Choosing the Right Art or Design Field for You
Though most artists already know which creative outlet is their preferred form of expression, it may take a little more reflection to choose an academic and/or professional path that incorporates that artistry. Writers alone may choose to go into fiction writing or poetry, journalism, essay writing or freelancing. An artist who loves to draw or sketch may want to illustrate books, create comic strips or learn about Web design. Choosing early on the right kind of art or design that matches your creative side and your professional goals will help you stay organized and focused while you’re in school or trying to break into the industry.
Once you have made the decision to make a living from your artistic skills or services, you will probably want to determine whether or not you’d like to be a total creative artist, like a fashion designer or actor, or if you’d prefer to work in an industry that combines creativity with more practical skills, like Web design or interior design. In order to make this decision, you’ll need to evaluate the kind of lifestyle you want to have in the future, what your priorities are in terms of expressing your art, and the job outlook for artists in your field. For instance, creative talent who are employed by design firms, magazines, or other businesses, still often have benefits like health insurance, a regular salary, the opportunity for upward mobility, access to exclusive clients and resources, and a sense of security. Freelance artists and artists working to make a living by selling their own work benefit from flexible scheduling, more artistic freedom, and the ability to pick and choose their projects. Even very successful artists, however, struggle with income and payment structure, managing a stable workload and running their own business. While freelancers and those who create art for themselves often enjoy unlimited creative expression and flexibility, they are also tied down managing finances, legal issues, marketing and public relations, and more. A professional working in-house, on the other hand, relies on the company to organize those issues.
Choosing the right kind of art school or academic program will depend on which kind of artist or design professional you want to be. Even though art school and a degree aren’t required for artists looking to break out on their own, art departments can afford students many benefits, like helping them build up a portfolio, introducing them to community artists and contacts, and giving them a free space to show their work. If you are certain that you want to develop your artistic skills and nothing else, an art institute that builds up your portfolio and doesn’t require you to take other types of classes may be the way to go. If, however, you’d like to balance your art classes with courses in business, computer science, engineering, or the liberal arts, you’ll want to explore universities that offer strong art degrees as well as other programs. Many larger universities also offer Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees for those only interested in developing their creative talents.
