If any child tells their parents that they intend to be an artist, chances are their decision is going to be met with no small amount of concern.
“Now, honey,” a parent will say, kindly putting an arm around their child’s shoulder. “You do have a great artistic talent, but so few people manage to make an entire career out of art. Why don’t you keep that as a hobby and try something else full-time instead?”
The above is so common, it’s basically a trope – the idea being that studying art, and intending to make your career from your artistic talents, is somehow a waste. Of course, there’s no ignoring the fact that this is sometimes true. Many people who intend to be artists find themselves working in vastly different fields, and keeping their love of art as a hobby– but not everyone.
When those well-intentioned parents think about a career as an artist, it’s likely they are thinking of “being an artist” as meaning “being a painter, on canvas”. Admittedly, very few people do manage to “make it” in this conventional world; there are precious few celebrated artists, and joining their rank is difficult. People who do paint for a living tend to also need to supplement their income, as relying on art sales is notoriously unreliable. Being a conventional painter is always going to be a tricky route to follow…
… but there are so many other career routes that a young, budding artist could try. If you have always had a passion for art and have a little skill and flair, then there’s no reason why you can’t make a living from this ability. While it might always be difficult to be successful enough to be named alongside the great masters, there’s still plenty of occupations that require an artistic talent just like yours.
Option One: Tattoo Artist
Firstly, the clue is in the name here! Tattoos have something of a bad reputation, though admittedly one that has been improved over recent years. It’s believed around 40 percent of people under the age of 35 have a tattoo, so there’s definitely a rising demand for good artists.
So could you do it? After all, creating artwork on human skin isn’t that different to creating it on canvas or paper. Good tattoo work is more celebrated than ever before. You can also genuinely help people who have experienced a bad tattoo and require a cover-up to fix the issue.
There’s a rigorous training process involved, of course; you’ll cover the safety standards required and learn how to use all the different tattoo supplies. When you’re qualified, you’ll likely work in an existing tattoo shop for awhile, though in time you might want to expand out into running your own business.
Option Two: Animator/Artist
Admittedly, working as an animator for video games, movies, and TV shows isn’t quite art as you might know it. While you might work out the basics for a design on paper, the majority of the time you will be creating via a computer– but it’s still artistic, and it’s still an outlet for your creativity.
Animation is more popular than ever. Some of the most celebrated TV shows of recent years, such as Rick & Morty or Netflix’s Bojack Horseman, have been animated. There’s always going to be a place for someone with a unique artistic way of looking at the world and bringing it to life on a computer.
You can teach yourself how to create good digital art, and even learn the basics of animation and how it works online for free. If you do want to work in this industry full-time, you will be expected to expand on that self-taught knowledge and receive some form of accreditation. Alternatively, you can approach major studios and ask if they have an internship program, which allows you to get direct experience and may eventually result in an offer of full-time work.
Option Three: Prop Design
It seemed pertinent to include an option for something even further removed from the drawing-on-paper-or-canvas world, just so we’re exploring the full options available to you. Prop design can be an incredibly rewarding route for an artist to take, especially if you like to take the time creating something that looks as realistic as possible.
Most prop designers work with a variety of mediums, such as foam, paint, and even plastic. Almost everything you see on a TV show or in a movie is designed by a prop artist, from the cups of coffee to the entire set the actors are performing in. You’ll need a keen eye for details, as eagle-eyed viewers always delight in pointing out prop mistakes, but there’s plenty of fun to be had too.
Prop designers tend to have some kind of qualification in art, and then expand from there with vocational courses or on-the-job apprenticeships and training. It’s not just big movie studios you’ll want to contact either; even your local TV news channel will occasionally require a prop artist.
Finally, one major benefit of prop design work is that it tends to work on word-of-mouth and personal recommendations, so if you dislike job hunting, you might find this particularly attractive.
Option Four: Landscape Design
If there’s one thing that nearly everyone wants, it’s a beautiful garden. Landscape design is a unique artform, but one that you might want to consider if you want to make your career in the arts.
You’ll work primarily using paper (or computer if you prefer), sketching designs and creating show-stopping gardens for everyday homeowners. A landscape designer doesn’t actually have anything to do with the planting itself; their role is to find the right aesthetic, and then a horticultural specialist puts the finished look together.
If you think this might be of interest to you, tour around your local botanical gardens and see if anything inspires you to give it a try yourself. If you do want to delve deeper, there are plenty of great courses that can send you on your way.
As the above show, good artists will always be able to find a way to make use of their talents. Don’t give up on your dream; just spend the time to find a niche that works for you and take things from there!
Are you a budding artist? What are you doing to groew your career in art?
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