The Artist’s Life

Careers that stem from an art degree are varied and fulfilling. Fine artists need not fear the label of starving artist because there are many fields they can enter that will fulfill their artistic needs as well as their financial ones. Many people who graduate from art programs take marketing and business courses to enhance their ability to run a business based on their art. There are also careers in freelance art and contracts offered by large corporations for specific types of art that focuses on the business.

Craft Artist

Craft artists work mainly in sectors like jewelry design. Well designed and crafted jewelry is not limited to the traditional designs for rings, necklaces and bracelets. In the modern market such items as hair accessories, technological necessities and even teeth are bejeweled at high market values. Many craft artists are self employed or contracted with wide market companies. The median salary for this career is about $30,000.

Fine Artist

Fine artists spend the majority of their art degree program immersed in their particular field. Whether in sculpture or painting, a fine artist can make a good living as a gallery owner. In this way they are able to showcase their own talents, and those of others, while selling their creations under their own preferred conditions. Should a find artist choose to work under contract, they are able to continue their art but there may be conditions or limitations put on the creative license. The median salary for these careers is about $40,000.

Medical and Scientific Illustrator

Some artists obtain an art degree as well as one that gives them a wider skill set to market. In doing so, these artists can choose “professional” careers that involve art such as medical and scientific illustrators. These people draw the pictures and diagrams for all types of medical and scientific works that include texts, magazines and dissertations. Depending on the type of publication the salary varies, but the median salary is about $50,000.