The Day Job vs. Earning a Living with Art

During the day I have a different job.  It's the job that pays the bills because my art does not right now. Many of my coworkers really enjoy their jobs.  They express how much they appreciate being in this line of work.  Many people outside of this line of work or those who have retired from this line of work also are positive about it. Since I consider it my day job and not my career I feel a little fake when I hear how committed others are to it. I try to do a good job but I'm also just there to earn a dollar.

In the afternoons I come home and create my work as an artist.  At home there is cooking and cleaning to do.  Sometimes I need to go to the store or do other things.  But I try my best to put in my time with painting.  When I think about the possibility of making art for a living instead of working at my day job I'm motivated to work as hard as I can.
Recently, I met some artists in galleries around this area and found that they first retired from other jobs before creating art full time. I really don't want to resign myself to being someone who waits until I retire to create art.  1. Putting off the creative process is not acceptable. How can I consciously tell my creativity to dry and and blow away for the time being and then expect it to just be there waiting for me 30 or 40 years from now? 2. Art is my career. 3. I don't expect retirement  to be a plausible option for most people when I am 60 or 70.  I am a pessimist and I don't see America being able to sustain things like social security.

I recently bought the book "Artists and Graphic Designers Market".  I have been trying to think about how to earn a living with my art. It's hard to know who to ask when I have questions about how to earn a living with art. It's also difficult to sift through which information on the subject of selling art I should be concerned with.  I'm not sure which information is more important and which is less important.  What I can say is this, I'm working towards the goal of being a full time artist rather than a part time one.

When I go out to beautiful scenic locations I try to take photos I may be able to use for paintings. 

Sometimes I have the opportunity to paint on site.

I sometimes make a watercolor sketch before I make a final oil painting.  It helps me to work through the composition, colors and details before creating the final painting. 

I try to apply to put my work in art shows. 

If I get my work in to a show I prepare it for hanging.  This painting has been framed and I have attached a wire to the back for hanging.