Pursuing an Art Career

If you have a strong passion for art, you might have considered pursuing an art career at some point; for some, this might seem like a daunting or unattainable goal—so here is a quick breakdown of things to consider.

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To begin, there is a wide range of options to choose from if you are thinking of pursuing a career in art: graphic design, visual arts, animation, photography, music, and fashion, just to name a few. You do not necessarily have to decide on only one specialty, but having a general idea of the type of work you want to create is one of the first steps.

Next, unlike other careers, formal education is not a requirement. Despite this, many artists still choose to attend college or university because it can help develop their technical skills. There are many different programs specializing in various fields of study that students can apply for, although formal education is not the right path for every artist. For some, using alternative resources such as online courses is a more effective method of developing skills. The best choices for each individual seeking a career in art will vary depending on how they prefer to learn and work.

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If you would like to pursue art, setting up a studio space is an important first step—it doesn’t have to be extremely large or professional to start, but you need a space to focus on your work. In addition, learning about and researching the art industry is essential in order to choose which kind of profession you are best suited for, as well as how to succeed in it. Social media can also be a useful tool to gain an audience for your work if used correctly, which can help boost your career.

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Building an artistic career is no small feat—there are numerous challenges, and art is not generally known to be a particularly lucrative business. Creating art professionally requires connections and resourcefulness, as well as a lot of dedication, commitment, and discipline. Even then, it may be difficult to transition into being a full-time artist right away; most people have other jobs to fund their artistic endeavors.

However, that is not to say there are no benefits to pursuing art. Artists typically have more freedom in their career due to the flexibility of the industry. You can choose to do freelance work or to work for other businesses, and which disciplines you'd like to specialize in. More importantly, being able to provide for yourself while doing something you have a passion for is often worth the time and hard work it takes to get there.

Sources

• https://learn.org/articles/What_Education_Do_I_Need_to_Become_an_Artist.html

• https://theartcareerproject.com/five-ways-to-jumpstart-your-art-career/

• https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/art-schools/careers

• https://www.artdex.com/the-complete-guide-on-how-to-pursue-an-art-career/

• https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/how-to-be-ready-to-transition-into-a-full-time-art-career