2 answers
Aliz
Student
East Lansing, Michigan
1
Question
Updated
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What is it like to do art?
I love to do art it is nice and relaxing
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2 answers
Richard Smith
Co-owner and Design Partner at 11:22 Creative Design, LLC
31
Answers
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Updated
Richard’s Answer
Hi Aliz! I have attempted to create a well-rounded answer for you that serves as an informative guide. I hope this helps you.
Becoming a professional artist in fine art, whether working with oils, acrylics, pastels, or sculpture, is a creative and rewarding journey. Here's an overview of what a day in the life of an artist looks like, expectations to be aware of, how to start your career, top schools, and income expectations:
**A Day in the Life of an Artist:**
- Artists have flexible schedules. A typical day might involve creating art in a studio, researching new techniques, marketing your work, and connecting with clients or galleries. It's a blend of creative expression and business tasks.
**Expectations as a Professional Artist:**
- Freelance Career: Many artists work as freelancers, which means you're responsible for self-promotion, managing finances, and finding your clients.
- Income Variability: Art income can be unpredictable. You may experience periods of financial stability and times when sales are slower.
**Starting Your Art Career:**
1. Build a Strong Portfolio: Create a diverse portfolio that showcases your skills and unique style.
2. Network: Attend art exhibitions, join art associations, and connect with fellow artists and potential buyers.
3. Online Presence: Create a website and use social media platforms to share your work and engage with your audience.
4. Marketing: Promote your work through galleries, art fairs, and online marketplaces.
5. Consistency: Dedicate time to creating art consistently and developing your style.
**Top 10 Art Schools for Preparing for a Successful Career:**
1. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
2. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
3. Yale School of Art
4. Pratt Institute
5. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
6. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
7. School of Visual Arts (SVA)
8. Royal College of Art (RCA) - UK
9. Central Saint Martins - UK
10. École des Beaux-Arts - France
**Subjects and Topics to Study:**
- Drawing and Painting
- Sculpture
- Art History
- Color Theory
- Composition
- Art Critique
- Art Business and Marketing
**Income Expectations:**
- Income as an artist can vary widely. Here's a breakdown:
- Freelance/Consignment: Artists often sell their work directly to buyers or through galleries, earning a percentage of the sale price, which can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand or more per artwork.
- Commissions: Creating custom pieces for clients can earn artists similar fees, depending on the project's size and complexity.
- Salaried Positions: Some artists secure full-time or part-time positions as art teachers, museum curators, or other roles, which can provide a stable salary with a median range of $45,000 to $60,000 annually.
Keep in mind that income as a fine artist can fluctuate, and building a solid reputation and clientele takes time. Many artists diversify their income sources by teaching, offering workshops, or licensing their artwork for various purposes.
Starting a career in fine art requires dedication, patience, and a balance of creativity and business acumen. It's often a rewarding path for those passionate about self-expression through art.
Becoming a professional artist in fine art, whether working with oils, acrylics, pastels, or sculpture, is a creative and rewarding journey. Here's an overview of what a day in the life of an artist looks like, expectations to be aware of, how to start your career, top schools, and income expectations:
**A Day in the Life of an Artist:**
- Artists have flexible schedules. A typical day might involve creating art in a studio, researching new techniques, marketing your work, and connecting with clients or galleries. It's a blend of creative expression and business tasks.
**Expectations as a Professional Artist:**
- Freelance Career: Many artists work as freelancers, which means you're responsible for self-promotion, managing finances, and finding your clients.
- Income Variability: Art income can be unpredictable. You may experience periods of financial stability and times when sales are slower.
**Starting Your Art Career:**
1. Build a Strong Portfolio: Create a diverse portfolio that showcases your skills and unique style.
2. Network: Attend art exhibitions, join art associations, and connect with fellow artists and potential buyers.
3. Online Presence: Create a website and use social media platforms to share your work and engage with your audience.
4. Marketing: Promote your work through galleries, art fairs, and online marketplaces.
5. Consistency: Dedicate time to creating art consistently and developing your style.
**Top 10 Art Schools for Preparing for a Successful Career:**
1. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
2. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
3. Yale School of Art
4. Pratt Institute
5. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
6. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
7. School of Visual Arts (SVA)
8. Royal College of Art (RCA) - UK
9. Central Saint Martins - UK
10. École des Beaux-Arts - France
**Subjects and Topics to Study:**
- Drawing and Painting
- Sculpture
- Art History
- Color Theory
- Composition
- Art Critique
- Art Business and Marketing
**Income Expectations:**
- Income as an artist can vary widely. Here's a breakdown:
- Freelance/Consignment: Artists often sell their work directly to buyers or through galleries, earning a percentage of the sale price, which can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand or more per artwork.
- Commissions: Creating custom pieces for clients can earn artists similar fees, depending on the project's size and complexity.
- Salaried Positions: Some artists secure full-time or part-time positions as art teachers, museum curators, or other roles, which can provide a stable salary with a median range of $45,000 to $60,000 annually.
Keep in mind that income as a fine artist can fluctuate, and building a solid reputation and clientele takes time. Many artists diversify their income sources by teaching, offering workshops, or licensing their artwork for various purposes.
Starting a career in fine art requires dedication, patience, and a balance of creativity and business acumen. It's often a rewarding path for those passionate about self-expression through art.
Laura Mills
Graphic Designer
41
Answers
Lenhartsville, PA
Updated
Laura’s Answer
Hello Aliz,
What a very unique question! Creating art is amazing and very therapeutic, as you said, and I do agree, it is very relaxing. It is something that I believe you can do anywhere in any kind of form you want, it's subjective in that way because it can be something you love to do within that medium or it can be experimental where you can do it by trying a new method.
I wanted to ask you though with your question, do you mean what is it like to pursue art as a profession? If this is something you are wondering, pursuing art like any career has its ups and downs, but it is rewarding as you get the opportunity to show the world your creativity and hopefully inspire other people to be more creative in any form that works for them. There are many avenues when it comes to pursuing art, you can do what I do in the graphic design area, become a digital artist, or a mixed media artist (in this profession you get the chance to work with different types of paint, graphite/colored pencils, chalk, etc.), photography, dance, music, etc. The point is there are several ways to express creativity. I think the most important thing to remember is it's important to experiment with different ways, find the ways that work for you that you can come back to, but also don't be afraid to want to keep experimenting.
Another aspect to know is there is a wide community of artists on social media that you can share your craft with and connect with them, which is important to remember. Art, I feel, is often looked at as a solitary hobby or profession, but there is a community of people out there who are curious to see what you create and to hear all about the process it took to create. I know can be tough, scary, and slightly daunting at first to put your work out into the world like that, but I promise the payoff is worth it if it is a piece you create and you are proud of it, you have done your job and know that anything negative that may be said about it should not matter because YOU are proud of it.
Sorry for the novel-length response, lol, but I hope this helps you a bit to answer your question; I wish you the very best!
-Laura M.
What a very unique question! Creating art is amazing and very therapeutic, as you said, and I do agree, it is very relaxing. It is something that I believe you can do anywhere in any kind of form you want, it's subjective in that way because it can be something you love to do within that medium or it can be experimental where you can do it by trying a new method.
I wanted to ask you though with your question, do you mean what is it like to pursue art as a profession? If this is something you are wondering, pursuing art like any career has its ups and downs, but it is rewarding as you get the opportunity to show the world your creativity and hopefully inspire other people to be more creative in any form that works for them. There are many avenues when it comes to pursuing art, you can do what I do in the graphic design area, become a digital artist, or a mixed media artist (in this profession you get the chance to work with different types of paint, graphite/colored pencils, chalk, etc.), photography, dance, music, etc. The point is there are several ways to express creativity. I think the most important thing to remember is it's important to experiment with different ways, find the ways that work for you that you can come back to, but also don't be afraid to want to keep experimenting.
Another aspect to know is there is a wide community of artists on social media that you can share your craft with and connect with them, which is important to remember. Art, I feel, is often looked at as a solitary hobby or profession, but there is a community of people out there who are curious to see what you create and to hear all about the process it took to create. I know can be tough, scary, and slightly daunting at first to put your work out into the world like that, but I promise the payoff is worth it if it is a piece you create and you are proud of it, you have done your job and know that anything negative that may be said about it should not matter because YOU are proud of it.
Sorry for the novel-length response, lol, but I hope this helps you a bit to answer your question; I wish you the very best!
-Laura M.