Visual Art Careers

Magnolias (1945), Frida Kahlo

I’ve been watching DIY TV shows lately, especially Fixer Uppers on the Magnolia Network. It inspires me to blog about careers in the visual arts. Many of you may not consider interior decorating as an art but believe me designing a space involves much more than just picking out furniture and wall colors. And architectural design and construction are also required to transform an old structure into something more modern and open. You don't have to be Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) to have a career in the visual arts!

Red Canna (1924), O'Keeffe

Kahlo’s painting of magnolias (and one cactus flower) was inspired by the floral art of Georgia O’Keeffe. O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was mentored by her art teacher, and landscape artist, Arthur Wesley Dow (1857-1922). Besides being an interior designer like Joanna Gaines, you may try being a design assistant who helps the designer realize her vision while soaking up ideas and learning from a professional. It definitely helps having a mentor or even someone to observe.

Scenery from 5th-Grade Production
of The Music Man (2017)

If clothes are your thing, then maybe fashion design is the career for you. I’ve always wanted to do set design for play productions. I have designed scenery and props for several elementary school drama productions. Graphic designers may find careers in advertising and brand identity, web design, multimedia animation, and illustration by working for an agency or freelancing. I would have loved to be an Art Director or a Museum Curator.

The Golden Section

We each possess our own design aesthetic -- we know what we like when we see it, and know what we don’t like as well. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. Training yourself to design something requires an open mind and willingness to explore concepts (like composition and proportion) and practice to build up your own confidence and creativity.

People who can make a career out of art simply enjoy doing it and have found an audience for their work. They are constantly learning, experimenting, and exploring new ideas. You don’t necessarily have to be talented or even ‘good’ to be an artist – you need to be persistent, practice, and learn by making mistakes.

I’ve always wanted to write and/or illustrate children’s books. Recently I have met someone who publishes animal coloring books. There’s an opportunity to discuss the process of publishing such things that may encourage me to sell my art lesson plans. I’d also like to meet an author or two who might be willing to mentor me. I’m in awe of Eric Carle, Shel Silverstein and N. C. (Newell Convers) Wyeth, three of my favorite illustrators.

Mural by Jeff “Weirdo” Jacobson

Glass blowing and sculpting are amazing careers for those who can visualize objects in three-dimensional space. Such art elements are often excluded from the curriculum in school. I also appreciate seeing large murals painted on the sides of buildings when I travel. I’m assuming that muralists like Jeff Jacobson are commissioned to paint their art by local governments or business owners, while other graffiti artists tag buildings, etc. randomly and often without permission or authorization.

Endless Highway (2017), Bob Dylan

Painting and photography are often hobbies that turn into second careers. Even presidents and other celebrities dabble in art. Many famous artists started out either in the family business or studying another career on the way to discovering their talent and love for art. Some were discouraged as children from pursuing careers in visual art. Nowadays, schools are removing art and music from their curriculums in favor of math, science, and computer technology.

Fortunately, art integrates these other subjects and such skills may be combined for careers in art. 

Billie Holiday by Shen

If your motivation is financial success, then you may not find art to be a lucrative career. For some, sharing art with others feeds a desire to socialize within their community of like-minded individuals who have a common interest or style. Art requires a compulsion to create, dedication to making things, and a strong work ethic, mainly because of the difficulty to find success in the competitive world of art. Many artists do well in isolation, free of daily interaction with others, away from the typical 9-5 work environment. Designers, on the other hand, need to interact with customers to be able to understand what they want. Finding your talent or developing a skill from something you’re interested in goes a long way toward being happy in a career or simply enjoying a hobby in your spare time or during retirement.