An Art Degree: Making Art a Career

Are you a person with a creative imagination and the need for artistic expression? art degree is the perfect degree for you in this case. In order to know if this is a viable career choice for you, some basic questions need to be answered first so you can determine if this is something you can see yourself doing for years and years to come.

What type of skills will you be gaining if you get an Art Degree?

It depends; for the most part you may not be gaining any new skills particularly, more so working on refining the skills you already have. Most art majors usually paint, sculpt, design, draw, and illustrate their works.

The goal is to do this in a way unique to them, but also in a way that will appeal to the mainstream. The particular courses you would take when you get an art degree will depend on your school, although in most cases there are core art classes in things such as drawing, arts history, and design.

What is the demand for people with artistic skills?

You may be worrying that with an art degree your opportunity for gainful employment will be limited, but nothing could be farther from the truth. There is a great demand for people with artistic training, particularly graphic designers and those who possess multimedia abilities.

Web and software companies tend to hire thousands of artists each year. Also, the advertising and publishing industries constantly need illustrators and photographers. There are various schools and small studios that need art instructors as well as museums.

The option to teach is always a viable one as well. Many schools are in need of art teachers and professors.

What are the expected earnings of someone with an art degree?

The amount of money you can earn is going to vary widely. You can be an independent artist for example, and make less than $20,000 a year. On the other hand you can be a graphic artist employed by a company earning more than $100,000 per year. If you decide to become a web or multimedia artist you can make between $50,000-$70,000 per year fresh out of college.

If you are truly committed to your craft, love art and feel like you are prepared to deal with the possible ups and downs that may come with this career, then an art degree is the perfect choice for you.