Art

Common Career Paths

• Studio art and craft practice
• Material-based practices (e.g., ceramics, glass, fiber/textiles, metals, wood)
• Drawing, painting, illustration, and print media
• Sculpture and installation
• Book, paper, and edition arts
• Performance and time-based practices
• Public art and commissioned work
• Historical Restoration
• Applied and functional art (e.g., furniture, tile, woodworking)
• Traditional craft and restoration
• Independent and entrepreneurial practice

Employers

• Independent artist studios and collectives
• Colleges and universities
• Community art centers and schools
• Foundries, fabrication studios, and master printers
• Public art programs
• Craft and art fairs
• Retail art and design shops
• Production studios and workshops
• Theater, film, and set fabrication studios
• Furniture, woodworking, and frame fabrication
• Government-supported arts programs
• Commissions
• Production of pottery, jewelry, and metalsmithing
• Mural, sign, and matte painting
• Carnival/Circus Arts

Strategies

• Consider graduate study such as an MFA to deepen practice and expand professional or teaching opportunities.
• Consider whether you want to pursue art as a full- time job or as an avocational interest.
• Opportunities are limited for full-time work. Many artists hold other jobs to supplement their income.
• Participate in juried exhibitions, shows, and public art opportunities.
• Maintain a current physical and digital portfolio documenting work.
• Gain additional skills and experience through an apprenticeship, internship, assistantship, or volunteer position with a professional artist or organization.
• Secure guild membership.
• Develop professional networks through residencies, guilds, and arts organizations.
• Build business, marketing, and grant-writing skills to support independent practice.
• Build a reputation by circulating art work and developing a particular style.

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Common Career Paths

• Visual communication and graphic design
• Motion design and time-based media
• Digital and interactive design
• Illustration and narrative arts (e.g., graphic novels, children’s books, editorial illustration, storyboarding, animation)
• Advertising and marketing design
• Medical and scientific illustration
• Editorial and publication design
• Art direction
• Logo/Branding and identity design
• Environmental, retail, and display design

Employers

• Advertising and public relation agencies
• Design firms
• Corporate marketing departments
• Publishing companies:
  • Books
  • Magazines
  • Newspapers
  • Digital Media
• Department stores
• Television, film, and media studios
• Governmental agencies and universities
• Manufacturing and product-based firms
• Greeting card companies
• Internet and digital media companies
• Independent and freelance practice
• Large corporations

Strategies

• Develop strong technical skills using industry-standard digital and design tools.
• Maintain a professional portfolio tailored to specific fields.
• Gain experience through internships, freelance projects, and part-time work.
• Obtain summer or part-time experience with book, magazine, or newspaper publishers.
• Practice working within deadlines and collaborative environments.
• Supplement curriculum with course work in advertising, business, marketing, or communication.
• For medical illustration, undergraduate coursework in anatomy and biology may be necessary, as well as a master’s degree in medical illustration.
• Participate in professional organizations, competitions, and portfolio reviews.

Common Career Paths

• Formal art instruction (K–12, higher education)
• Museum education
• Community and recreational arts instruction (workshops, community studios)
• Research, art history, and scholarship
• Curriculum and program development

Employers

• K-12 schools, public and private
• Universities and colleges
• Art and design schools
• Museums and cultural institutions
• Community centers and libraries
• Arts and crafts schools
• Recreation, youth, and outreach programs
• Freelance event workshops
• Educational media (books, blogs, TV, online video, online courses)

Strategies

• Develop strong communication and teaching skills through coursework and campus activities.
• Obtain required teaching licensure or certification for public K–12 education. Learn requirements by state.
• Gain experience working with children through volunteer tutoring, volunteering, part-time work, or teaching assistant roles.
• Participate in art clubs, juried shows, and exhibitions.
• Maintain a teaching portfolio alongside a studio or research portfolio.
• To teach art history in higher education:
  • Take general history classes in addition to art history classes.
  • Learn one or more foreign language to research original sources.
  • Earn a doctoral degree in art history.
• Plan for graduate or doctoral study for higher education teaching and research roles.
• Study, memorize, and analyze art movements around the world.

Art therapy is a mental health profession that utilizes the creative process of art to enhance functioning in individuals experiencing mental or physical difficulties. It combines the creation of art with theories of counseling and psychotherapy. (Adapted from AATA resources.)

Common Career Paths

• Clinical art therapy practice
• Community-based and rehabilitative art therapy
• Creative arts and mental health services

Employers

• Hospitals, healthcare systems, and nursing homes
• Mental health and rehabilitation facilities
• Community and nonprofit organizations
• Schools, colleges, and universities
• Correctional facilities, shelters, and social service agencies
• Private practice and art therapy studios

Strategies

• Take courses in art, as well as courses in psychology, social work, education, and child and family studies.
• A master’s degree and coursework in art therapy from a program accredited by The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) is required to enter the field.
• Gain experience through volunteer work in clinical or community settings.
• Develop strong interpersonal, ethical, and collaborative skills.
• Learn to work with diverse and vulnerable populations.

Common Career Paths

• Art journalism and criticism
• Editorial and content development
• Visual storytelling and media production
• Digital media and social platforms
• Art direction
• Digital imaging and editing

Employers

• Online publications and media platforms
• Magazines and newspapers
• Book publishers
• Media and production studios

Strategies

• Develop strong writing, editing, visual analysis, and art history skills.
• Learn digital publishing, content management, and multimedia tools.
• Build a portfolio of public-facing work.
• Become comfortable working in a deadline-oriented atmosphere.
• Gain experience through campus/local publications, freelance writing, internships, or competitions.
• Network through professional writing, journalism, and media organizations.

Common Career Paths

• Fine art photography
• Editorial photography
• Commercial photography (portrait, food, nature, retail, architectural)
• Sports photography/media
• Documentary and photojournalism
• Scientific, medical, and technical photography
• Event, fashion, concert, and social media photography
• Archival and collections photography
• Publishing
• Photo-based museum work (curatorial or conservation)
• Photo development and printing

Employers

• Photography studios and agencies
• Newspapers, magazines, and digital media outlets
• Commercial and corporate organizations
• Galleries, libraries, museums, and archives
• Artist studios
• Independent and freelance practice
• Photo development labs
• Commercial/Fine art printing studios
• Professional sports teams

Strategies

• Develop proficiency with photographic and image-editing software.
• Learn business practices relevant to freelance and self-employed work.
• Attend portfolio reviews, publisher fairs, conferences, and professional events (e.g., fotofest, Filter, PhotoNOLA, Society for Photographic Education).
• Maintain a strong, current online portfolio.
• Gain experience through assistantships, internships, or apprenticeships.
• Follow photography magazines and blogs (e.g., Der Greif, Lenscratch, Boooooom)

Common Career Paths

• Art sales and client relations
• Gallery and auction operations
• Art consulting and advising
• Art marketing and outreach

Employers

• Commercial galleries
• Auction houses
• Art consulting firms
• Museums and nonprofit galleries
• Specialty and retail art stores
• Independent and entrepreneurial practice

Strategies

• Develop strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Gain experience in business, sales, customer service, outreach, and entrepreneurship.
• Pursue a business minor or certification.
• Learn marketing and social media strategies relevant to the art market.
• Build knowledge of art history, valuation, and market practices.
• Serve as a student assistant in a university gallery.
• Volunteer in museums, membership drives, local galleries, and community outreach programs.

Common Career Paths

• Fashion and apparel design
• Textile and surface design and development
• Product development and manufacturing
• Color, trend, and material research
• Entrepreneurship, management, and fashion buying
• Trend forecasting
• Stylists

Employers

• Fashion houses and design firms
• Fabric manufacturers and print studios
• Garment and product suppliers
• Retail and buying organizations

Strategies

• Consider graduate study or apprenticeship to obtain formalized fashion education.
• Develop proficiency with industry-specific design and production software such as CAD systems and Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Build a portfolio demonstrating both process and finished work.
• Stay informed about fashion, textile, and design trends.
• Gain experience through internships with design, production, or manufacturing firms.
• Develop communication skills for working across functional teams and suppliers.