What is the most difficult aspect on becoming a artist perfessonally?

Hi David

Your questions is a good one, but difficult to answer...if only we all had functioning crystal balls! Wouldn't it be great for all of us to gaze into one and see that in 10 years, we'll be the next big thing in the art scene? Maybe, maybe not.

Your biggest hurdle will be making ends meet while you pursue your art. Many, if not most young artists need to have a "day job" or a part time job to live on. If you are thinking of going the fine arts route and becoming a full time artist, it takes time to develop your art and to find a gallery which will represent you. There is lots of competition, and galleries often take a hefty commission on sales. If you believe in your art and are willing to struggle financially in the beginning without any assurance of future success, then go for it. I would start looking for community art centers and non-profit galleries, or even websites to start showing your work.

If you want a little more financial stability, then you might look into other art careers, such as graphic designers who work on everything from websites to movie posters to book design to packaging design, or illustrators, or interior designers, or industrial designers, or fashion designers....there are lots of options out there where you can use your art skills and talents and get a paycheck. But there is still a lot of competition in any art field, so be prepared to work hard; you might have to take some specific art classes for these fields, like computer graphics, graphic design and so on. (You might check my other responses to Career Village questions; I've responded to quite a few queries like yours).

When I got out of 2 years of art school (after graduating from college), I was in a similar situation, and it was difficult. I tried graphic design, which did not work out for me, and I worked as a restorer and as a conservator of antique objects, but eventually I got a masters in art education and became an art teacher in a middle school. I loved teaching art; I loved sharing my enthusiasm and art skills with kids and seeing what they created. I liked having my summers off to work on my own artwork and to take art courses to further improve my art and my teaching. I liked having a steady paycheck and benefits. If you like working with kids and you might be interested in art education as a career, check out the National Art Education Association's website www.naea.org for more information.

So that is my story. I wish you the best with your story; make sure you really think about and research your choices. Talk to your current and past art teachers about their careers and ask them if they know any fine artists or other art professionals whom you could interview for information about their careers.