ago, German concept artist Johanna Rupprecht thought her path into the art world would start with full-time employment. She aimed to earn some money by freelancing while building up her art skills, and eventually get an in-house job in games or animation.

"What I didn't expect at all was how fast my freelance career took off. I managed to make a full-time income from it," she says. Getting an in-house role wasn't necessary after all, and she has spent the last decade freelancing - even turning down job offers that have come her way.

CHANGING COURSE

"Realising that there are multiple viable paths to make a living was very valuable to me," she says. "There are many ways to earn money as an artist: from regular employment or freelance, to being a content creator, selling merchandise, or a hybrid of multiple income streams. It's good to be open-minded about changing tracks and expectations when new opportunities arise." Johanna's experience has taught her the importance of cultivating a savvy business mindset.