Art Careers Without the Risk

By Sarah Clark
Learning & Life Columnist

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Anyone with a creative side has most likely considered abandoning their stable stiff-suit job for one that's more artistic. Most people suppress those urges and remind themselves that it's too risky to give up a reliable paycheck in pursuit of a career that may barely cover the monthly rent.

But the increasing availability of distance-learning education courses, as well as universities with evening and weekend classes, makes getting the credentials you need to move to a more creative field less daunting. Today, you can pursue a degree in an artistic discipline without giving up your day job.

Artistic Career Opportunities

What creative person doesn't yearn to express their artistic side? Maybe you've considered getting into multimedia design, working as an animator, web designer, or video game designer. Courses - even entire degrees - can be completed online in these subjects, as well as a variety of other creative fields, such as interior design and landscape architecture.

For example, a fashion degree could lead to a career in clothing design, fashion marketing, and window display design. A degree in residential planning could prepare you for a job as a landscape designer, someone who plans the grounds for museums, homes, corporate parks, and public spaces. You might also work for a city planning agency or a building contractor, designing residential communities.

Making Money as an Artist

Contrary to conventional wisdom, pursing an artistic career doesn't automatically relegate you to a lifestyle of penny pinching and thrift-store shopping. The median annual earnings of salaried art directors were $61,850 in 2002. Earnings for multimedia artists and animators were nearly $44,000; the highest-paid earned more than $85,000.

Take time to explore new, more stimulating careers with very little risk or personal sacrifice - you only need to invest the time it takes to learn something new about yourself and your artistic gifts.

Sources:

U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

About the Author
Sarah Clark is a freelance writer specializing in career development and postsecondary education.

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