5 answers
Lanie
Student
Enterprise, OR
1
Question
Asked
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What careers involve art?
I love art, and has always imagined my life in a field of art, but as I have grown older, I have learned there is no money in it and it is unsustainable. Does anyone know about careers in art that make a livable wage?
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5 answers
Stephen Ramirtha
People Manager
18
Answers
Scottsdale, Arizona
Updated
Stephen’s Answer
Hey Lanie,
While not an artist myself, I have a few artist coworkers that currently work at our company. Usually, they'll do things like logo and graphic designs for videos and other content. We also have a design coach who coaches our team on their visual work and grades their work through our quality assurance program. While it's not a direct "painter" job, in both roles they apply their art skills to help the advertising and marketing department of the company out.
Looking for roles in the advertising and marketing side of things might be a good way to use your art skills in a job that has a livable wage. And then on the side, you can sell your own work (that's what our design coach does!)
While not an artist myself, I have a few artist coworkers that currently work at our company. Usually, they'll do things like logo and graphic designs for videos and other content. We also have a design coach who coaches our team on their visual work and grades their work through our quality assurance program. While it's not a direct "painter" job, in both roles they apply their art skills to help the advertising and marketing department of the company out.
Looking for roles in the advertising and marketing side of things might be a good way to use your art skills in a job that has a livable wage. And then on the side, you can sell your own work (that's what our design coach does!)
Ellen Rosenthal
Retired Art Teacher
239
Answers
Woodbridge, Virginia
Updated
Ellen’s Answer
Hi Lanie
Ooh, someone has given you some wrong information. There are plenty of art careers that are sustainable, and that can provide a comfortable lifestyle.
Unfortunately, when most people think about a career in art, all they see is a starving artist, painter, sculptor, or printmaker, eking out a sad existence in a grim tiny studio. Ouch! Nope, that is not the only possibility. While some artists do make a living as a fine artist, many many more artists make a living as: graphic designers, interior designers, product designers, fashion designers, illustrators, photographers, architects, museum workers, gallery owners, set designers for movies, theater and TV, and so on. Just look around the house you live in...the furniture, the clothing you wear, the dishes in your cupboard, the car in the garage, the catalogs on your coffee table, the logos on the bills that come in the mail, the websites on your computer, the shape of your cell phone..... the look of all these things was designed by artists/designers. If you go shopping, you are seeing the work of interior and furniture and textile designers; if you go to a museum you are seeing the work of curators, conservators, and exhibit designers, when you drive around your town or city and look at the buildings, you are seeing the work of architects. I could go on and on.
For example, Graphic Design provides lots of opportunities; anywhere you see words and images, such as on, or in websites, shopping mall signs, magazines, billboards, toothpaste tubes, books, catalogs, and so on, there is an artist, a graphic designer, involved. Sometimes there is also an illustrator or photographer. These artists work for companies or for themselves (as freelancers) and they can make solid livings. It is a competitive field, where you will need to get an art degree in graphic design, be prepared to work hard, and produce a high quality personal art portfolio, but the rewards, financial and personal, are there. My sister in law was a graphic designer for a utility company, and she had a great career and loved her job (she just retired after 25+ years with her company). I had a tenant who was a graphic designer for a government agency, and he made over 100K a year. Even though the majority of computer graphic designers may not make THAT kind of money, especially at the beginning, the average is still pretty good as you go on and gain experience.
Another example is art education, at the elementary, secondary, or college level. I was an art teacher in middle school, and I loved my job. I had a comfortable lifestyle, and I had the summers off. During the school year, I got to talk about art every day and inspire the next generation of artists. I'm now retired, with a pension, and it is great to now have the time to spend on my own artwork.
So, yes you can make a living through art careers. I hope this has given you some ideas. I suggest you take stock of your general interests, your art interests and skills, and do some research online or at the library. If your high school or local library have some sort of career center, go there for some ideas. Talk to you art teachers, and see what they have to say about art careers.
Hope this helps! Best wishes.
Ooh, someone has given you some wrong information. There are plenty of art careers that are sustainable, and that can provide a comfortable lifestyle.
Unfortunately, when most people think about a career in art, all they see is a starving artist, painter, sculptor, or printmaker, eking out a sad existence in a grim tiny studio. Ouch! Nope, that is not the only possibility. While some artists do make a living as a fine artist, many many more artists make a living as: graphic designers, interior designers, product designers, fashion designers, illustrators, photographers, architects, museum workers, gallery owners, set designers for movies, theater and TV, and so on. Just look around the house you live in...the furniture, the clothing you wear, the dishes in your cupboard, the car in the garage, the catalogs on your coffee table, the logos on the bills that come in the mail, the websites on your computer, the shape of your cell phone..... the look of all these things was designed by artists/designers. If you go shopping, you are seeing the work of interior and furniture and textile designers; if you go to a museum you are seeing the work of curators, conservators, and exhibit designers, when you drive around your town or city and look at the buildings, you are seeing the work of architects. I could go on and on.
For example, Graphic Design provides lots of opportunities; anywhere you see words and images, such as on, or in websites, shopping mall signs, magazines, billboards, toothpaste tubes, books, catalogs, and so on, there is an artist, a graphic designer, involved. Sometimes there is also an illustrator or photographer. These artists work for companies or for themselves (as freelancers) and they can make solid livings. It is a competitive field, where you will need to get an art degree in graphic design, be prepared to work hard, and produce a high quality personal art portfolio, but the rewards, financial and personal, are there. My sister in law was a graphic designer for a utility company, and she had a great career and loved her job (she just retired after 25+ years with her company). I had a tenant who was a graphic designer for a government agency, and he made over 100K a year. Even though the majority of computer graphic designers may not make THAT kind of money, especially at the beginning, the average is still pretty good as you go on and gain experience.
Another example is art education, at the elementary, secondary, or college level. I was an art teacher in middle school, and I loved my job. I had a comfortable lifestyle, and I had the summers off. During the school year, I got to talk about art every day and inspire the next generation of artists. I'm now retired, with a pension, and it is great to now have the time to spend on my own artwork.
So, yes you can make a living through art careers. I hope this has given you some ideas. I suggest you take stock of your general interests, your art interests and skills, and do some research online or at the library. If your high school or local library have some sort of career center, go there for some ideas. Talk to you art teachers, and see what they have to say about art careers.
Hope this helps! Best wishes.
Elizabeth Lambert
Dentist Biology BS, DDS
55
Answers
Burton, Ohio
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
I have personally known people in the following fields:
High school art teacher:
This teaching students painting drawing sculpting etcetera
This person also creates art for clients and sells her paintings. She's very good and has a studio space in her home.
Art curator for a museum at a university:
This involved e firing of various specimens pieces that pertained to his particular area in the museum
Art therapist;
Helping clients as a psychologist or counselor who works through art
Interior design: involves design an decor in homes as well as selecting art for clients who desire this
High school art teacher:
This teaching students painting drawing sculpting etcetera
This person also creates art for clients and sells her paintings. She's very good and has a studio space in her home.
Art curator for a museum at a university:
This involved e firing of various specimens pieces that pertained to his particular area in the museum
Art therapist;
Helping clients as a psychologist or counselor who works through art
Interior design: involves design an decor in homes as well as selecting art for clients who desire this
Priya Mathew
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, Art Student
170
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Priya’s Answer
Hi Lanie,
I think the idea that there is no money in art is just that--an idea. I though my current job would be more sustainable than art but I am still struggling while starting out with the career I currently have! I think there are few jobs that people do not struggle in the first few years (at least I am learning that now!) There are a lot of avenues to take art--not just typically thought of studio art--and I think they have about the same prospects as any other job, especially in humanistic fields. I think everyone gave great examples of the diversity available! Only change your mind based on what you think--the world is very biased against art without really understanding how involved it is in the world! Good luck! (I am working on my art now as I work toward my current career too! You can do that as well :) take the time to learn what path you feel is right and go!)
I think the idea that there is no money in art is just that--an idea. I though my current job would be more sustainable than art but I am still struggling while starting out with the career I currently have! I think there are few jobs that people do not struggle in the first few years (at least I am learning that now!) There are a lot of avenues to take art--not just typically thought of studio art--and I think they have about the same prospects as any other job, especially in humanistic fields. I think everyone gave great examples of the diversity available! Only change your mind based on what you think--the world is very biased against art without really understanding how involved it is in the world! Good luck! (I am working on my art now as I work toward my current career too! You can do that as well :) take the time to learn what path you feel is right and go!)
Ester del Olmo
Project Manager
2
Answers
Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain
Updated
Ester’s Answer
I have many artist friends. It is not an easy life, but, who said it would be? I have friends who work in the following fields:
- illustration (newspapers, books, TV, websites, editorial, training)
- cinema (both in animation and live-features, set decoration, storyboarding, 3D animation, costume design)
- fashion (runway design, fashion design, shop design, window displays)
- magazines (together with desktop publishing, editorial design and illustration)
- industrial design (from a sports shoe to a car, everything is looks and design)
- live music shows (more and more often you will see all kinds of supporting graphics on stage at big and small venues)
- videogames (from character design, atmosphere, background graphics, worlds and story boarding)
- any company marketing department (all materials for publicity, fairs, TV ads, internal documentation, etc)
- agencies (they design for others, from any industry, logos, corporate imagery, ads, banners, merchandising, etc)
- education and training (graphics and materials for all levels of academic teaching and corporate training materials)
Also in the musical arena you can be an artist and compose, arrange and perform music for other musicians, tv & cinema, videogame industry and corporate videos and training materials.
I hope this is helpful.
- illustration (newspapers, books, TV, websites, editorial, training)
- cinema (both in animation and live-features, set decoration, storyboarding, 3D animation, costume design)
- fashion (runway design, fashion design, shop design, window displays)
- magazines (together with desktop publishing, editorial design and illustration)
- industrial design (from a sports shoe to a car, everything is looks and design)
- live music shows (more and more often you will see all kinds of supporting graphics on stage at big and small venues)
- videogames (from character design, atmosphere, background graphics, worlds and story boarding)
- any company marketing department (all materials for publicity, fairs, TV ads, internal documentation, etc)
- agencies (they design for others, from any industry, logos, corporate imagery, ads, banners, merchandising, etc)
- education and training (graphics and materials for all levels of academic teaching and corporate training materials)
Also in the musical arena you can be an artist and compose, arrange and perform music for other musicians, tv & cinema, videogame industry and corporate videos and training materials.
I hope this is helpful.