What's the best place for an artist to work that makes reasonable pay to fund their passion, and still eat?

Question

I make enough money now to pay for my expenses to get TO work, but not enough for rent, food, or art supplies and expenditures. I'm looking for a career in multimedia/graphics work, but I need some extra cash and time to fill up my portfolio.

Answer 1

I am currently working at a company that uses graphic designers and photographers. We hire full time and give benefits, so it's a pretty good deal although the pay isn't terribly high and you must have experein ce and a good portfoilo, but it's a lot better than other places I have worked, or that I have worked with, where most design jobs are part time, no bennies, super low wages, or the dreaded "unpaid internships"...your first few design/arts jobs are likely to be low pay, so you do want something else you can do to keep those bills paid. My favorite "pay the bills" job was as a barrista/proof baker for a coffeehouse. Other friends make (really quite good) money delivering pizza. And, Okay, I don't want to offend you, but this is true, a roomate of mine was a dancer, and I envied the money she brought home, but I couldn't deal with that scene. Meanwhile, keep doing the art that makes you love art. No matter where you work, try to find coworkers who are fun, and don't let yourself get trapped in a work situation that doesn't let you express yourself. (For example, I used to work for a bank, they had very strict dress code/personal hygiene rules, and although I didn't think it hurt me to obey them, dressing the way I do is part of my creativity, and to not be able to do it made me small.) Hang in there! The world needs artists, even if it isn't always supportive of the artist.

Answer 2

Wooly is right about the t-shirt business. I owned and operated my own screen printing business for 14 years and did 90% of the design work which helped fulfil my artistic urges. It is a good business to start from scratch and build up. By the time I sold it a year ago I figure I was making about $35 an hour profit.

Answer 3

There really are no "places" for visual artists. They usually work on comission or commercially. I would suggest being a commercial artist and having your own clients. You woud have to be very lucky to get hired for a decent job working as an artist unless you were a teacher. Get your portfolio ready and get out there. You can do all kinds of things people would love. Also you can try submiting work to card companies, box designing, or for book covers.

Answer 4

PHILADELPHIA! Philly has an amazing community for artists. There are a ton of galleries around the city that need artists to exhibit in thier spaces. I have a bunch of GD friends, that say that companies around Philadelphia are looking for multimedia/web designers and graphic designers. You can find awesome places just outside of Center City (aka South/North Philly) for a resonable price. I def. prefer Philadelphia over NYC.

Answer 5

My suggestion to you is that you find a silk screen shop (t-shirts and stuff) and start there,....it's a good way to get hands on work, good experience and do your own thing and their own thing all in one fale swoop. Thats what I did 31 years ago, now I have my work in every state of the country, in many state capitols and "the capitol"...in every country on earth except Lybia and the state of tasmania.......I'd tell you who I am but it would sound arrogant and I'm too old for long stories,...suffice it to say,...."good luck, spend yout time well and practice alot".
R.M.P

Answer 6

Just do what everyone else does, get some crummy day job and freelance on the side. Trust me everyone wants someone to draw/paint/ design them something.

Answer 7

dude man be a bartender or a waiter just work there a couple of days its easy work and the money aint all that bad