The world of being an artist has certainly changed. The term starving artist now only applies if your put zero effort into not being one. There are so many platforms to connect with the public at large, your creative audience and simply just family and friends that raising funds and getting support is rather easy. You just need the courage to (virtually) ask.
I recently opened a Buy Me a Coffee account to go along with my (various) Patreon accounts. With the power of crowd funding and the unlimited reach of the Internet, it is quite possible to get a little bit of money from a vast number of generous supporters and be well on your way to quitting your 9-to-5 grind and being a full-time creative artist. It doesn’t mean that the grind is over. In fact, you will have to grind even harder because that generous supporter (often a stranger) will want something for their $3 or $5 per month. Be prepared to post a combination of text, media, images, video and behind-the-scenes material to keep your followers (non-payers who need some convincing), supporters (one-off payers) and members (monthly payers) entertained and satisfied. What happens when someone loses interest? They close their wallet and leave. Tip: we don’t want them to leave.
It is easy to say, "I don't do art for the money; I do it for the love of art!” However, art for art’s sake does not pay the bills, buy the groceries, and fill the gas tank. This world runs on an exchange of work and money. You work for money. Your work gets you money. Important? Yes. Why? Because you need money to live. So, if you can “work” as an artist to get the money you need to live, isn’t that a very good thing?
I love being an artist. I don’t really care for the new age term Creative. But, to each his/her/their own. So, I will create my art using photography and writing, and I will kindly request assistance through my various monetary support platforms. A thousand nice people giving me $5 per month would be a very nice start.