Show of hands, how many of you are starving artist? And why?

Question

See i love art, i can be better with practice, i would love to take art classes, but i feel they would not help me gain a good well-payed career, unless i was really good....so...anyone have any suggestions on what careers are out there that are well payed, and that invlove some sort of drawing, painting, etc. I dont want to be a starving artist >.< Any sugestions? Links? References..anything?

Answer 1

yes I'm a starving artist.
(1) I'm in the fine arts Field
(2) I'm a poor salesman
(3) I absolutely refuse to give 40% to
60% to an agent or curator.
(4) I'd rather go hungry than hand over
about half of my hard earned
money to a glorified salesman.
I know of some women and men who do well without an agent/salesperson or curator/salesperson but they are people with a different mindset than I. It can be done but it is harder than the norm. So I do my work and sell by word of mouth. It isn't the best but I do live on it. I live by my art by my terms, so I guess this is the price to pay for my terms eh?
If you want to earn a good living by your talent then I would suggest you get into the graphic arts. It is a harder feild to work in and it is cutthroat by some degrees but man the money is good.
Illustration is a good part of the graphic arts as well you might want to investigate that.
A good well paying career in the visual arts demands some education in the field. Not art classes but an actual post secondary education. Otherwise you're wasting your time.
Get an education in the graphic arts: it will give you the basics you need in three or four years. Whereas if you learn on the job it could take six or seven years to earn the right to the basic all around knowledge. There is a hell of a lot more that just talent or draughtsmanship. The technical aspects are needed,as well as knowledge in type, printing,photography,and a slew of other aspects in design.
I would advise an education that hands over a piece of paper that says to potential employees that you have a basic understanding of the arts.
That would be my suggestion Uyoku. Only once in my thirty five year career have I seen an artist go directly into the commercial field from year one of a college education. And she was DAMNED GOOD!
Not to dissuade you but only 20% of the artists in the field are good. The other 80% of the artists are not all that good, but there is so much work that the 20% who get the best pickings can't handle the vast amount of work out there! So whats left over goes to the 80% and even they can't handle the work load in the graphic field.

Good luck.

Answer 2

if you're not willing to be a starving artist, then you're not willing to be a good artist. that is the sacrifice we pay. but being an artist doesn't mean you will be poor... but it is a possibility. the starving part is dependent on what you go into. if you want to be a fine artist that doesn't work for anyone else... well you'll probably die of starvation. ha. (that's going to be me)
you can always teach. work as a graphic artist. designer. or any of those commercial arts if you want a steady paying job.
are you educated or getting an education in the arts? that's a key point too. get an education.
there's plenty of art related jobs out there. but you're not going to get **** without an education.

Answer 3

I agree with olddog A LOT! I am a starving artist also... I have been screwed out of a handful of jobs! I even dabble in graphic arts to some degree. Recently someone starting a new company wanted me to design characters for the logo. I spent three days straight coming up with a handful of different concepts, getting approval for one and coming up with a finished piece (all with a "thumbs up" the whole time). When it was all done, the company told me to stop by their office to collect a check, arrived at the office and was told the company "could not use the design after all" inspite of constant approval along the way! A few weeks later I found out that they were only going to pay me $32.00! That pitiful handful of bills didn't even cover half the material cost! I could go on for ages on bad experiences. I guess part of it is that I wanted to believe that we are appreciated for our talents! Wrong! Wrong! Maybe wise to ask for payment in installments until the piece is complete (final payment upon completion.) As far as graphic designers go... olddog ... I couldn't have said it better! So true I feel that maybe 20% have talent. the others... well... for a lack of a better term @ the moment they suck! I knew a couple of graphic artists in another city that didn't know **** about common programs in their field of work! I had to show some of them how to use photoshop AND illustrator! "What the devil?" I thought "didn't you go to school for this ****?". I didn't and I know loads and loads about them just from trying out different tools! I dont even think of most graphic artists as artists! Sure they can make a box in a program and apply a gradient to it... but a lot of the ones I have met cannot draw ****! Be one of the 20%... I do find it near impossible to find work without that little sheet of paper saying you are certified, that's for sure. In spite of my talent with various programs... the business world will not give you the time of day without it! So... I continue to use traditional methods of art... slowly I am just turning it into a pass time. When someone @ my job sees me they would never guess what creative endeavors I have ventured into in the privacy of my dungeon. This is just my experience. I am sure some of us can succeed... I am one who might not ever though. Not that that is how I want it... just how the wicked world treats me. I do tributes to Bosch... no one seems to want anything art related today. At least not in painted form in the central coast area where I live in California. They would rather spend that money on the soon to be released Iphone and ugly f*ing winter boots that are sweeping this part of the nation! People are sheep. They cannot think for themselves most of the time! Ok... I digress. Get certified in graphic design or take a risk in our field. Good luck to you. Hope everything works out! Hope I did not ramble on too much. Felt good to vent a little though! :D

Answer 4

you could be an architect or a book illistrater.

yes i am hungy actually , i could go for a sandwhich. lol

the arts are very misunderstood.
:(

Answer 5

well if you can't draw that well and you have really great ideas, maybe you ca be in advertising.

Answer 6

no one knows what our talent is worth really

Answer 7

okay. if i raised my hand you wouldnt be able to see it anyway, so what do you care........