Art Careers, Jobs and Salaries
...Don't want to be a starving artist?

The notion of the starving artist in an unheated attic is a bit outdated, though it is true many practicing fine artists find creative ways to pay the bills. In general, modern artists have a large selection of art-focused career opportunities, but talent and training are precursors.

"It's not like each town requires a certain amount of artists, like the town can support a certain amount of dentists," notes Lin Jiang, chairman of the fine arts department at Buffalo State College in Buffalo, N.Y. "In any society, especially today's western society, art is not the priority. First of all, society doesn't need that many great artists. If we have a token few for each period of time, that's more historical. What I often tell students is there are always opportunities, but you have to really be good."

That said, it is up to the student to decide what approach to take as an artist. Studio arts involve materials such as paintings, sculpture, photography or other art forms; design arts include interior design, architecture, graphic design and product design; and some students and careers focus on knowledge of art, such as art historians and art critics. The market for artists in fields not traditionally thought of as art-based is growing, particularly as computer graphics becomes more important in every aspect of life.

"The art field is a particularly hot field generally. I could list more than 1,000 occupations - art is everywhere," says John Siskar, Buffalo State's art education department chairman.

To launch a career in art, take advantage of coursework as well as the learning and creative atmosphere available at most art schools -- visiting artist programs, field trips and student exhibitions -- which sometimes suffer from low attendance, Jiang says. "The students at today's colleges are torn with many responsibilities and choices. To be successful or good at anything, you just have to devote yourself."

More than half of all artists and related workers in the United States were self-employed in 2002, and totaled roughly 150,000 (excluding graphic artists), according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) review of occupations. Artists employed by others found careers in advertising and related services; publishing; motion picture and video industries; specialized design services; and computer systems design and related services, BLS reports.

"Although formal training is not strictly necessary for fine artists, it is very difficult to become skilled enough to make a living without some training," the BLS notes, adding that artists typically develop skills through bachelors programs or other upper-level training in art or design.

Art students seek jobs in a variety of fields, such as advertising, film and television, gaming, fine art, graphic design, illustration, interior design, freelance photography, publication design, web design, and the visual arts, reports Leslie Hammond, director of career development at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

"The future looks bright for qualified visual artists," Hammond says, noting the SVA's class of 2002 postgraduate employment found 90% BFA and MFA respondents reporting employment.

Educators agree not being a well-rounded individual is important to the artistic mindset, and a liberal arts education can provide a base. As a fine artist, a degree offers understanding of the world; in the commercial fields, a four year degree is required to move into management. Schools often offer internship opportunities to students in the arts.

Three main fields of art are tracked by the BLS: Fine artists who create original artwork such as painters, sculptors, and illustrators; art directors who are ultimately responsible for design concepts and presentation in visual communications media, from publishing to the internet; and multi-media artists and animators, who use film, video, or computers to create visual images.

In addition, public schools are recruiting art-related teachers to fill slots vacated by those retiring educators. The average age of a teacher nationally is 47, Siskar notes, adding that in New York State alone, 6,000 openings are expected for art teachers in coming years due to expected retirements. In addition to a bachelor's degree, a teaching certificate is required of those who want to teach fine arts at public elementary or secondary schools, BLS notes.

Those with art educations do have a shot at a livelihood whether salaried or self-employed as freelancers. Salaried art directors earned between $32,410 and $115,570, with median annual income of $61,850 in 2002, BLS reports. Salaried fine artists such as painters, sculptors and illustrators earned between $16,900 and $73,560, with an average of $35,260. Multi-media artists and animators salaries were also tracked by BLS, with a low of $25,830, a high of more than $85,000, and an average of nearly $44,000; in motion picture and video industries, median earnings were much higher, at $58,840.

For self-employed artists, the BLS notes earnings for self-employed artists vary depending on the level of the artist, and that healthcare and other benefits must be purchased. As artists build a reputation and gain experience, they often charge only a nominal fee, while established freelancers sometimes earn more than their salaried counterparts. "Many, however, find it difficult to rely solely on income earned from selling paintings or other works of art," BLS reports.

Once accepted to a school, the opportunities for funding may widen. SDSU offers returning students the ability to apply to the general scholarship office for small individual awards. The Art Institute of Phoenix offers one half-tuition and one full-tuition award per discipline annually.

To be a successful student and artist, one must be "good and driven and persistent," Jiang says. "Also you have to define the word successful. If somebody enjoys what they are doing, if that is the most important thing, then they are successful."

For those with hearts leading toward the fine arts, educators warn the road can be tough. "It's only practical to know you are going to find other ways to sustain your life while you go through this passion," Siskar says. "But there are other ways to sustain your life, and the notion that you have to be a starving artist isn't as true as it used to be."

Internet Sources for Art Careers

For more about careers in art, check out the following links:

ArtCareer.Net - A site that helps artists manage careers and find jobs; free membership.

Art History - Information on art history careers and opportunities from Rutgers University, including types of employers, skills, and types of jobs.

Career Alternatives for Art Historians - Alternatives career options for Art Historians provided by University of Notre Dame professor.

Visual Nation - Profiles on art careers, links to other sites.

Written by Cathy Sivak, ArtSchools.com Contributing Writer.

Art Careers, Jobs and Salaries ...Don't want to be a starving artist?

Internet Sources for Art Careers

Art Careers, Jobs and Salaries
...Don't want to be a starving artist?