GHS Art Department
Bulldog Bite: January 7.
PART 2: CHOOSING AN ART CAREER
The best way to make a decision as to what art career suits you is to educate yourself on all of the
available possibilities. While researching students should consider 1) their art strengths and interests 2)
what sounds like an interesting career and 3) which career would provide financial support in the future.
Keep in mind the old saying “enjoy your job and never work a day in your life.”
We have put together several career possibilities for you to consider. This selection is a good place to
start your research. We recommended that you create a research file on ART CAREERS. Research in one
area may even lead to information on another area that may have particular interest for you.
In the next Bulldog Bite, the GHS Art Department will offer advice on how a high school student can
prepare themselves to study art on the college/art school level.
GRAPHIC DESIGN careers include graphic, advertising, and web designers. *Median yearly
income for graphic designer, $47,820; advertising designer, $57,870, web designer (desk top
publisher), $36,000.
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Graphic artists combine text and illustrations in visually appealing layouts or
presentations. Newspaper, magazine and book publishers, as well as advertising
agencies, employ graphic designers. The work of these artists may include the creation
of ad campaigns, logos, book jackets, and menus.
Web design careers involve creating web pages that may include text, photos, three
dimensional or moving graphics, sound and interactive devices. A web designer makes
these pages visually appealing and user friendly.
ILLUSTRATION careers include commercial illustrators and cartoonists. *Median yearly income
for professional illustrators, $50,630.
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Commercial artists create visual images that complement written words or text. These
images can be found in magazines, books, television and film and are used for
advertising, editorial, institutional and educational purposes. Commercial illustration
careers specialize in one particular area such as fashion, medical, or technical
illustration. Children’s book illustrators fit into this category.
Cartoonist careers involve the creation of entertaining drawings meant to provoke
thought and provide humor. Cartoons usually appear in magazines and newspapers.
Editorial cartoonists are interested in politics and current events.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN careers include product, package, and fashion designers. *Median yearly
income for industrial designer, $61,400; and fashion designer, $74,410.
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Product designers plan and create products for industry. These artists work closely with
engineers to create three dimensional objects from tools and toys to furniture and
automobiles.
Package designers create containers that are visually pleasing and attract the attention of
consumers. Their products range from boxes and tubes to bottles and shopping bags.
Fashion designers create clothing, hats, handbags, shoes, jewelry and athletic wear.
PHOTOGRAPHY, FILM AND VIDEO careers include photojournalists, animators, art directors,
special effects, video game and multi-media designers. *Median yearly income for
photographers and photojournalists, $36,370; animators and multimedia designers, $62,810; art
directors, $91,520; special effects designer (video and motion picture), $31.54/hour ; video
game designer, $66,320.
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Photographers can specialize in studio portraits, illustrations for books and magazines,
fashion, product and food, or architectural photography. Photographers can also work for
advertising agencies to help sell products.
Video photography careers can include the making of documentaries, the creation of
presentations for companies and the recording of special events for customers.
Photojournalists are visual reporters. These artists tell stories with their images and work
for newspapers and magazines.
Animators create moving cartoons. Their work appears in movies and television. These
artists use computers to create.
Art directors work with all parts of a set to bring a show together. This includes set,
costume, lighting, make-up, hair and costumes. An art director is responsible for making a
scene appear to come from a certain time period.
Special effects designers plan the illusions in movies in order to make them appear real.
Their creations can include fantasy scenes and imaginary creatures that look realistic.
Video game designers plan and create all components of computer, arcade and video
games. This includes backgrounds, animated figures and objects, and sound.
Multi-media designers combine text, graphic, sound and interactive devices into a visually
appealing product. These artists work in teams to create multi-media presentations, CDROMS and software for business, education and entertainment.
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT careers include urban planners and
architects, landscape and interior designers, and exhibit and display designers. *Median yearly
income for an urban planner, $58,810; architect, $70,320; landscape designer, $65,910; and
interior designer, $44,950.
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Urban planners are trained architects who specialize in the care and improvement of city
environments. Every major city has an urban planner. Their job is to meet the needs of the
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city while keeping the community attractive and appealing. Their responsibilities may
include the development of harbors, city parks and shopping malls.
Architects design buildings that are functional, well constructed and aesthetically pleasing.
These buildings can include private houses, apartments, office buildings, schools,
businesses, factories, shopping malls and skyscrapers. Architects must also consider how
their building design fits into its environment and how they will complement the
community. Architects usually specialize in the types of buildings they create.
Landscape architects design playgrounds, parks and outdoor areas around buildings and
along highways. These artists work closely with urban planners and architects. Their goal is
to visually improve the natural surroundings.
Interior designer plans the design and decoration of interior spaces. Some designers work
with individual homeowners and others with department stores, offices and hotels.
Exhibit designer plans presentations of collections, temporary exhibits and traveling shows.
These designers work for trade shows, department stores, showrooms, art galleries and
museums. They plan how objects should be grouped and illuminated.
Display designers plan how to showcase merchandise to attract consumers and persuade
them to buy products or services. A display designer is an important part of a sales team.
ART EDUCATION careers include art teachers, art (recreational) therapists, museum curators
and designers. *Median yearly income for K-12 art teachers, $53,550; post secondary art
professors, $58,830; art (recreational) therapists, $38,370; and museum curator, $47,220.
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Art teachers share their artistic knowledge and skills with students. They work in grades K12 and also on the college level. Some art teachers specialize in one particular studio area
or in art history.
Art therapists use art to help people with emotional and physical problems. They work with
children and adults. The creation of art is used to explore senses through vision and touch
and to change behavior in positive ways.
Museum curators are trained in art history and oversee the operation of museums. They
organize collections and traveling exhibits. Museum Designers assemble and display these
collections.
FINE ARTISTS choose to work independently as painters, sculptors, printmakers, weavers, or
jewelers. They create what they are inspired to create, not what an employer has requested of
them. *Median income for independent artists is $33,070.
*Median job salary information was gathered from the United States Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos092.htm
In addition to earnings, this website also provides information on the nature of the work,
career training needed, job outlook, employment, and related occupations.
Sources of Additional Information, located at the bottom of the selection for each career,
includes a list of accredited colleges and professional organizations for that field.
ADDITIONAL WEBSITES:
http://www.artschools.com/careers-jobs/
http://drawsketch.about.com/cs/resources/bb/bybartcareers.htm
http://www.nycareerzone.org/cz/cluster.jsp?cluster=1
http://mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer/careership/