When I say I'm an Artist, People automatically assume I'm extremely poor.

Well, they are right.. Right now. Because I'm still building up my businesses. I feel like with the new opportunities these days; Artists can be just as whether. As others.

But How?

Maybe art is just a hobby right now, Maybe your hoping that one day you'll catch a "break." All the sudden the money will flow in, You can quit your job and paint all day.
I thought that would happen to me. So I worked my job and continued building up my art skills... waiting for that day.

It never came..
The problem with people, Is they expect things to work like "magic." TO be fair, the news and such paints us a picture that success works that way.
"19 Year old makes five figures..."
"People in their twenties start massive business etc."
It makes us feel like failures sometimes.
We crave that same level of success.

Yeah, I can't deny it SOME people get incredibly lucky.
But you can make yourself LUCKY too.

Keep your eyes open for opportunities

When I was stuck at my job. I was hoping one day to become an artist. I was doing everything that seemed right. Going to college, While building up my art skills.
One day my coworker shared an article about Adult Coloring on her Facebook.
I remember almost having a heart attack when I saw it.
Oh my gosh. I could make a coloring book!
I immediately started drawing every chance I got. Before work, I'd draw pages in my coloring book. After work, I'd draw.
After a lot of hard work learning formatting and such. I had my first coloring book...
I'm so proud of it... To this day.

Animal Forest
I was in tears when people bought it. Someone is buying my art! SOMEONE WANTS TO COLOR MY ART!!!
No, I didn't sell a million copies, I did make around 1,000 off this one. And it motivated me to publish more. Some of my coloring books totally failed, Because I honestly rushed them. But this gave me the confidence to do something I never imagined I would do. I became a published Illustrator.
I eventually was able to quit my job.. But as my sales started to dry from coloring books. I had to move to another thing, WHILE CONTINUING MY COLORING BOOK PRODUCTION.
That's Merchandise.

Part of being a successful artist is adapting.

Before all of this, I tried to get my name out there. I entered in every art show I could. I painted and drew until I was passing out from exhaustion. It didn't work.
I couldn't seem to get "noticed."
I even tried to sell my original pieces on Etsy and Ebay, NO such luck.
Being an artist seemed like a dead end path.
But what I wasn't looking at, was WHAT are people buying?
If people become obsessed with posters.
You should consider making posters!
If people want new rugs... Make new rugs.

Find A Niche

I'm not saying you'll be automatically successful if you do whats trending. But also finding the right niche is important too.
One of the biggest mistakes I made with coloring books, Was I did coloring books all over the place. Mandalas, Animals, Swear words. I didn't stick with one niche. Which I am now geared towards a niche, And I'm about to start publishing my newer books.

Learn Business Skills

If your goal is to just be a freelancer. And do art for other businesses. You may not need as many business skills. But if your goal is to build your own art business and make that extra money. You'll need business skills.
I read all kinds of books to help change the way I thought about the world. Here are just SOME OF THEM.
Choose yourself By James Altucher
The Choose Yourself Guide To Wealth
Books by Steve Scott.. A read a lot of them. He has so many; I'll just put his author page LOL.
The Idea Machine
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth

This hardly makes a dent in what I read that year. I probably read over 100 books. I would sometimes read 2 books a day. And I was spending a TON of money on Kindle books. haha. It was worth every penny, and I started to see that I could have a life that I never even imagined possible.

It's important to keep exploring and keep learning. These days our computers have given us a massive advantage in getting what we want out of life. Use the tools that you can find!

Thank you @elyaque for the awesome Badges!