Ordinarily, most people do not perceive being an artist as a realistic career choice. The common impression is that it is merely an elitist pursuit, with no guarantee of monetary returns. However, this preconceived notion may not be applicable to every career option that involves art. For instance, having a career in art is not restricted to just painting. There are various other lucrative career options in the field of art, upon graduation from art school. These schools can provide formal training in art, which equip students with tools that can be used in commercial settings. You can be one of the lucky ones to be able to pay your bills through your art!

Career Options After Art School

MultiMedia Artist And Animator: If you are interested in creating animated images for commercials in various media, like television, print media, cinema or computer games, you can become a multimedia artist. Multi media artists create the large series of pictures, which become the animated images on television, computer games or movies. In 2002, there were almost 75,000 animators and multimedia artists in the United States of America, and this number is expected to expand further in the future. You can become a multimedia artist if you possess a bachelor or masters degree in fine arts, although it is not always necessary.

Craft Artist: A career as a craft artist can be ideal if you have a passion for creating useful artifacts like stained glass, pottery, hand woven rugs, sculpture or woodcarvings. These crafts are very popular in markets all around the world, thus making a profession as a craft artist a lucrative career option. You never know when your craftwork could become the next sought after collectible! Studio art classes at your local art school can be of great help in mastering the required skills. You can also join an art club to enhance your craft. Generally, craft artists work on a freelance commission basis. You can also find work in studios and galleries that usually require creative craft artists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average earnings of craft artists in 2005 was $27,360.

Fine Art Artist: Fine art is another career option that you can pursue after art school. Painters, illustrators and sculptors come under this category. The competition in this field is fierce, as there are a lot of aspiring artists. As a fine art artist, you can display your art in museums, and your creations can be sold in auctions.

Art Director: As an art director, you can produce creative visual concepts meant for magazines, newspapers, videos, websites or billboards. An art director needs to coordinate with graphic designers as well as photographers, and make decisions related to the presentation of visual concepts. Having management skills is an added advantage for being an art director. A starting income of $73,790 was estimated for art directors according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Advertising agencies also generally require the skills of an art director.

Besides these career options, you can also try your hand at teaching art, landscape decor, interior and clothing designing, or photography.

Requirements For A Career In Arts And Crafts

If you want to pursue a career in art, passion and interest in this field are prerequisites. However, you will need patience, as earning from your craft may take awhile. Dedication and determination often results in fame and success. For example, artists like Van Gogh and Picasso have become household names. People with a bent of mind and passion for art usually find their art careers satisfying and enjoyable.

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Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.