I was wondering if there are any people here who work as artists and are aiming to work for example as musicians or painters professionally. What are the questions you struggle with the most when creating something?
I currently try to figure out some of those things and there are a lot of questions on my mind. Since the first occurence of psychosis in my life, a lot has changed. I had to realize that my connection to others is at times heavily influenced by changes in how I perceive myself and the world around me. I learned, that the process is different for me than for most people. (Of course it is different for everone, but I have to figure out a lot of things for myself)
I currently make drawings and create music, I studied animation and my aim is to work in this profession at some point.
I am interested in the communicative aspect that the process of creating art can have. Maybe you would like to share some of your experiences, even if you dont want to pursue it as a profession.
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Welcome to the forum 
I used to do photography professionally, mainly portraits and weddings. I have no difficulty with being creative, just getting paid for it.
I guess the struggling artist isn’t just a cliche 
there’s lots of artists here probably not many millionaires though.
Interesting post and welcome! I have had a thing for writing since college. Much of my creativity was tied to my experiences with my own mind and, in the end, that creative explosion culminated in mental illness.
I still write from time to time, and I’ve found that, while I don’t have the same levels of creativity with wordplay, I’m able to enjoy myself. I still write things that I’m proud of. My writing is probably more cohesive in a way.
As far as how I communicate my ideas - I generally write about things that matter to me. Since my mental struggles began, these things tend to be centered around an “underdog” or broken person looking for peace of mind. That’s where my username comes from! Catharsis 
It is nice to hear, that you like to write. I guess art can help accepting yourself. Sometimes for me it can be exhausting when I try to make things perfect, feeling that I have to make up for something I perceice as faulty or as you say broken. I would really love to see more schizophrenics perspectives on the world. As there is so much struggle with fitting in, creating own narrations would be so important, even though it is so hard to grasp many of the issues. Also cognitive issues can have a big impact, sadly. I havent been able to work for long times but when I am healthy I always wish to connect again and to start working.
A long time I was trying to directly or indirectly communicate, what was going on trough my art, even before my psychosis. It was a search for something relating to my experience in any way. But I didnt yet realize that art can be only half of the medal. Being in contact and relating to your friends and family is so important. In the end, I kind of stopped talking to others (would not have been able to) and my art became a last refuge, at the same time being part of the trigger of my first psychosis.
So I try to put my health first. Then getting myself out there without loosing touch to myself, for example by getting too absorbed by what i do.
Schizophrenia is so invisible in our societies, I can understand why, and it is also hard to change that, but I believe as experts of our own being in the world, we should express ourselves and dont accept the kind of black and white type of view, that leads to stigma and all that. In the end we are part of society, not just looking from the side line. Illness is a part of everybodies lifes.
I guess it is the loss of self, the erosion of connection between what one wants, thinks and feels, that makes it so hard to even imagine a role in art or society that might fit one as a person.
Tbh i wouldn’t count on it being your main sourse of income. Its very hard to be a successful artist and you have to be amazing and i mean AMAZING to succeed. Plus with ai coming in to fruition its a dying trade.
I did art in college. And you have to have degrees for it to be a proper job
I have a background in graphic design and illustration (I got a diploma in graphic design and knew how to make professional level illustrations by the age of 19). I found the industry extremely hard to make it in, because I was shy/quiet. I lasted about thirteen years, in varying capacities, before my schizophrenia interfered too much.
I should mention I lived at home for these years, because It was very hard to get consistent work that would pay for an apartment).
The SZ caused me to mess up jobs, and messing up at jobs made the SZ worse until I had to quit. These issues fed off each other, making me very sick. My self esteem was toast.
To make things worse, people who were bilingual were continually getting chosen over me. And, as soon as people found out I had SZ, many of them would play “payment delayment games” with me saying things like “Our records show that we paid that.” Or, “The check is in the mail.” One man asked me in an interview if my parents would throw me out if I didn’t get paid…he was checking to see if he could get away skipping paying me, as I later found out the hard way. 
Back in 2002, when I had a diploma in graphic design (and some courses in web design), and six years experience as a freelancer with pro level illustration skills, the most one design firm wanted to pay me was $12 an hour. I got that raised to $13 through negotiations. He also asked if I was the type of person to go backpacking across the Iraq getting inspiration from carpets (this was after 9/11). I said, “Not for $13 an hour. I always do my best, but I work to live, I don’t live to work.” 
Luckily, he was okay with this, and said, “Fair enough…”
So after I went on meds for SZ (in 2008?), I spent about sixteen years (I’m not quite sure of that number), making art as a hobby and posting once in a while on an art site (I had close to 3,000 followers).
Early this year (or maybe at the end of last year…it’s a depressive blur) I pulled my artwork off the internet when AI software companies started training their AI on people’s art without their permission or compensation. It’s disgusting that they’re using artists’ names in their search parameters so the non-artists can make something in same style as the artist of their choice. Totally vile. 
I’ve been struggling with depression all year, because I got a lot of praise on the site with the now closed account.
Art has become even more of a niche market thanks to AI (I must say, right now, AI can’t be copyrighted, I don’t think). As doesthislookUNSUREtoyou said, don’t make it your sole job…the industry is in chaos.
Sorry for the wall of text.
I’m on disability pension so I have the opportunity to only focus on my art. I am studying art at open university right now, but othervice I am pretty much self taught. I do identify myself as an artist.
I want to focus on recovering from schizophrenia with art. I think I would have a lot to say about this matter and I want to help others by sharing my story.
Not especially. Going to art school is more about making connections. Either your portfolio works or it doesn’t.
I dont think mine did tbh
I love doodling
I don’t think I will ever sell
I was considering it once
Then I realised I’m not built to sell.
But, I still love doodling.
I produce music. I’m half-professional, but I don’t make big amounts of money with it. I also design sounds for the other musicians and sell them via my net-shop (nice extra income to have).
I started producing stuff in the 1997. I play keys and 90% of my music has been played in with my midi-keyboard. My usual styles are electronic and all it’s subgenres, pop and hiphop/rap.
The production I make are created with Reason 12.
I make graphics too with Painshop Pro, design websites and I want to start making videos for to my music too. My wrebsite for my stuff is this: www.reflexion-x.com
Anyway, I aim to make a proper album right now, mostly electronic mixed with rap.
I do my best to get closer to the professional endresult. My studio has all of the gear and software I need. I just need to not rush things and I should do fine.
I tried to be a professional artist back in the first decade of the millenium…I found it very difficult to come up with original ideas for paintings, although I did paint quite a few paintings…I’m proud of it, but I gave up…now I sell prints of my work…you might try that.
I did quite well selling artwork cheaply. Not as a career but something I enjoyed that I could only charge people within their means. After a while I was able to request a bit more but that was because the paintings were highly desirable subjects and more complex works.
I found with music we made a little money playing in bars but it never amounted more than covering the price of the jamspace and our leased equipment or gas. I did it for the love of it but the little money you do get from something you enjoy is the best money you will spend or save. It feels so rewarding to get compensation for self taught skills.
Art may not always be possible as a profession, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be a calling.
I wanted to be a professional drum set player musician. Or at least play around bars or something and get paid.
While taking music classes at my local community college I was advised to just pursue it is a hobby and Pleasure in my life. He was a professional musician performed as a studio musician with such artists as Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz, and many Motown groups, in both jazz and studio music settings. He told me that it’s very hard financially To live and support others as a musician.