[ducky2030]

does anyone have advice for artist on choosing a career path.
I realized there's 2 options
1. be a fine artist and most likely struggle while also working in retail or coffee shop to pay the bills

2. get a practical job and paint in spare time

Ive always thought graphic design was the best option but Im not very computer savvy. Ive done a bit of graphic deign school and it was tough for me but i excelled in ALL the foundation drawing classes.

I don't like the medical field plus I suck at science
I don't like retail
I don't like being a waitress/server

whats left??

im INFP/INTP if that helps paint the picture

[growlycat]

Hi Artsy!
I was an illustration major in college and I am essentially doing the same thing today but for a corporation.

What medium do you prefer? Painting? Photoshop/Illustrator? Or do you like working with text layout?

You can make a living doing any of what you mention-- art CAN be the main career right off the bat, it doesn't have to be Starbucks plus painting.

I would suggest doing what you love to do and making money will follow. I think the key is to just keep at it, even if you get discouraged. Persistence has been key for me to makre this a career.

Hope you find your bliss! I'm an INFP too BTW

[ducky2030]

Thanks for your comment, I paint more than I draw but i think I'm good at drawing as well. Im not good at photoshop or illustrator though it is likely I could become proficient at it over time.
I looked up illustrator jobs ads and what I mostly saw was graphic designer positions?...
So im a little worried about the demand for illustrators...should I be?

Originally Posted by growlycat

Hi Artsy!
I was an illustration major in college and I am essentially doing the same thing today but for a corporation.

What medium do you prefer? Painting? Photoshop/Illustrator? Or do you like working with text layout?

You can make a living doing any of what you mention-- art CAN be the main career right off the bat, it doesn't have to be Starbucks plus painting.

I would suggest doing what you love to do and making money will follow. I think the key is to just keep at it, even if you get discouraged. Persistence has been key for me to makre this a career.

Hope you find your bliss! I'm an INFP too BTW

[growlycat]

Most illustration work is freelance not FT but it is possible to find FT staff positions.
Hand skills are very important, but I would highly suggest learning Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as it will greatly broaden the job choices you will have.

Even painting can be a "full-time freelance" gig. Honestly throughout my career I wish I could have made freelancing work---working for yourself gives you such freedom it is just tricky to keep a steady income flowing in and healthcare benefits are a challenge. All is do-able however.

If you can take a course or workshop on entrepreneurship I highly recommend it. It goes hand in hand with successful freelancing. I took the easy way out and have been staff at different big companies but they can be just as soul sucking as they sound.

Diversifying your creative talents will help. Keep up your drawing and painting but definitely hone whatever digital skills you can-- web design, coding, crafts, etsy shop you name it and you will have more skills to sell.

Adobe tv has lots of free tutorials. Best of luck! Please feel free to ask anything! It's the one thing I'm great at.

[sito]

Artistic career is generally not good way of earning steady income. It is best to get a career in other fields

Sent from my SM-N900W8 using Tapatalk

[growlycat]

A career you don't like is a miserable way to live,

Go for your dreams!

[friday1967]

Consider posting an illustration portfolio online (try cargo collective or a paid wordpress account) and trying freelance illustration through Elance or another service.

Also you could paint for one of those services that place paintings in hotels and other places like Deljou.

And consider community art grants or working in art and education in the community.

Follow your nose and stick to your guns!

Inspirational:

What I learned from Amanda Palmer’s The Art of Asking | A geek with a hat

[lostinsidemyself]

Originally Posted by artsygirl88

does anyone have advice for artist on choosing a career path.
I realized there's 2 options
1. be a fine artist and most likely struggle while also working in retail or coffee shop to pay the bills

2. get a practical job and paint in spare time

Ive always thought graphic design was the best option but Im not very computer savvy. Ive done a bit of graphic deign school and it was tough for me but i excelled in ALL the foundation drawing classes.

I don't like the medical field plus I suck at science
I don't like retail
I don't like being a waitress/server

whats left??

im INFP/INTP if that helps paint the picture

I know this is old but wanted to answer anyway, cuz im me lol.

Whats left? Everything!

I am an artist (I do work in IT but you dont have to); I work at a call center. Keep this in mind, every company will generally have a call center. Or at least every big company. I do work as an internet & PC tech for a Nationwide Internet company but I have done customer service and all you need there is empathy & a willing to learn the systems (which almost every big company uses the same billing system).

Being a graphic designer has more math then art in it. I do website deisgn but thats on the side. I sold my art but also on the side. I have my day job then i have my passions.

Dont want to work at a coffee shop or a waitress or retail. My question is, do you want to pay the bills?

I broke my back & have chronic pain thus cant stand on my feet but if I had to work at McDonalds I would. My mind set is, I do what I have to when I have to do it.

Ive worked at ton a lot of jobs that ive hated including all of those and McDonalds, sometimes as a second job; sometimes as a first while looking for another. Money is money.