Career?

[LadyJasmine]

I was just wondering. What careers are available to use my art in? I am more of a student of the fine arts than illustration. I already have a plan for college.
My father is ok with me being an artists, his mother was one. But he is a business man. So he worries about what i will be doing the rest of my life. He wants to be sure I will be able to support myself. I wonder this as well. I have planned to get a Liberal Arts degree, take as many classes and workshops as I can.
But my original question: What kind of career can I have. I would also be interested to here your chosen careers. It may inspire me and give me some ideas. Thank You

[DanaT]

Hi LadyJasmine. I'm just starting a career in the arts so I'm probably not the best person to answer your question. Hope someone comes around.

In the meantime, check out the General Art Business Discussion forum to read what professional artists are discussing about their careers. It may help you.

[JoyJoyJoy]

LadyJasmine...

Selecting a direction for your art career should consider not only your strengths and weaknesses as an artist, but also your future life dreams (marriage, children, owning a house, traveling, etc) and your ability to live with risk or not. Only you can answer those questions. In short, fine artists (who create and sell paintings, sculture, etc.) are people with their own business... they take on the risk of any business. Commercial artists (who produce art that is used commercially) sometimes have their own business, sometimes work full-time with wages and benefits. Almost anything mass produced was designed by someone... wallpaper, fabric, furniture, magazine ads, cars, boats... even buildings.

It seems that all artists evolve in their careers... we are not stagnant and our career choices change as we age and life events happen. For example, I spent almost 30 years as a graphic artist and illustrator before recently choosing to paint full-time. This is not uncommon, I understand. My parents, like your father, were business people... and they had problems dealing with my choice of career. It has only been in the last few years (I am almost 50) that they have really grasped that I can actually make a living as an artist..... hahaha... even with having enough finances to buy (and pay off) a house, to travel, to own nice things.

I have a bachelors degree from a liberal arts college... but mostly because my parents insisted I get that education. The degree means nothing in the art world, but the college experience does train you to think and analyze in ways that will affect your whole life... so, I think the education is not wasted on us artists.

I would suggest that you take as many art classes and workshops as possible, now and your whole life. Also, read biographies of artists you like... they will give you inspiration to continue, as you see the ups and downs in their lives and work. If you want to be a fine artist, I would highly suggest that you understand basic business principles. About half of what we do (time wise) as fine artists has to do with marketing, customer communications, legal concerns, and bookkeeping. Some artists, like me, do all this business work themselves, and some hire people to market, do bookkeeping and such... but, either way, you should understand the basics of what is going on in your business. You might find some good, basic classes in the liberal arts college you attend, or you can read books on small business or art marketing, or you can look for free workshops in your area. SCORE (retired business people) offer help and workshops, and my nearby museum has occasional marketing workshops for artists. So, check newspapers and make phone calls.

What??? Who said that word "business"???? Yes, if you decide on being a purely fine artist, you are indeed starting your own business. A good point... something to tell your father... you intend on opening your own business.

I know... sounds like a lot to learn... but, it will all come to you as you keep looking and learning. One other thought: look into a part-time job that will teach you things you need but cannot find in college. You might work in a small business, to learn how to deal with customers, keep job logs, and learn simple cash flow. You might call some local successful fine artists and offer your services free... to do odd jobs like delivery and canvas stretching... for a few hours a week. Just hanging out with a person who does what you want to do will give you invaluable information about what to do... and not.. with your own future business/career.

Good luck with your career!!!!!!!!!! And, don't forget to have fun!

Nance

[LadyJasmine]

Thank you both for your replies. You gave me some ideas that I hadn't thought of. My surrounding community may not have artists, but Boston is only a train ride away. Maybe I will look into artists there.

[JoyJoyJoy]

OOOOH - you are in a suburb of Boston! I was born in Boston, lived in Foxboro during high school. Check out the museums and the many good art schools in Boston for art and art business workshops. And, lots of galleries there... and museums.. you could work/volunteer in. I am sure you can find many artists in the Boston area. During the summer, the Cape is a great place to visit for its galleries and art fairs, expecially towards P-town.

How lucky you are to be so near so much culture!

Nance

[timelady]

Well, I'm just yer average full time artist. But it is always interesting to talk to other artists and find out what other things they do. A sample of work other artists I've met do:

Work at a large art publisher (as in prints - DeMontford specifically)
Teach kids and adult private art classes (no teaching qualification required)
Work as an artist in residence in a school - usually teaching 2 days a week and then the school provides you a studio and salary
Theatre design
Exhibition design
Fashion design
Photographer's assistant
Printing (as in printing other artists' etching editions, etc.)
Illustration

I guess the idea is that almost any career field could need a creative type on part of the team. There are even agencies over here that send artists in to corporate businesses to give them seminars on thinking and working more artistically. There's always the options of working as an agent, in a gallery, in a museum, for a publisher, etc. that are a way of using your knowledge of the artistic process (not necessarily art history) without creating. A lot of artists I know do one of these types of jobs I've listed above AND then work in a studio and do their own art. Some artists see that as a burden, others as a benefit. You might like to creative all the time, or you might like to balance it with something different. Personally, I do websites for other artists and quite like doing that because I enjoy it and it does make a nice break from painting once in a while. (It probably makes up about 15-20% of my work time.)

Don't worry too soon about what you'll do with it. There's so much to learn in art school and you will probably discover something you never even knew about! Or you might decide you want to combine art and another subject you love. I know I say this often but you might and can change your mind! Change your major or your focus within your major! I changed my major twice in undergrad, got a science degree. Did 3 graduate qualifications in liberal arts subjects (I think). THEN found art and studied it privately. Life is short, do what you enjoy. Tell your dad that you are approaching your study open-mindedly so that you can learn as much as possible and decide the best way to combine your interests and skills in four years time.

Tina.

[paintergirl]

a couple more ideas...
Art therapist
text book design / illustration
designer for needlework, rug companies etc( don't know the true title to this but knew an artist who created the designs that they worked from)

So much of it is freelance, don't really know about the stability career-wise...

I was working with teens until leaving my job recently . I started an on-going arts project that included beautifying the area ( their drop-in centre, picnic tables, benches, even a parade float at christmas ) with 'their' designs and completed by the teens themselves. It was well worth it and the teens were creativity personafied. Very fulfilling - but I am ecstatic to be painting full-time myself again

[CarrieStuartParks]

Still more ideas:
The FBI, Secret Service and many law enforcement agencies have full-time artists (I work with them as a forensic artist). Your resource in your area is Stephen Taranto, Waltham Police Department. I have trained artists in the Boston area so let me know if you need more names to contact.

I will say that for practical training in the arts, you are better off going to short classes from professional artists than college-stuff. I am not saying to NOT get a degree, but I agree with JoyJoyJoy that a degree is not part of being an artist--it means nothing except you went to college.

There also may be art opportunities that do not exist now that will be there in the future. Several of your answers have said the same. I know when I was younger no one had even heard of forensic art. Now I spend most of my time teaching the subject. Art therapy is another example of a newer application of art.

Keep your eyes open and ask, ask, ask.
Very best wishes,
Carrie Stuart Parks

[Dreams-of-Flight]

Hi Carrie

Forensic art is something a lot of my friends have been suggesting might suit me well as I can create acurate portrait likenesses quickly, and enjoy doing it. Exactly how do you go about starting a career in this line of work, and what does a typical day entail?

BW
Lisa

[CarrieStuartParks]

Hi Lisa,
Forensic art is a big field. Within this term are:
-Courtroom sketches
-facial reconstruction
-demonstrative evidence
-composites
-illustration for departments
-aging of missing children
-image modification
-facial imaging and identification
-crime scene reconstruction

+much more. There are no typical days! I can send you class information if you send me an email address.

One of the fastest growing fields is facial recognition and identification using computers. Right now the computer nerds think they know about faces (HAH) but they might just break down and figure out garbage in-garbage out. I saw a recent demonstration of this technology. I am NOT impressed and they need BIG help.

Best wishes,
Carrie

[paintfool]

This is a great topic and exactly the kind of discussion that we could use in our newest forum 'The Students dorm'. Thanks Lady Jasmine, for a very thought provoking topic! I'll move it to the Dorm for you.
Cheryl

[KamaraDesigns]

Originally posted by CarrieStuartParks
Still more ideas:
The FBI, Secret Service and many law enforcement agencies have full-time artists (I work with them as a forensic artist). Your resource in your area is Stephen Taranto, Waltham Police Department. I have trained artists in the Boston area so let me know if you need more names to contact.

I will say that for practical training in the arts, you are better off going to short classes from professional artists than college-stuff. I am not saying to NOT get a degree, but I agree with JoyJoyJoy that a degree is not part of being an artist--it means nothing except you went to college.

There also may be art opportunities that do not exist now that will be there in the future. Several of your answers have said the same. I know when I was younger no one had even heard of forensic art. Now I spend most of my time teaching the subject. Art therapy is another example of a newer application of art.

Keep your eyes open and ask, ask, ask.
Very best wishes,
Carrie Stuart Parks

Hi Carrie, Great info!! How would a person go about finding information on Forensic art in their area?? People have suggsted that to me as well as something to look into but I have no idea how to go about getting into that field or who to speak to. What kind of training is involved??

Thanks, Kim

[arlene]

I'm not even going to read through the threads but give you my opinion from experience...30 years ago i too listened to my parents when they told me that if I didn't go into the commercial arts, i'd probably be waiting tables all my life...

well of course I didn't want to do that, so I switched out of painting and into textile design. Problem is the higher you go in the hierarchy the less you actually paint and the more you manage...i hated it...

I was also talked out of illustration (which I probably would have enjoyed doing) because it was "too hard to get a foothold in the door."

My advice is to find an art school that also offers business classes...preferrably for the working artist. I wish now I had taken business classes when i was in college.

You can always get a job doing one of the commercial arts later, but if you feel you are a fine artist, then become a fine artist...you're young so you have the luxury of living sparsely for a few years until you start to establish yourself.

at some point in our lives we have to listen to what's best for ourselves...not what our parents think is best for us. I wish that was a lesson i had learned when I was younger.

[arlene]

textile design is any fabrics, vinyls, wallpapers, contact paper, etc for the home...or textiles could be patterns for ties, shirts, dresses, etc...

textile design is also for woven patterns, rugs, needlepoint designs, floor patterns, etc.