Introduction
As you can see, artistic people have a wide variety of opportunities available to them. There truly has been no better time to be artistic! Make sure that you do your research to decide what will best suit you. Then, you can look forward to enjoying the career of your dreams!
It doesn’t matter whether you’re 18 or 82, finding the perfect job isn’t always easy. There are always so many factors to consider. Perhaps the biggest question that many people ask themselves when they are job hunting is whether they should follow their passions and dreams, or settle for a career that’s going to pay the bills.
The truth is that you don’t actually need to have one or the other - there are plenty of occupations out there that are perfect for artistic people, and yes - they do indeed pay the bills! Some of these roles pay a lot of money too, since they’re always on the lookout for new and talented people to join the ranks.
In a world that seems so dominated by corporate roles like accounting, business management and more, then, how does someone find a job in an artistic field? That’s what we’re here to explore today! Here are some careers for artistic people, plus some of the benefits of finding jobs in an artistic medium.
Artistic Occupation: What Does It Mean?
So what exactly does it mean to have an artistic profession? Perhaps a better word would be ‘creative’ jobs. These jobs are perfect for people who think with the right side of their brain. They’re roles for people who can think outside of the box in a creative way, who can come up with new and exciting concepts and patterns in an instant.
Involves working frequently with forms of patterns, designs and forms
Artistic occupations are ones that often tend to work with the visual mediums. You may find yourself working with things like patterns, and designs. You may find yourself creating new forms and shapes, and getting inventive with things like color. You may be given an instruction to create something, and you’re asked to run away with it and make something new and magical. You’re essentially a magician with a paintbrush - or written word, the tattoo needle or whatever your tool of choice is.
Requires self-expression and the work can be completed, without following any rules
The other thing to note about artistic professions is that they require you to express yourself. Artists will all tell you one key thing - their personality, their interests and more all seep into their work. Your work is a way of expressing yourself and how you feel - this is something that’s often needed in creative professions. Likewise, you need to be someone that isn’t necessarily going to be put off by a lack of rules. There is not a specific way to do something when you’re being artistic. You may just be given a word or a prompt, and be asked to run wild with it, creating something new. You often won’t be given a step by step formula or how to do things - you need to be proficient with your craft. Or, if you’re just starting out, you need to have that creative spark to make miracles happen on the page or screen.
The Benefits Of Having An Artistic Occupation
Artistic professions often get a bad rep in the media for being whimsical, or for not paying very well. By some, they aren’t even viewed as essential or important. This is most certainly not the case - artistic professions are important because without creatives, our world would be pretty devoid of color. Artistic occupations and people are responsible for the marketing and graphic design we see, and for most of the beauty in the world. Even what we see on TV is created by artistic people. So, what are the benefits of having an artistic occupation, aside from the fact that you will have a real impact on the world around you?
You get to work with creative and visual people
If you’re a creative person, there’s a good chance that you too will value being around others who are also creative and have an eye for the visual world. Let’s face it - creative people don’t always view the world in the same way that others do. It’s a fantastic fact of life - we all think about things differently, and it’s what makes us unique. It’s also what gives us things in common with others, and it can sometimes lead to lifelong bonds with kindred spirits.
The truth is that there’s something truly magical about being around people that are like minded. They get it - they know where you’re coming from, and can join with you on your vision. Not only can you hang out with likeminded people in the work environment, but you can also enjoy their company outside of work. Artistic people lead some pretty great social lives too! It’s simply a joy to get to be a part of it.
You get to work with others that share the same interests/passion
They say that opposites attract, and that is certainly true. You can make friends with people who aren’t interested in the same things as you. It is a lot easier to bond with people though if they have similar interests to you. The great thing about working in an artistic profession is that you are more likely to meet people that are like you with similar interests, allowing you to make some great bonds that can stand the test of time.
Artistic vision and design skills are needed in areas such as architecture & fashion
Jobs in artistic fields can be quite competitive since there are a lot of creatives that have what it takes for the job. With that being said, being creative and having a vision is so important for a wide range of jobs. Creatives are needed in areas like architecture, and fashion design. It’s needed for media, marketing and even for designing things for big movies! There are lots of opportunities out there if you are willing to look for them and put in the work, making it a fantastic choice to go out there and follow your passions!
There’s More Flexibility
If you’re looking for a job with more flexibility in schedule, it’s worthwhile considering an artistic role. It’s possible to get a full time contract in a creative role if that’s something that you are looking for. With that being said, if you do want that flexibility then the great thing about creative roles is that you can often do them as a contractor or on a self employed basis. Not only does this allow you to work on your own terms, but it also means that you can have a varied schedule too. You could take on a wide range of different clientele, meaning that no two days are the same. This can be a huge benefit for many people that want to have new experiences all the time in their jobs, and for people that want to work with different clients under their own steam.
Creative Careers: The Best Jobs For Artistic People
So now that you know why it’s a good idea to work in an artistic profession, what are some of the best careers that you can get into? Well, if you’re stuck for ideas, here are just a few suggestions to keep in mind!
Fine artist
One great suggestion for people who are artistic is to be a fine artist. Now, a fine artist’s job can consist of a number of things. Fine art can be painting and drawing, or you may be working with other mediums such as sculpting with materials like clay. Ultimately it depends on what the client needs in a given situation, and where your particular strengths lie. In most cases fine artists will work in a ‘fine arts’ sub category based on their own artistic niche.
This is a fantastic role for people that like to work mostly alone, since it’s often done independently. Many people who are fine artists will work on a freelance basis and are specifically asked to work by clients. They may be working on behalf of galleries or museums, or you may be commissioned to work directly for a customer.
There are many benefits to working as a fine artist. For instance, it’s a fulfilling role where you are doing something that you are passionate about and believe in. It can be therapeutic for you too, since you will be able to express yourself in a way that’s unique to you. Since most fine artists work for themselves, it can also be a freeing role where you aren't having to deal too much with the demands of a boss or overheads. You can work when you’re ready and when the inspiration hits you, something that creatives will usually appreciate.
It can sometimes be a little difficult to find these jobs since they are competitive, but taking some initiative will be important here. Show your portfolio to your likely clientele and see if they are interested. Some famous fine artists include the likes of Vincent van Gogh and Andy Warhol.
Art therapist
If you want to have the opportunity to help people, making a massive difference in their lives through your art, then becoming an art therapist may be just the right path for you. Art therapy has been found to have a wide variety of benefits, and it is effective in treating clients that are struggling with mental health from any age group and background. You can conduct therapy sessions with groups or on a one to one basis, and jobs can be in places like schools, healthboards and on a private basis.
As an art therapist, each day can be as varied as you like it to be. You will need to be able to listen to your clients and provide them with the guidance that they need. The goal is to encourage artistic expression and experimentation in clients, allowing them to feedback their process and how they felt when creating the piece of artwork. There are other things involved too such as administration tasks and ongoing training and development. If you work for your own business then you can also set your own hours if you wish, though in most cases art therapist jobs will operate on a 9 to 5 basis with opportunities to do more hours as you feel fit.
For you, there are a number of different benefits to becoming an art therapist. Practitioners claim that the role is a rewarding one - being able to help clients to change their lives and their perception can be pretty incredible. We all know how difficult it can be to open up about our deepest feelings, which is why art therapy can be so powerful as it allows someone the opportunity to express how they feel without making themselves feel too vulnerable.
In addition to that, you also get to learn more about yourself and you can develop your art and who you are as a person. You’ll get plenty of flexibility in this career path too, and you can even create new forms of art therapy that can make some big waves and impacts.
What is important to note, however, is that you’re going to have to work hard to get to the end of the line. You’re going to have to get a degree to become an art therapist and that costs both time and money. You may also need to explain to people what you do in depth because they may not quite understand it straight away!
Art teacher
Where did your love of art begin? For many people, it began in school under the guidance of a passionate teacher. Becoming an art teacher is an obvious choice for artists, but that’s because it’s such a great choice. It’s a fantastic way to pass on your skills and knowledge to a new generation of artists much like you.
The art teacher has a very important role. The art teacher is one that is there to foster creativity, allowing young people and children to express themselves artistically. You will be there to teach about the history of art, about different mediums and techniques. The art teacher’s job is ultimately to inspire. Many teachers will tell you that they became a teacher because they were inspired by a teacher when they were in school. As a teacher, you can be sure that at least one of your students will remember you fondly even well into their adulthood. You can have a huge impact as an art teacher!
You don’t need to stay as an art teacher forever either. You can push for promotions to become a principal, or a director of the school board. There are so many opportunities for career advancement for teachers. Alternatively, you don’t have to work in a school at all. You can open your own designated art school for a given age range that you will run. This can be a great choice if you don’t like being told what curriculum you should follow, and it can be a lucrative business if you are successful.
To be an art teacher, you’re going to have to get back to school. Becoming an art teacher will require qualifications and in most cases, you will also need to get experience in the field before you will be accepted to become a teacher. You can gain this kind of experience from volunteering. Of course, the experience that you are going to need depends on whether you want to go out and start a class on your own or whether you are going to be working for a school board.
Illustrator
If you enjoy creating art based on nothing but simple prompts, then being an illustrator could be a good option for you. As an illustrator you can work for a wide variety of mediums, including in a corporate setting such as for advertising and marketing, or you could be working for things like fashion outlets. You may even end up working on some of those comics you see in newspapers or creating things for the TV.
As an illustrator, you will usually be given a brief that will tell you roughly what the client needs for the specific purpose. You’ll then be allowed to run wild with your own ideas based on that brief, and you can go back and forth with the client until you both get an outcome that you’re happy with. What’s especially great about this role is that you can get the opportunity to have your work seen by so many different people, raising your profile and making it even more likely that you’ll get new clients!
You have two main options here - you can either work for a company as an in-house illustrator, or you can work off your own back in a freelance role. You may find that it’s difficult to find an in-house role, so it may be a little easier to head out on your own in a freelance role. You can find work online on websites such as Upwork.
If you are working on a freelance basis then this is great if you like to work under your own steam, but you are also going to need to consider the deadlines put in place by your clients. This can sometimes mean that you have to work quite long hours over the weekend, and it’s crucial that you have good time management. This is probably not the kind of job for you if you’re prone to procrastination! There also may be certain locations where work is more prominent, so a relocation may be necessary to get the most out of your career.
An illustrator job is a rewarding career, but you’re going to need to put in the work to be successful. It’s certainly worthwhile to see your work in all sorts of different places, though!
Make-up artist
Being an artist doesn’t just mean working with things like clay and canvas. No - being a makeup artist is another fantastic career for artistic people. One day you too could be like some of your favorite beauty YouTubers!
So why should you become a makeup artist? Well, for starters there’s a good opportunity to earn some serious money in this career. Given the right skills and experience, people are willing to pay a lot of money for your services, especially if you work for yourself or open your own salon. The work is incredibly varied too - you could do make-up for things like weddings and events, or you could be working in movies and TV (More on that later!)
As a makeup artist, there will be clients that will have something specific in mind for their work. With that being said, there are also plenty of clients that will allow you to run wild with their makeup within reason. This means that you get to be creative, and seeing the look on your clients’ faces when you’re done is something that is truly priceless. People are always looking for makeup artists too, so there’s enough demand there to keep you in work on a consistent basis. If you want to then you can even work on your own schedule. A 9 to 5 day is not required unless you work in a company that tells you that it’s what you have to work.
You’ll get so many opportunities as a makeup artist and you’ll be able to see how happy your work makes people. It’s a rewarding career to say the least!
Art and design jobs in fashion
How about creating some of the clothes that people wear? Doing art and design jobs in fashion can be a great choice for someone artistic!
In this kind of job, you can design the clothes that people are going to be wearing - you will be instrumental in making new trends in fashion. You can design so many different things too such as bags, accessories, shoes and dresses. You can work in specialisms that best suit you.
These jobs can be quite competitive, so it’s a good idea to try and get some experience in order to give you an edge in the industry.
Theater & film
If you want your work to be seen by thousands of people, then look into roles in theater and film. There are a lot of options available to you here.
For starters, you can work in things like SFX, creating very unique and specific makeup looks on people. You can create the costumes and the backgrounds, both for film and theater.
This may be a difficult field to get into since it’s something that a lot of people want to do, but with the right skills and experience it’s certainly possible to be successful in this field.
Tattoo artist
Our final suggestion is to become a tattoo artist! Now, at tattooing101 we may be a little bit biased here, but we believe that being a tattoo artist is an incredibly lucrative career for a wide variety of reasons.
For starters, if you’re artistic then you are going to thrive in this kind of role. Many people will have a vague idea of what they want for a tattoo, but they may not have the artistic vision to show you exactly what they want. This allows you to be creative with bringing their vision to life in a very permanent way.
In addition to this, when you have worked on a number of different projects and clients, you will then have a portfolio at your disposal that you can show to people. You can show this portfolio to your clients to give them an idea of what you’re capable of, you can use it on social media in order to generate new clients, and you can also show it to your future employees to inspire them.
This career is one that’s great for self expression, and since it’s a growing industry you should have no problem with getting a good client base given enough time. The skills are also transferable - you ultimately need to have some training on how to use the tattoo pen and how to do things like drawing, and you should be good to go. That’s pretty simplistic, of course, since many people go to school for quite some time before they become tattoo artists, but if you have some skill with the paintbrush or the pen then you’re likely to enjoy being a tattoo artist.
You can get into this career path through doing an apprenticeship role too which is quite handy. Ultimately, it’s a fantastic role for a creative person looking to share their creative vision with clients and the world.
Tips On How To Find A Job
Now that you know more about the kinds of roles out there for creative people, you may be wondering how you are meant to find a job. This is a good question, since some people can find it difficult to find roles in their field. Thankfully, we have a couple of ideas to help you out.
Ask your network for referrals
If you already have connections in the field that you are looking to get into, then it’s most certainly worth your time to speak to those connections to see if they can get you a referral for a new role. Never underestimate the power of marketing!
As it turns out, most roles that exist aren’t even listed on online jobs boards. While many of them are listed on these pages, in most cases employers will ask their employees for referrals first since they are likely to find them more trustworthy. If you want a shot at the best roles out there then you need to beat them to the punch and get your name out there, and what better way to do that than to utilize your connections?
Make sure that you note down all of the people that you know in the industry and who may have the authority to allow you to get a foot in the door. Build relationships with people in the industry so when something does come up, you’re one of the first people to know about it.
Networking events
Speaking of networking events, make sure that you go to them! They’re a great way to get your name out there. Look for things like expositions and conferences in your area, since they’re the ideal way to find other people that can be great at advancing your career. Make sure that you have the business cards at the ready so they have your name and contact details on hand.
Use a job searching platform
Perhaps the most common way to find a job today is to use job search platforms. These will give you job listings in your industry. Many of them will allow you to apply filters so you can narrow your search based on things like the desired salary and the location in question. Make sure that you have a cover letter and a resume, since they often tend to have quick apply options too. Tailor your application to the job to make you stand out from the masses, since many of these jobs can get hundreds of applications, sometimes more.
Summary
As you can see, artistic people have a wide variety of opportunities available to them. There truly has been no better time to be artistic! Make sure that you do your research to decide what will best suit you. Then, you can look forward to enjoying the career of your dreams!
