Art
| Some career possibilities: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising Artist | Animator | Art Administrator | |
| Art Teacher | Assistant Curator | Billboard Artist | |
| Book Illustrator | Calligrapher | Cartoonist | |
| Catalogue Illustrator | Ceramic Artist | Courtroom Sketcher | |
| Display Designer | Drafter | Exhibit Designer | |
| Fashion Illustrator | Freelance Artist | Graphic Designer | |
| Greeting Card Artist | Jewlery Designer | Layout Artist | |
| Medical Illustrator | Outdoor Sign Letterer | Photographer | |
| Pottery Designer | Art Director | Set Designer | |
| Staind Glass Artist | Trademark Designer | ||
Most students who major in art do it because they love to create in one or more artistic mediums. However, exploring how you want to apply your art degree to the workforce and implementing activities to help you focus your goals is essential for employment success after graduation. Some of your options include working as an artist, pursuing a job in an artistic setting which may or may not require the creation of art, or choosing a career that is completely unrelated to the art field.
If you choose to work as an artist, you are selecting an intensely competitive and challenging career area. The majority of artists work on a freelance basis, marketing their work to art shows or appropriate vendors, such as museums or art galleries. Although there are more opportunities for artists to exhibit their work to the public than ever before, the exhibition circuit is difficult at first; most artists absorb their own expenses for several years before seeing a profit. Many artists choose to work at a second job in order to supplement the income gained through their artistic projects.
If you decide to apply your degree to a job in an arts related organization or outside of the art field, you may need to supplement your coursework with business, marketing, computer and communication classes to gain concrete skills that can complement your artistic ability. In addition to specialized coursework, entry into many areas may require that you gain additional skills, such as through internships or volunteer experiences. For example, if you want to work in graphic design, you will need to learn a variety of computer software programs to do this work effectively.
Broad areas of employment are:
Advertising: Advertising is one career area where students who have majored in art can transfer their skills to a business environment. Examples of positions in this field include layout and mechanical artists, illustrators, and letterers. Once you have gained advertising experience, art majors may advance to the position of art director. With the copywriter, art directors develop and design advertising campaigns based on demographic market research.
Art Therapy: Art students who want to work with people as well as art can be trained to help the physically challenged or the emotionally disturbed as part of a therapeutic team headed by a psychiatrist. Art therapists use art activities with individuals, groups, or families in a variety of clinical, educational, or rehabilitative settings. Additional training beyond the bachelor's degree is usually required.
Crafts: Many artists who practice a craft as an occupation are often, but not always, self-employed. The largest number of professionals are producing ceramics, but weavers, metalworkers, jewelers, woodworkers, sculptors, and painters are also making a living in their medium. Some craftspeople find jobs demonstrating their expertise at historical sites and museums, some restore or repair in restoration labs, art galleries and museums, and still others find jobs in studios or manufacturing firms specializing in their craft.
Design: Art majors who have developed specialized skills may find employment in computer graphics, fashion design, graphic design, or interior and display design. Each area will require specific skills unique to that field of design, such as specific computer skills and drawing ability. Design work can be done in virtually all employment settings, for example, fashion design firms, newspapers, publishers, and restaurants. Talent, demonstrated ability through a portfolio, targeted education, and some experience are required.
Education: Many artists find employment as educators in elementary, high school, and college settings. To gain employment in elementary or secondary education, art teaching certification is usually a prerequisite for employment. To teach in a college or university setting, a master's in fine arts, and often a Ph.D., is normally required. However, sometimes art teachers may be hired to teach a class solely because of their artistic reputation. Teachers may instruct in a variety of areas including drawing, painting, or ceramics.
Illustration: Illustrators draw or paint pictures to adorn or explain the printed word. Illustration is used in advertising, posters, filmstrips, catalogs, packaging, album covers, greeting cards and, of course, books--children's, technical, textbook, and pamphlets. Some area of illustration, such as medicine and engineering, require specialized training and skills.
Museums: Museums provide a range of positions that may be attractive to art majors. Organizing exhibitions, scheduling classes and seminars, and writing informational materials are all possible areas to pursue. Position titles include curator, museum educator, and exhibit designer.
Photography: Photographers can find work in a variety of settings, although many photographers work primarily on a free-lance basis. They may be hired by magazines to illustrate stories, by architectural firms to photograph buildings, or by advertising agencies to fulfill the layout demands of a particular advertisement, to name just a few possible job settings.
Competition is keen for positions related to the art field. Often, graduates may need to be willing to start in an entry level position with low wages and move upward as talent is recognized. Gaining work related experience is vital to applying the art degree to professional employment. Participating in an internship is very important, as it can help you to gain skills as well as to focus your career goals. Volunteer work or college activities can also provide valuable work related experience.
Some art majors use their degree as a foundation for further education. They may continue studying their specialized area of art in a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program, or they may choose a graduate program in other related areas such as art therapy, museum studies, or education.
For further reading, consult the following books in the Career Development Center:
Camenson, B. (1996). Opportunities in Museum Careers. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons.
Camenson, B. (2000) Careers in Art. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons.
Camenson, B. (1997). Great Jobs for Art Majors. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons.
Gardner, E. (1998). Opportunities in Arts & Crafts Careers. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons.
Goldberg, J. (1999). Careers for Color Connoisseurs & Other Visual Types. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons.
Ito, D. (1993). Careers in the Visual Arts. New York, NY: Watson-Guptill Publications.
Johnson, B. (1999). Opportunities in Photography Careers. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons.
Sacks, T.J. (2000). Opportunities in Animation and Cartooning Careers. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons.
Salmon, M. (2001). Opportunities in Visual Arts Careers. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Books.
Rowh, M. (2000). Careers for Crafty People and & Other Dexterous Types. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons.