Art-related career alternatives are often the best choice for a multitude of reasons.
— Barney Davey
I am looking for a satisfying job in an art-related career.
First, I would never discourage someone who has a passion and wants to become a full-time artist from choosing otherwise. It is a unique, noble, and worthy way to make a living. As with all entrepreneurial endeavors, going full-time is challenging, making art-related career alternatives a great choice.
Success as a full-time artist is complicated.
Becoming a successful full-time artist requires more than artistic talent. It takes a business mind, a marketing mind, and the ability to stick with it when your income doesn’t live up to your hopes.
In other words, it often requires sacrifices for those not the beneficiaries of a spouse or other family members or friends who will support them early on. Life’s not fair. The only reasonable measure of success is what you want to achieve and how well you get there.
There are far fewer artists in it for the money than those who prioritize their profit motives. For them, taking a job to support their artistic endeavors is a better choice than marketing their art to support their lifestyle.
This blog is for all artists, regardless of status.
People who read this blog know I work hard to give artists business and marketing tips to help them succeed. The How to Make Success Selling Art to Interior Designers post is a perfect example. The response to it indicates substantial interest in the subject. It’s just one sliver of unique advice on the art business in the Art Marketing News blog.
Now, whether or not your destiny is to achieve full-time artist status or take on an art-related career, you will find the ideas, information, and inspiration published here helpful in reaching your art career goals and potential. Know one thing. You do not have to work full-time as an artist to have a rewarding career.
Priceless advice.
I shamelessly tell you my ideas are worth following. Here is my best advice in a nutshell.
Choose your goals wisely, evaluate your resources fairly, put your plan into action every day, and check your progress often. Never be afraid to regroup and move to a higher calling when the spirit moves you, or the situation forces you.
Gratitude and respect are their rewards.
Be grateful for the many opportunities before you. Never measure your success against others. Your path is uniquely yours. When you understand and acknowledge that you and you alone can define your success, your life becomes simplified in the right way. With this kind of self-awareness, you also stop caring about the negative opinions of people who, in the end, have nothing to do with your art career or your other art-related career.
Xanadu Gallery artists are all full-timers.
My art marketing and broadcast partner, Jason Horejs, owns Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale. Because of production concerns, he rarely represents artists who are not full-time. His reasoning makes sense. He wants artists committed to making art their full-time job and who can meet his minimum production requirements to be shown in the gallery. He has found the production part highly problematic for artists with outside obligations.
You are balancing your day job and your art career or art-related job.
I have been in this situation. Previously, I blogged using myself as an example. At one time, I wrote about Art Marketing News and book publishing as my side hustle. I worked full-time in a tech sales and support position for a large domain, hosting, and email provider. I found the work both informative and helpful in feeding my inner geek. However, it provided a steady income, health insurance, and retirement benefits. Without a job, adequate health coverage was almost unaffordable.
Art-Related Career Alternatives to a Full-time Art Career
If you are not yet ready to move into a full-time art career, I hope you find that considering some art-related careers as possible leads towards an ideal situation for yourself. To learn more about alternative art careers, subscribe to Art Marketing News. You’ll get a PDF of this report with insights and advice on living your best life in art and business.
List of Art-Related Careers
| ARTISTS | FASHION, APPAREL & TEXTILES |
| Airbrush Artist / Spray Painter | Fiber Artist |
| Architectural Illustrator | Apparel Accessory Designer (Shoes / Bags / Hats) |
| Graphic Illustrator | Dressmaker |
| Technical / Textbook Illustrator | Embroiderer |
| Storyboard Illustrator | Fashion Consultant |
| Cartoonist | Fashion Designer / Sports Apparel Designer |
| Commercial Artist | Fashion Merchandising |
| Fine Artist (Painter) | Pattern Maker |
| Printmaker / Screen Printer | Costume Designer |
| Courtroom Sketch Artist | Quilt / Rug / Linen Designer |
| Art Conservationist | Fabric Textile Designer |
| Special Effects Makeup | T-shirt Designer |
| Mural Artist | Fashion Merchandising |
| Tattoo Artist | Fashion Design |
| Caricature Art | Rug and Carpet Designer |
| Sculpting | Wallpaper Designer |
| Graffiti Art | Makeup Artist |
| Comic Book Art | Jewelry Design |
| Film Animator | Shoe Design |
Art-Related Careers
| ADVERTISING, MEDIA & MARKETING | SPATIAL DESIGN |
| Advertising Director | Interior Designer |
| Logo / Branding Designer | Architect |
| Advertisement Designer | Naval Architecture |
| Sign Designer | Landscape Architecture |
| Magazine Layout Designer | Golf Course Design |
| Book / eBook Designer | Urban Design |
| Packaging Designer | Swimming Pool Design |
| Calendar / Stationery / Wallpaper Designer | Playground / Theme Park Designer |
| Typographer | Interior Designer! Decorator |
| Illustrator | Set / Stage Design |
| Technical Illustrator | Industrial Designer |
| Home Staging | |
| EDUCATION | Furniture Design |
| Art Education Administrator | Product Design |
| Art School Director | Automotive Design |
| Primary / Elementary Teacher | Industrial Design |
| Middle / High School Art Teacher | Transport Design |
| University Lecturer / Professor | Toy Design |
| Private Art Instructor | Kite Designer / Utensil Designer |
| Independent Art Teacher | Miniature Model Maker |
| Art Historian | Mockup Artist |
| Art Travel Workshops | Industrial Designer / Bridge Designer |
| Art Workshop Leader | Display and Exhibition Design |
Art-Related Careers
| ART-RELATED | STUDIO ARTS |
| Gallery Owner | Potter / Ceramic Designer |
| Gallery Manager | Floral Design |
| Gallery Sales | |
| Online Curator | Mosaic Art |
| Museum Curator | Glassblowing |
| Color Consultant | Woodworking |
| Art Restorer Conservationist | Blacksmith |
| Corporate Art Buyer | Metal Fabrication |
| Art Handler / Shipper | Ice Sculpture |
| Museum Technician | Screen Printing |
| Giclee / Digital Fine Art Printer | Print Design |
| Art Marketing Consultant | Taxidermy |
| Art Agent / Business Manager | Stained Glass Window Designer |
| Art Dealer | Wood Turner / Carver |
| Art Therapist | Mosaic Designer |
| Art Supplies Retailer | Jewelry Designer |
| Art Curriculum Writer | Weaver |
| Art Critic | Glass Artist |
| Arts Administrator | Prop Designer |
| Arts and Cultural Planner | Cake Decorator |
| Art Auctioneer | Food Product Designer |
| Museum Exhibit Design | |
| Picture Framer |
Art-Related Careers
| GRAPHIC & VISUAL DESIGN | PHOTOGRAPHY |
| Graphic Design | Advertising Photographer |
| Web Design | Fashion Photographer |
| Logo Design | Food Photographer |
| Multimedia Design | Portrait Photographer |
| UI/UX Design | Fine Art Photographer |
| Layout Design | Underwater Photographer |
| Book Illustration | Wedding Photographer |
| Medical Illustration | Stock Photo Seller |
| Storyboard Artist | Director of Photography |
| Book Cover Illustration | Macro Photography |
| Film & Production | Celebrity Photography |
| Film Editing | Wildlife Photography |
| Set Design | Aerial Photography |
| Cinematography | Photojournalism |
| Nature Photography |
Art-Related Careers
| GAMING & TECHNOLOGY | GAMING & TECHNOLOGY |
| Video Game Design | Game Animator |
| Video Game Director | Concept Artist |
| Game Level Design | Digital Illustrator |
| Web Development | Digital 3D Modeller |
| Motion Graphics Design | Web Designer |
| Animation & Effects | iPhone / Android App Designer |
| Motion Graphics | Television / Film Producer |
| Visual Effects | Documentary Filmmaker |
| 3D Animation | Camera Operator |
| Computer Animation | Film Editor |
| 3D Modeling | Special Effects Designer |
| YouTube Video Creator | Video Game Design |
Skills in your art-related job improve your art career.
The above list touches on art-related career paths you could choose. It is not all-inclusive. Please leave your suggestions and thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of the page. Most positions listed require specialized knowledge or further education, either at the university level or through an apprenticeship. Nearly all need the perspective of an artist.
These jobs will allow you to increase your knowledge and skillsets and help you make your art career, whether full-time or part-time, more fulfilling and successful. Because of an artist’s career requirements, many artists have experience in these art-related career fields.
For instance, making art requires understanding how to frame, ship, market, and sell it. Also, you probably know how to use photography and digital art software and have a lot of other skills that make you a “jack of all trades.” No matter what kind of art-related job you choose, you will learn and improve skills that can help you get new jobs.
Your day job can become your ideal job.
You may find an art-related career that is more lucrative and rewarding than you might have been able to accomplish as a full-time artist. You may also discover your knowledge is a perfect stepping-stone to help you leap to the career of your dreams as a self-supporting full-time artist. Because blah blah
The good news is there are no wrong choices here. At worst, you start in one direction and go in another when your first choice is incorrect or a better opportunity presents itself.
Here’s an additional resource from Pixpa that you will find helpful: Art Jobs Perfect for Fine Arts Majors; check it out!
Experience Fulfillment in Art and Business.
I hope you don’t need convincing that living the dream is possible. But hear me out if you do. You can create a life worth living and a business worth running that brings you joy because it fits who you are and what you want. To learn what those things are, answer a couple of questions candidly.
- What is your vision for you and your art in business?
- Why will it bring you joy and fulfillment?
Your answers will help you determine what marketing plans and tools to use to manage your art business.
The goal is:
- Gain clarity on what you want from your life in art and business.
- Create viable plans to make it happen.
You’re Invited.
Please accept my invitation to subscribe to Art Marketing News; it’s free because I want quality art marketing information and training available for artists of all ages and skill levels. I like them and you to have the opportunity to take part in a community of like-minded artists.
Many of the careers above are as competitive as a career in art. (I was recently surprised to find out how competitive the framing industry is!) I know many talented art majors who have gone into teaching because that was the only option available. But even now, those jobs are challenging to come by with schools cutting back..
However, learning Marketing/PR and even in Web Development are extremely valuable skills to growing an art business and making a living. I got a job doing something else, but what I did overlapped into these other areas increasingly and I soaked up all the knowledge I could… and I still seek to learn as much as I can on what’s working and what’s not.
Now that I know I am dealing with a disability that severely compromised my health by pushing myself too hard, I am putting all my energy into re-launching my photography business so that I can maintain balance I need to in my life to stay healthy and strong. (I don’t mind working hard… It’s just not traditional hours or schedules.) It is scary, but a lot of doors relationship-wise have opened up professionally and I will now be able to approach things with an energy I just wasn’t able to before because I wasn’t receiving the treatment I needed.
I would love to work a normal job too because of practical reasons, but I plan to make the most of what I have to work with.
I have my first exhibit next weekend as I relaunch reaching out my perfect target audience. I am ready!!!
Jillian, Thank you for your insightful comments. Moreover, thanks for sharing your journey. All the best to you with your photography career and your first exhibit.You go, girl! 😉
Dick, you are a shining example of how one can make art and be connected to the art world while doing something other than making a living as a full-time artist.
Hi Barney,
This is the first article of yours I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Thank you so much for the great information. I also love the “Priceless Advice” and “Gratitude and Respect….” pieces as well. I am going to print and post those VERY wise words somewhere where I will see them daily!! This one article has given me some great ideas and added spark to my enthusiasm, and I very much look forward to reading your past and future articles.
Tom, Thank you for your enthusiastic comments. All the best to you for much success with your art career!
Love these options for artists…………good article!
I find myself in this position right now. I am an Art Instructor looking to become a full-time artist, but I am easing into it slowly because of the legalities of being a business owner and because I’m still learning how to run a business. I figure it’s better to take things slow and be on the right side of the IRS than the other way around. So for now it’s easier and better for me to be an employee of a company and build up my savings so I can sustain my business in the long run.
Nothing wrong with your approach. The best to do is keep progressing and getting better, which it sounds like what you are doing. All the best!
You are completely on the money with this.
I began in picture framing to help pay my way through art schools back in the late 60’s and have been doing so ever since.
I have worked on the side doing sign painting, gilding, painting displays for retail, wide format digital printing displays for promotional expos, advertising/illustration product design.
I now own and operate a frame shop/gallery, primarily with my own work on display and for sale. I have over the years become familiar with self publishing, digital and to some degree offset printing, sales, self promotion, in short all the multiple hats a small business owner must wear. I paint in my shop taking advantage of both the slow times for framing and to paint and blatantly display myself in the front window of my shop at the easel. Customers love it. Life is pretty good even though in the current economic stagnation running this kind of retail operation has seen many businesses stumble. Sometimes it’s more about grit than anything else.
For me it’s been a lifetime of growing and learning in the business. Pretty much on the job training and always learning. I knew nothing about business and had to learn with the hard knocks, “on the job training” way from the bottom up.
Hi David, Thank you for your thoughtful comments, and for sharing your valuable personal experiences and observations.
I’m currently a part-time college art instructor (art appreciation, art history) but have been thinking of becoming a full-time artist for some time now. Some of my friends from grad school think I have a great job, but these days it seems to take so much more of my time no matter how I try to schedule it. When I can get into the studio, that solid body of work that seems to top every gallerist’s list seems to elude me; I’ve painted in a realistic manner, then into more non-representational work, then collage gets my attention. Then nothing. For weeks. At this late stage of a crazy-quilt “career,” perhaps I should just enjoy my day job and do what I can in the studio.
Dear Anita, Thanks for your comments here. I think too many artists put expectations on themselves, or feel obliged by expectations of others to break out a full-time career. It doesn’t have to be that way. Making art for the enjoyment of personal pleasure and enjoyment is a worthy goal. If something else happens along the way, great! But, relieving yourself of feeling responsible to “make it” as a full-time artist is a lot of baggage to carry around.
I wrote/recorded this post recently, “How to Know You’re Not a Failure… and Other Assorted Thoughts” due to hearing from many other artists who are like you. That is, struggling with decisions and unneccessary feelings of inadequacy or something else akin to that. Bless you and carry on.
Thank you Barney, very helpful! Will check all the other articles, bless you !
thanks for this, as ai is everywhere now and my boss is starting to force me to use ai even though im a professional artist this info helps alot since ive been trying to venture out to search a carrier that still related to art where ai isnt as rampant as the digital art world atm..