West Palm Beach artist says flexibility between commercial and personal work keeps his studio afloat

Craig McGinnis, a West Palm Beach artist, said in an interview with WPB TV that he supports his studio by alternating personal work with commercial assignments and accepting both private and public commissions.

The arrangement matters because it lets him earn income while remaining creative, he said, and it contributes to a growing local creative community in West Palm Beach.

McGinnis said flexibility is central to making a living as an artist: "You could be a professional artist. You just have to temper your expectations of what kind of life you're gonna have. I've got low overhead. I've got expectations that are reasonable, and that keeps me right where I need to be. And I think that that carries over no matter what the job is that we're talking about." He added that he alternates darker personal work with lighter pieces to stay diverse: "If I've been in one place, like, let's say I'm making some work that's darker, then I wanna go somewhere lighter after that."

He described taking both private and public commissions and pointed to examples of public work, saying he has completed "embellished picnic tables for the city of West Palm Beach." Reporter Cheryl Conn, who produced the segment for WPB TV, noted that McGinnis shares his studio space with his wife and his mother, both of whom are artists with different styles.

McGinnis encouraged other artists — particularly younger creators — to remain open to different types of work. "I've been able to make a living as an artist because I'm flexible enough to alternate my personal creations with more commercial assignments," he said. He also expressed enthusiasm about the creative community that has emerged in West Palm Beach and said he hopes it will continue to grow.

The profile is limited to McGinnis's account of his practice and local projects; no grant amounts, contract terms, or specific city procurement details were provided in the segment.