4 answers
Mary Shelton
Student
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
1
Question
Asked
592 views
How do I get the best of both worlds?
How do I follow a career involving art, yet still pays well? All of the occupations considering art that I have found have a low pay-grade. I want to be able to do art for my job, but I also don't want to have to worry about a low income. Are there any art-related jobs that pay well?
Login to comment
4 answers
Joe Ortiz
Illustrator/Artist
2
Answers
Show Low, Arizona
Updated
Joe’s Answer
It all depends what kind of art you want to do.
Illustration?
Graphic Design?
Painting?
Etc......
A "low" income depends on perspective, where you live, and what your standard vs cost of living is.
A place like Los Angeles has an extremely high cost of living, but there are other places where cost of living is much lower. LA and NY, for example, have a lot of art related jobs, and also are saturated with people wanting those jobs. A place like Signal Mountain may not have many art opportunities, but a much lower cost of living-and you may be more valuable to a business there.
I think the focus should be on developing your style and making your art stand out. This can only happen by constant practice and dedication to excellence.
You will likely have to do something else as a job at first, and do your art too. Maybe you can combine them, in a way: like working doing graphic design during the day, and on your own art in the evening. But be careful not to burn out from the same thing all day! Working on computer all day creating graphic design and then coming home to work on animation on a computer can burn you out. Sometimes its better to have a job that has nothing to do with your art. But again: it depends on what kind of art you want to do.
Also, focus on art before the money. If you create with money as the main focus, you will loose your uniqueness and create based on what "sells" instead of creativity.
It's a struggle at the beginning. You have to build your style and perfect your technique before you can expect to make a good income. But its the same with anything: being a doctor, a baseball player, a musician, an accountant... it all takes time and dedication.
Just place discipline and dedication over emotion.
Illustration?
Graphic Design?
Painting?
Etc......
A "low" income depends on perspective, where you live, and what your standard vs cost of living is.
A place like Los Angeles has an extremely high cost of living, but there are other places where cost of living is much lower. LA and NY, for example, have a lot of art related jobs, and also are saturated with people wanting those jobs. A place like Signal Mountain may not have many art opportunities, but a much lower cost of living-and you may be more valuable to a business there.
I think the focus should be on developing your style and making your art stand out. This can only happen by constant practice and dedication to excellence.
You will likely have to do something else as a job at first, and do your art too. Maybe you can combine them, in a way: like working doing graphic design during the day, and on your own art in the evening. But be careful not to burn out from the same thing all day! Working on computer all day creating graphic design and then coming home to work on animation on a computer can burn you out. Sometimes its better to have a job that has nothing to do with your art. But again: it depends on what kind of art you want to do.
Also, focus on art before the money. If you create with money as the main focus, you will loose your uniqueness and create based on what "sells" instead of creativity.
It's a struggle at the beginning. You have to build your style and perfect your technique before you can expect to make a good income. But its the same with anything: being a doctor, a baseball player, a musician, an accountant... it all takes time and dedication.
Just place discipline and dedication over emotion.
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Shania
Jazhel Honrado
Academic Svcs Administrator
37
Answers
Updated
Jazhel’s Answer
Hi Mary,
You don’t have to focus solely on making art as your primary source of income. You can work for an art museum and still be involved in the art world and get paid. The high paying positions, however, do require education and experience and depends on the location, funding, and size of the museum. I’ve included a link below for the Bureau of Labor Statistics that has information on jobs in this field.
I think that with this type of job, you are surrounding yourself with art which can be inspiring while you continue to make your own art pieces. It will also increase your network which will be helpful when you are ready to showcase your pieces or have your own art show.
I hope this has been helpful. Best of luck!
Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/curators-museum-technicians-and-conservators.htm#
You don’t have to focus solely on making art as your primary source of income. You can work for an art museum and still be involved in the art world and get paid. The high paying positions, however, do require education and experience and depends on the location, funding, and size of the museum. I’ve included a link below for the Bureau of Labor Statistics that has information on jobs in this field.
I think that with this type of job, you are surrounding yourself with art which can be inspiring while you continue to make your own art pieces. It will also increase your network which will be helpful when you are ready to showcase your pieces or have your own art show.
I hope this has been helpful. Best of luck!
Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/curators-museum-technicians-and-conservators.htm#
Ellen Rosenthal
Retired Art Teacher
239
Answers
Woodbridge, Virginia
Updated
Ellen’s Answer
Hi Mary
Good question, one that many people with an interest in art wonder about. Can I make a living while indulging my passion for art? Of course, like everything, it depends. I've answered this question quite a bit, so you can check my previous answers in addition to what I'll say here.
It depends on what you think "low paying" is. As compared to doctors, lawyer, MBA's not many art related careers rarely reach that level. However, there are art directors who make 100K a year, I've met one, but not all make that much, but many come close. It depends on who they work for, their level of responsibility, and where they work and live. Big cities with higher cost of living will pay more than a small town with a lower cost of living.
There are graphic designers, interior designers, art educators, museum workers, web designers, fashion designers, book designers, to name a few, all of whom make a decent living, and in some cases, with good benefits, such as vacation time and health insurance plans. The thing with many of these jobs is that they are competitive to obtain, and the pay for entry level positions is quite low, but it will increase with time as you get more experienced. So, you will need to work really hard in art school, come up with a solid portfolio in your chosen art field, and get good recommendations from your internship positions. Once you get a job, you'll need to work hard on your assignments, keep improving your art skills and be patient and be positive.
If you like working with kids or adults, then a career in art education can give you a decent living, with good benefits (sometimes even a pension), and the fun of sharing your passion for art with others. Think about elementary school, middle school, high school, college, community art centers and museum education departments. Public schools often pay the best, often with yearly salary increases, and they often have the best benefits.I was an art teacher for a public school, and I loved it. I made good money, had my summers off, good sick leave time, health insurance, and I'm now retired with a pension.
Good question, one that many people with an interest in art wonder about. Can I make a living while indulging my passion for art? Of course, like everything, it depends. I've answered this question quite a bit, so you can check my previous answers in addition to what I'll say here.
It depends on what you think "low paying" is. As compared to doctors, lawyer, MBA's not many art related careers rarely reach that level. However, there are art directors who make 100K a year, I've met one, but not all make that much, but many come close. It depends on who they work for, their level of responsibility, and where they work and live. Big cities with higher cost of living will pay more than a small town with a lower cost of living.
There are graphic designers, interior designers, art educators, museum workers, web designers, fashion designers, book designers, to name a few, all of whom make a decent living, and in some cases, with good benefits, such as vacation time and health insurance plans. The thing with many of these jobs is that they are competitive to obtain, and the pay for entry level positions is quite low, but it will increase with time as you get more experienced. So, you will need to work really hard in art school, come up with a solid portfolio in your chosen art field, and get good recommendations from your internship positions. Once you get a job, you'll need to work hard on your assignments, keep improving your art skills and be patient and be positive.
If you like working with kids or adults, then a career in art education can give you a decent living, with good benefits (sometimes even a pension), and the fun of sharing your passion for art with others. Think about elementary school, middle school, high school, college, community art centers and museum education departments. Public schools often pay the best, often with yearly salary increases, and they often have the best benefits.I was an art teacher for a public school, and I loved it. I made good money, had my summers off, good sick leave time, health insurance, and I'm now retired with a pension.
Afolabi Oladayo
Poet
7
Answers
Texas City, Texas
Updated
Afolabi’s Answer
While it's true that many art-related careers can be associated with lower initial income levels, there are several paths within the art and creative industries that can potentially lead to more lucrative opportunities. Here are some art-related careers that have the potential for higher earnings:
Graphic design;
Web design and development;
Animation and multimedia;
Illustration;
Art directions;
UI/UX Design;
Commercial photography;
Art therapy;
Art sales and gallery management;
Art education;
Digital marketing and content creation.
It's important to note that earning potential in art-related careers can vary based on factors such as location, experience, specialization, and the level of demand for specific skills. To maximize your income in the arts, consider honing your craft, building a strong portfolio, networking in your chosen industry, and staying up-to-date with industry trends and technologies. Additionally, being entrepreneurial and seeking freelance or self-employment opportunities can contribute to higher earnings in creative fields.
Graphic design;
Web design and development;
Animation and multimedia;
Illustration;
Art directions;
UI/UX Design;
Commercial photography;
Art therapy;
Art sales and gallery management;
Art education;
Digital marketing and content creation.
It's important to note that earning potential in art-related careers can vary based on factors such as location, experience, specialization, and the level of demand for specific skills. To maximize your income in the arts, consider honing your craft, building a strong portfolio, networking in your chosen industry, and staying up-to-date with industry trends and technologies. Additionally, being entrepreneurial and seeking freelance or self-employment opportunities can contribute to higher earnings in creative fields.