What are some non traditional art careers?

Sometimes the path of the least resistance is not necessarily the best path to take.  Is Online Casino the best online casino website?  Maybe it is.  Maybe it is not.  As they say in the art world, “beauty is the eyes of the beholder”.

What is an awesome piece of artwork to one person, may just be “okay” to another.  But putting that all aside, you still want to be your main avenue for making a living.

Some people can make a living painting traditional paintings.  Others need to pair the money they make with their artwork with something more solid, like accounting.  The income from their artwork supports their artwork expenses (paying for a studio and paying for art supplies), and the income from accounting pays for food, rent, clothing, and other necessities of life.

Then a third take a middle path.  They combine their art skills with something that appeals to businesses and non-artistic industries.  No, you are most likely not going to create the next Picasso, but on the other hand, the bills are getting paid, and you have enough money (and time) left over to pursue your own artistic interests.

This website displays a huge variety of artwork from different artists, but does this website truly represent the full breadth of the variety of paying art jobs in the world.  Let’s take a look at some art careers that are not quite as obvious as painting the next Picasso.

Advertising Photography

Students learn to create photographs and moving media for a wide range of commercial use in today’s fast changing media environment.

Available job titles with this major:

  • Advertising Photographer
  • Architectural Photographer
  • Art Director, Art Producer
  • Artists’ Agent
  • Editorial Photographer
  • Entrepreneur
  • Fashion Photographer
  • Food Photographer
  • Image
  • Photo Retoucher
  • Photo Editor
  • Portrait Photographer
  • Prop Stylist and Videographer
  • Sports Photographer
  • Still Life Photographer
  • Studio Manager
  • Studio Photographer

Animation and Film

Studying animation will allow you to study 2D, 3D, and stop motion animation.  These animations can be in films, games, AR/VR, and digital effects, compositing, sound design, and the integration of animation with live-action storytelling.

Available job titles with this major:

  • 3D modeler
  • Art Director
  • Character Animator
  • Character Designer
  • Creative Director
  • Experimental Film Artist
  • Layout Artist
  • Post Production Supervisor
  • Producer
  • Rigging Artist
  • Story Artist
  • Visual Development Artist
  • Visual Effects Composer
  • Writer

Art Therapy

Art therapy is a treatment approach that integrates psychotherapeutic techniques with the creative process to improve well-being.

Career Options:

  • Art Therapy in hospitals
  • Art Therapy in schools
  • Art Therapy in senior centers
  • Art Therapy working with psychologists

Ceramics

Learn wheel-throwing, hand-building, mold-making, glazing, and material science.

Available job titles with this major:

  • Art Critic
  • Artist in residence
  • Ceramic Artist
  • Clay and Glaze Chemist
  • Commercial Designer
  • Curatorial Assistant
  • Gallery Owner
  • Independent Designer
  • Materials Specialist
  • Slip Casting Technician
  • Sculptor
  • Studio Manager
  • Studio Technician

3D Digital Design

3D design includes everything from computer graphics for gaming, virtual worlds, augmented reality, medical and scientific simulations, data visualizations, motion and broadcast graphics, architectural and engineering modeling, instructional multimedia, museum exhibits, and more.

Available job titles with this major:

  • AR/VR Designer
  • Architectural Modeler
  • Character Artist/Designer
  • CG Artist
  • Concept Artist
  • Digital Art Designer
  • Digital Asset Designer
  • Digital Sculptor
  • Environment Designer
  • Forensic Artist
  • Game Designer
  • Game Developer
  • Level Designer
  • Lighting Technical Director (TD)
  • Motion Graphics
  • Artist Rigger
  • Special Effects
  • Artist Technical Artist
  • Texture Artist
  • User Interface Artist
  • Visualization Artist

Digital Humanities

Digital humanities and social sciences is a dynamic field of study that integrates the traditional liberals arts–anthropology, art, communication, English, history, literature, linguistics, museum studies, philosophy, and political science–with advanced digital skills found in computing, information sciences, game design and development, digital technology, human-computer interaction, database management, data analytics, geographic information technologies, and interactivity in new media.

Available job titles with this major: