Choosing the right (art) career

[Oblivia Enna]

'What do you want to do?' is a question I've been asking myself for a long time. I know I want to go to university for a fine arts degree, but I'm unsure of what beyond that. I'd like a job that's flexible, not location-constricting, and one that involves me creating. The most I can think of that relates strongly to these confines would be becoming a concept artist. Ideally I would love to live off selling works, but I think that's a dream everyone has, and few achieve.

So tell me:

+What is your job? Is it relating to art (general), art creation, research, teaching, entrepreneurship? What do you do at work?

+(and if you do or don't work...) What was/is your dream job, is it different than what you're working now?

+Are you confined to your location for that job, or are you able to work through the internet?

+What is your salary/income?

[mickeymao]

One of my best teachers in art school told me, "the market will tell you where you belong in it". Your job is to become the best artist you can be, and keep your eyes open. Opportunities will arise. The art world is bigger, and has more bizarre little niches in it, than you can possibly imagine right now.

[QueenGwenevere]

Ahahaha... yeah, what mickeymao said.

My job is whatever I'm doing right now. Which is whatever people are willing to pay me to do. ;)

What is your job? Is it relating to art (general), art creation, research, teaching, entrepreneurship? What do you do at work?

Um, everything? Illustration, animation, character design, making Flash games and gadgets, designing webpages and this-and-that, interface consulting, coming up with cool ideas for people, whatever comes my way... Plus building up my own projects on the side and pimping them... I suppose my official job title is "freelance illustrator", but I change it around depending on the job and client.

+(and if you do or don't work...) What was/is your dream job, is it different than what you're working now?

Well, if I could make all the money I need doing my own projects, that would be pretty sweet...

+Are you confined to your location for that job, or are you able to work through the internet?

I freelance, yo. I can work in bed if I want. Working on illustrations for a Flash game in bed at this very moment (hooray for laptops and wifi.)


+What is your salary/income?

Fluctuates wildly. Anywhere from 8k to 80k per year.

[dpaint]

Fluctuates wildly. Anywhere from 8k to 80k per year.

Not that it is any of my business, but how the heck does anyone live on 8k a year in New York?

[QueenGwenevere]

Not that it is any of my business, but how the heck does anyone live on 8k a year in New York?

By alternating with 80k a year and not spending too much in between... ;)

(Okay, there was only one year where I made 8k, near the beginning of my freelance phase... And admittedly not that many years bring in 80k, either... I guess it usually averages somewhere between 30k - 60k, give or take.) (But you never know. That's the fun part.) (Or the scary part. Depending.)

[JeffX99]

Maybe this thread will be some help - then just do your research. There are many resources available for the more professional art careers that can give you an idea of salary.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=174079