What are the pros and cons of being an artist?

Making art is my passion. It is something I not only want to do, but something I have to do. The creative bug is alive and well inside me and I get nothing but joy when creating something from nothing. Therefore know there are ways to be an artist while not necessarily making a living from your efforts. I am now retired and working on having an art practice which will consume most of my time. Prior to retirement I worked in industry and manufacturing. That left evenings and weekends to do my art when I was not spending valuable time with my family. I give this as a little background leading up to the pros and cons from my perspective.

The pros begin with being able to create anything you want from your ideas and processes. Meeting other artists and learning from them is another big benefit. Going to art galleries and exhibitions to see what is current is very stimulating. Having your work shown in a gallery setting gets your adrenaline flowing, and being able to talk about your work with different viewers is exciting. Being your own boss, making your own decisions, and experiencing the people involved in your passion makes being an artist wonderful and fulfilling. There are numerous activities and opportunities for artists that help lead you to success. The internet is a great asset in today's world for artists looking for supplies, show competitions, jobs for those with an art background, and experiencing other artists websites.

The cons can be personal and hard to digest. I don't believe any career experiences rejection like that of an artist. You have to believe in your work. You have to be willing to stand up for your creativity and ideas because success requires it. As you pursue galleries to exhibit your work, you have to realize that rejection happens often. Be prepared for there are many galleries throughout the country and world that can be approached, and perseverance breeds success. Having a studio and purchasing art supplies can be expensive. Also preparing pictures of your work to present to galleries takes a lot of time and effort. It is a lot easier in today's digital age, but none the less takes time from the creating. For the most part you are on your own, unless you are close to other artists and can interact and discuss your work with them.

The pros far outweigh the cons in my opinion. Success is in the mind of the artist. Work hard and believe in yourself.

It's good to see that you're analyzing your career options in this way. Having a good understanding of your options is a great way to plan ahead.

This speech by Neil Gaiman is one that I often reference when people ask me about a career in the arts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plWexCID-kA

While he's a writer, many of his points are valid for any type of creative career.

A career in the arts can be a lot of fun. It is also a lot of hard work and you often have to deal with many critiques of your work. So having thick skin and being able to take criticism is a must have. Art may be really rewarding as well. Knowing that hundreds, thousands or even millions of people look at your work and enjoy it or get some kind of emotional response to it is really an amazing feeling. The hours may be long, but if you're really passionate about it then the long hours aren't so bad. I enjoy what I do; being able to draw and be creative for a living so I often find myself working late and on weekends pursuing creative and artist endeavors.

The primary cons are that it is a difficult industry to get in to and to be successful. You'll probably start out not making very much money or not working on exactly the project that you've hoped for your whole life. Just like in life, in art there are no guarantees. There have been many fine artists who were not appreciated in their time and only found acclaim posthumously.

That being said, if you've got solid technique and a good work ethic, you can do very well in the art industry. It will often be a difficult path, but it can be very rewarding as well.

I hope this helped.

Pros: You'll be your own boss, meaning all visionary work, all planning and all decision-making is yours... Well, this might also be a con, depending on your skills and personality. Then find an agent or partner.
- It's lifelong learning, which is fun.
- And you can work with things you actually want to do... most of the time.

Cons: It is at times a lonely work. Which I found hard efter years of working in creative groups... unless you get into an artist collective or shared studios, and can have similar social interactions as at a workplace. Getting paid for doing exactly what you want to do all the time is tricky.. and not often happening.

The multiple-skill-set expected of an artist today is not something I see in many sensitive and talented artists... the so-called "art-industry" see art as a product. This vary in different countries and cultures!
In xx a poet or artist still can have the front page of a paper very often and creativity & original thinking is highly regarded. Other places you need to kick a ball for that attention ;-D

Many of my mates from art-school who have a good career in art, also have a second job. For founding... but also gives that people-fix most people need.

That is a great question! I was a fine arts major until a teacher told me about graphic design, so I switched my major. Graphic design combines my interest and talent in art as well as gave me a good career and earnings.
A fine artist is a noble and necessary pursuit but unfortunately it is hard to make a living, and it is a lonely pursuit. You can still have a design career, and create art on your personal time off.
Good luck!

I graduated Pennsylvania College of Art and Design last year, during and now I have stepped into the business scene of being an Artist. Pro: depending on the career path you take in the Art field, Graphic Design, Illustration, Fine Art, Photography, Even the more digital art careers-you are almost always your own boss, your clients find you, or you can work for a company that will give you more stability and the clients are more consistent. Pro as an artist what you like to do-you do, your always learning. Con you may have to go into something different for a while to support your need for material, media etc. As an example, I call myself a portrait artist, but I enjoy using color, and I explore many different forms of art and subject matter. The con for me is finding the client/costumer who wants an original piece of work made by me or wants to request something from me. I'm still learning, Art is about doing what you love, meeting people and finding like minds to continue on.