What does it really take to leave behind a successful corporate career and become a full-time artist in Paris?
In this episode of La Vie Creative, I sat down with painter and illustrator Rebecca McKay to discuss creativity, courage, artistic identity, and what it’s actually like to build a career as a professional artist in France.
Rebecca’s journey took her from Massachusetts to New York, Seattle, San Francisco, and eventually Paris, where she now works from her own studio creating large-scale abstract paintings inspired by emotion, movement, memory, and place.
Following a Childhood Dream
Unlike many creatives who discover their passion later in life, Rebecca knew she wanted to be an artist from the age of five.
She still laughs about childhood videos where she proudly announced she wanted to be an “artist”—or as she pronounced it then, an “outist.”
Despite that early certainty, the path wasn’t always straightforward.
Like many artists, Rebecca wrestled with practical concerns about making a living. She shifted from painting to illustration during university, earned a master’s degree in photography, and eventually found herself working in creative roles for major brands including Ralph Lauren.
Learning Creativity Through Corporate America
Many people assume corporate work stifles creativity, but Rebecca credits her early career for sharpening her artistic eye.
At Ralph Lauren Home, she worked alongside designers, architects, and creative directors, helping translate luxury showroom concepts into retail environments across multiple locations.
The experience taught her about storytelling, composition, interiors, and visual taste at a level she might never have developed otherwise.
Yet something was missing.
While she spent her days creating for others, she found herself with little energy left to make her own art.
“It felt like my creative soul was being used up,” she explained.
Burnout, Breakups, and Big Decisions
After launching her own production company and later working as an art director in San Francisco, Rebecca found herself at a crossroads.
A breakup. Career uncertainty. Burnout.
Life was forcing her to ask a difficult question:
What if she stopped building other people’s dreams and finally committed to her own?
In 2023, she made a bold decision. She applied for an artist residency in France and gave herself permission to focus entirely on her art.
That leap changed everything.
How France Supports Artists
One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation centered around France’s support for artists.
Rebecca lives in Paris on an artist talent visa, a pathway that allows creatives to establish residency by demonstrating professional artistic work and relationships within France.
While the paperwork can be intense, she believes France remains one of the few countries that actively values artists and recognizes the cultural importance of creative work.
As she puts it:
“Not a lot of countries say, ‘You’re a talented artist. We want you here.’ France makes that possible.”
Inside the Studio: Creativity Isn’t Always Linear
Forget the romantic image of artists painting effortlessly every day from 9 to 5.
Rebecca’s creative process is far more intuitive.
Some weeks she barely enters the studio.
Then suddenly a new collection arrives fully formed in her mind, and she’ll spend weeks immersed in creation.
A major part of her practice is experimentation and play.
She intentionally creates work that may never be exhibited or sold because removing pressure allows creativity to flourish.
“Once you start creating only to sell, you’re helping nobody,” she says.
Why Mistakes Matter
One of my favorite moments from our conversation came when Rebecca spoke about creativity and failure.
In a world obsessed with polished results, she believes the messy middle deserves more attention.
Every artist, inventor, writer, and entrepreneur experiences failure.
The difference is that most people only see the finished masterpiece.
Her advice?
Learn to make mistakes.
Learn to let go.
Learn to keep creating anyway.
“If it hasn’t been done before, how could you not make mistakes?” she asks.
The Reality of Being a Full-Time Artist
Many people imagine life as a professional artist in Paris as endless café mornings and afternoons spent painting by the Seine.
The reality is far less glamorous—and far more impressive.
Beyond creating art, Rebecca is also:
- Her own marketing team
- Her own finance department
- Her own shipping coordinator
- Her own social media manager
- Her own public relations team
Building a creative career requires far more than talent alone.
It demands resilience, organization, persistence, and a willingness to keep showing up even when things feel uncertain.
Taking Yourself Seriously
Throughout our conversation, one theme surfaced again and again:
Success often begins when you start taking yourself seriously.
Whether it was launching a dedicated art Instagram account, signing with her first art representative, or moving to Paris, Rebecca consistently chose to act like the artist she wanted to become.
And little by little, the world responded.
As she beautifully put it:
“When you take yourself seriously and keep showing up, other people take you seriously too.”
Final Thoughts
Rebecca’s story is a reminder that creative careers rarely follow a straight line.
Sometimes the corporate job teaches valuable skills.
Sometimes burnout points you toward your purpose.
Sometimes moving across the world becomes the catalyst for becoming who you were always meant to be.
Most importantly, creativity requires courage—the courage to begin before you’re ready, to make mistakes, and to trust that your path will reveal itself one step at a time.
Listen to the Full Episode
In this episode of La Vie Creative, Rebecca McKay shares her journey from corporate creative to full-time artist in Paris, her experience with France’s artist visa, her creative process, and the realities of building a successful artistic career abroad.
If you’ve ever dreamed of making creativity a bigger part of your life, this conversation is for you.
Learn more about her work here
