What is the day-to-day experience of person with a job in the art world?
I am looking into artistic careers and I'm curious to know and find out about some of my options. #career #jobs #art
3 answers
Vivian’s Answer
Hi Gabby,
Each day is different. Also, depending on your level in the field. When I was a junior designer, I did a lot more busy work, meaning sitting in front of the screen designing. Nowadays, it's more collaborative. I'm in a lot of meetings and running between building to building to meet people. I conceptualize and sit at my desk less now, which is great. Hope that helps!
Vivian
Thank you! It sounds interesting. (Especially the collaborative part) It did help in giving me insight!
Gabby
Yvonne’s Answer
1. **Visual Artist:**
- Visual artists usually devote their days to crafting artwork using their preferred medium, be it painting, sculpture, digital art, or others.
- They might also allocate time for promoting their work, keeping their portfolio up-to-date, and establishing connections with galleries or prospective buyers.
- Some artists balance their time between producing art and conducting art classes.
2. **Gallery Owner or Curator:**
- Gallery owners and curators oversee and curate art exhibitions.
- Their daily duties may consist of choosing and positioning artwork, liaising with artists, publicizing exhibitions, and engaging with art collectors and buyers.
- They frequently attend art events and openings.
3. **Art Dealer:**
- Art dealers engage in buying and selling artwork, which entails studying the art market, bargaining prices, and handling sales transactions.
- They might also collaborate closely with artists to promote their work and cultivate a clientele.
4. **Art Historian or Critic:**
- Art historians delve into and write about art history, analyzing and interpreting the historical and cultural relevance of artworks.
- Art critics evaluate exhibitions and artworks, providing insights and critiques in articles or publications.
5. **Art Educator:**
- Art educators, whether positioned in schools, museums, or community centers, impart art knowledge to students of diverse age groups.
- Their days consist of planning lessons, teaching students, and offering advice on artistic methods and concepts.
6. **Auction House Specialist:**
- Specialists at auction houses evaluate the worth and authenticity of artworks, assist in organizing auctions, and collaborate with clients to buy or sell art.
- They investigate and catalog artworks and may travel to inspect collections.
7. **Art Conservator or Restorer:**
- Conservators and restorers mend and preserve artworks, which often requires delicate and precise work.
- Their days can involve cleaning, fixing, and documenting artwork conditions.
8. **Art Administrator:**
- Art administrators operate behind the scenes, managing the logistical and administrative facets of art organizations, museums, or galleries.
- They manage budgets, scheduling, and coordination of events and exhibitions.
9. **Art Appraiser:**
- Art appraisers evaluate the worth of artworks, often for insurance, estate, or resale purposes.
- They carry out research, scrutinize artworks, and provide written appraisals.
It's crucial to remember that the art world is diverse, and roles can be incredibly specialized. Some professionals may adhere to more structured routines, while others, like artists, may have more flexible schedules. Networking, attending art events, and staying updated on art trends and developments are often essential components of the art world, irrespective of the specific role.
Steph’s Answer
Yes, I would agree that each job has different responsibilities, tasks, and expectations.
As a story artist, I am expected to do many rough sketches and drawings for film/animation/cinematics and work with a director and other story artists to visualize scripts and sequences. It's a lot of drawing and key framed animation, but mostly rough as our focus is to do 'dirty work' before a film is animated or shot (it's just easier for the director this way and saves time if we already know how a sequence will be laid out).
As a concept artist, your focus is visual development of characters, environments, and props. So your daily regiment would include iterations of the same character/prop/environment until one is agreed upon, then a set of color variations, and then a final paint over. Of course, this is all subject to change according to the project's needs and art director's decisions. But, unlike story, you are only working on one item at a time versus a sequence of events (at least this is how I do it).
So, you can see how varied and specific each job can be. The big question is...what do YOU want to be? If you're not sure, drawing what you like and/or going to school and working on different projects can expose you to different types of jobs in the creative field. There is no right or wrong answer, it just has to be right for you :)