How To Make A Career As A Visual Artist

By Ashis Jain


Many visual artists are self-employed according to the available statistics as compared with those who are on payroll. A visual artist has different types of specialization to choose from. These specializations include multimedia, animations, crafts, art direction and animations. A college degree or a post secondary course in visual arts is necessary for one to qualify in most visual art jobs. Many people out there have these qualifications and therefore there is a big competition for jobs in this field.

High school is the best place to begin your career as a visual artist. You can start by taking art related classes such as art history classes. If you are post high school, you can enroll for an art history class at a community college.

You will also need business classes to help you to progress your career in future. Remember to sharpen your English skills to improve your writing skills too. For instance if you become an art director, you will need to write a grant application to help you in your business in future.

Working experience is in every bit essential in this situation. Take part in extra-curricular and leisure activities to increase your visual arts understanding. Visit photo art galleries, photo trade festivals and museums frequently to enhance your understanding of arts. If you are in senior high school, consider joining the school theater groups or work with the school yearbook.

Unlike colleges and universities, art and design schools emphasize generally on practical skills more than the theory part. Some people have succeeded without a certificate or college degree but it is still best to get one for you to improve your chances of being employed. Most studio art classes have lately included computer graphics and software programs to their curricula. It will also be beneficial to take premedical courses if you intend to specialize in medical illustrating specialty. An art director will need to take classes in art direction or art administration.

Building your own portfolio is the ultimate thing any person who wants to develop a career in visual arts. This is very important in any art related career path. You need to put your photos, drawings, painting, prints and any other own media in order to promote your portfolio. Your portfolio will be the one to show your best skills whether you are a freelance illustrator, fine artist or any other specialty.

The best way to start a career as a visual artist is by finding an entry level job or looking for freelance clients for instance if you are a freelance illustrator. If you inquire from most successful artists, they will tell you that most of them began working as freelancers while they were still students. Gradually they increased their client base until they became professionals.

It is advisable that you begin with less challenging tasks to help you improve your skills as time goes by. The bureau of labor statistics indicate that jobs for multimedia artists will get more opportunities by the year 2018. The percentage projection of this is around 14 percent job increase.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment