Q

So, you want to be an artist? Darren O'Donnell has a reality check.

Darren O'Donnell often thinks his friends in other fields do more interesting work.

Darren O'Donnell knows what it means to do artistic work full-time. He's a playwright, performance artist and director of the Toronto-based company, Mammalian Diving Reflex -- but if you're picturing him at a typewriter by the lake, think again. 

O'Donnell joins guest host Gill Deacon to describe a typical day in the life of the 21st century artist -- which he says mostly consists of checking email, applying for grants and otherwise managing one's career. 
He shares why he's encouraging outsiders, especially aspiring artists, to remember that there are many paths to interesting work, and that professional artists do not hold a monopoly on creativity. 
 
Click here or on the listen button above to hear the full segment (audio runs 0:16:14). 
Full-time artist Darren O'Donnell says your day job may be more creative than his. (Fabiola Carletti/CBC)

Last month, O'Donnell hosted an event called, "Being An Artist is Alright. Some Other Jobs Are Alrighter," inspired by strong reaction to his Facebook posts about the image vs. reality of being an artist. Read them below.