So You Want to Be an Artist?

Music blasts in a cluttered loft. Empty mugs litter every surface. Some contain day-old coffee. Others hold dirty paintbrushes. A figure wearing paintsplattered jeans considers marks on a canvas, absentmindedly scooping curly noodles from a Styrofoam cup of instant ramen. They put the soup aside and pick up a paintbrush and a palette . . .

When you imagine an artist, what do you see? Is it someone painting in a messy studio? Maybe it’s a person hanging their work in an art gallery. This is how many people view artists. Some artists do live and work like this. But most don’t. If you want to be an artist, there are many possibilities.

The description above is the romanticized version of the artist’s life. Some artists do live like this. But most don’t. Many people who consider themselves artists have regular jobs, like graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, and animators. In fact, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2.57 million artists working in the U.S. in 2020. And that doesn’t include people who work in the arts but have administrative, academic, or technical positions.

Being a successful fine artist—showing your work in a gallery and making a profit doing so—can be really hard. But there are countless ways to have a creative career, and make a living while you’re at it.

People who show their work in galleries and museums are known as “fine artists.” Working as a fine artist can be challenging. That’s why many artists have regular jobs. They might be illustrators, animators, or photographers, to name a few.

The United States keeps track of how many people work in different fields. In 2020, there were 2.57 million artists working in the U.S.! That doesn’t even count people with teaching or technical jobs in the arts. There are many ways to have a successful creative career.

Whether you dream of seeing your artwork hanging in a major museum or want to follow a less risky path, you can (and should!) learn from artists who’ve done it. “It’s important to remember when you have a challenge that there’s always someone who’s come before you,” says artist Mark Bradford. “Another person has gone through something similar and made it out OK, and so can you.”

That’s why we’ve created this collection of creative jobs. Learn the skills you’ll need, what to expect in your daily life, and even how much money you can expect to make. Maybe one of the careers will inspire you! And if not, don’t worry. There are so many creative jobs out there. Just remember: The best way to start is by asking questions.

No matter what kind of artist you want to be, you can learn from artists who have done it. “It’s important to remember when you have a challenge that there’s always someone who’s come before you,” says artist Mark Bradford. “Another person has gone through something similar and made it out OK, and so can you.”

This issue of Scholastic Art features interviews with people who have creative jobs. As you read, think about the skills you would need for each job. What could you expect in your daily life? Maybe one of the careers will inspire you!