There are lots of folks at Eyebeam, Fat Lab, and NycResistor who produce art for a living. Some are artists for hire, constantly living from project to project,

There are lots of folks at Eyebeam, Fat Lab, and NycResistor who produce art for a living. Some are artists for hire, constantly living from project to project, others work for agencies. I'd definitely look into those labs and possibly collaborate on projects to get a handle on the lifestyle that comes with being a creative programmer.