The amount of fairly established artists over the past few months revealing they're having to step back from creative work and look for work in non-art fields instead is disheartening. A career path in skilled work where it was possible to at least make ends meet now feels less and less possible.

I took on a part time job in February after a couple of years of dwindling sales and commissions. Two days a week so still plenty of time to make art but there’s definitely been a tailing off in my creative output since. Ironically a load of commissions landed when I started the job…

It's insane to me that someone with your skill level and output can't do it full-time. I'm glad you've found something that works though, looking likely I'll have to make a similar move sooner rather than later.