Careers in Arts

It is essential for anyone interested in an art career to understand the possibilities and opportunities in the field. Becoming established in an art career takes time and serious committment and opportunities do not come looking for you. It will be necessary to actively prepare yourself and actively pursue a career.

The D&E art program is designed to develop in students basic visual, compositional and artistic skills to the level of "second nature" confidence. A general history of art emphasizing context will be studied. These skills will be gained while creatively solving visual communication problems. The specific concepts communicated through your art work will express the thinking of a liberally educated mind. The ability to respond to increasing changes in career fields will be the most important survival skill you can gain, and one that D&E can provide you with.

Art Fields
Art Education
Becoming an art educator is a way to combine a people oriented vocation with an art avocation. If you enjoy working with young people, and have effective communication skills, this may be a career to look into. It can be a very rewarding occupation that can also enable you to continue your art making.
Students with art education degrees, who have prepared themselves well, and who actively look for work, find employment in their field. It is important to be able to relocate when first searching for a job. People skills and communication skills (writing and speaking) are essential.

Fine Arts
Fine artists need to have exceptional dedication and personal energy to be successful as exhibiting artists. It is estimated that of the 2,000 or so students completing Master of Fine Art degrees every year, 20 or less become full time exhibiting artists. The goal of pursuing fine art work should be personally defined. It must be tied to personal development needs and most likely pursued as a dedicated avocation. Occupational rewards may or may not present themselves. Most fine artists will have a paying job outside of their studio work that allows them to do art. For some students, undergraduate study serves as preparation for graduate school.

Fine Art Crafts
The area of fine crafts includes ceramics/pottery and fibers. A career in one of these fields requires several things: strong individual creativity, highly developed skill, determination and personal stamina, and, effective small business skills. With perseverance, many students in these areas go on to operate a successful business based on their craft. Remember that you will be an independent operator, and the success of your studio depends at all times on your own initiatives. Many choose to apprentice with a successful craftsperson as a way of "learning the ropes." The Augusta Heritage Center of Davis and Elkins College can give students additional opportunities to apprentice with traditional folk-artists and musicians in our area. That is what they mean by "passing it on".

Graphic Arts: Graphic Design, Illustration and Photography
This field includes any graphic design or artwork done for a client to solve a specific communication need. This includes: graphic design, illustration, and photography. A career in one of these fields can be an exciting and practical way to use creative visual skills.. There is always a shortage of well prepared, creative people in these fields, although about two people are trained every year for each opening. What this means is that if you are well rounded personally and professionally well prepared, and if you search, there will always be opportunities for you. It is necessary, however, to be able to adapt yourself to the needs of the situations you find. Flexibility, secondary skills, and the ability in many cases to retrain, are key attributes for finding and maintaining a career.

General list of art occupations:
Architecture
Possible careers include: Architect, environmental designer, interior architecture, landscape architect, architectural model maker, architectural photography, architectural drafting, architectural illustration, lighting design, display design, manufacturer's representative.

Art Education
Possible careers include: Elementary, secondary, vocational or technical school, college or university, adult education, community art centers, artist in residence, and museum education departments. The MFA is the terminal degree needed to teach at the college level.

Art History
Possible careers include: Teaching, museum work, art criticism, art curator, fine art consultant, art appraiser, researcher, archaeology, anthropology, corporate art consultant-buyer, art or slide librarian, art business, or educational design.

Art Therapy
Possible careers include: Private, clinical, school, community, researcher, consultant.

Arts Administration
One of the most common career opportunities for art graduates. Many fine artists are administrators by day and artists by night and weekend. Selecting an art major with a business or management major or minor as a starting point. Have strong people and organizational experience. Administrators work in: schools, foundations, museums, galleries, government, private corporations, arts organizations, and public and private institutions.

Film Making, Video, Television
Possible careers include: Camera operator, animation, title design, graphic design, illustration, photography, multimedia, art director, set design, directing, audio/visual design, costume design, promotions.

Graphic Design
Possible careers include: Layout, typographer, calligrapher, sign designer, advertising design, newspaper layout, art director, photography director, film, television, multimedia, education, display designer. Consider the following agencies and institutions: small design agency, medium-size design agency, large design agency, business/corporate In-House design, publications and publishers, television producers, film producers, photography agencies, public relations departments anywhere and freelance opportunities.

Illustration
Possible careers include: Editorial, advertising, technical, medical, product, fashion, display, photographer, muralist, cartoonist, film, television, multimedia, animation, industrial, architectural, portrait, story board, courtroom, airbrush artist, electronic imaging and retouching, cartographer, calligrapher, archaeological rendering.

Industrial Design
Product design of all manufactured goods requires excellent freehand drawing and 3-D sculptural skills, model making skills and computer modeling knowledge.

Model Making
Possible careers include: Buildings, industrial products, legal cases, displays, proposals, interiors, theater, illustration, demonstration, museums, urban planning.

Museums and Galleries
Possible careers include: Installations, promotions, graphic design, illustration, manager-reception, tours, education, acquisitions, matting and framing, restoration, art librarian.

Packaging Design
Involves 3-D sculptural skills and engineering/materials skills along with graphic design and illustration.

Studio Art
Possible careers include: Gallery artist, commissions artist, studio craftsperson-ceramics-metals-fibers-wood-glass, printmaking technician, museum artist-designer (for historical-science-industrial-natural museums), portrait artist, muralist, foundry-metals fabrication, film maker, corporate art consultant-buyer, art materials retailer, art museum or gallery assistant, illustrator or graphic artist.

Theater and Performing arts
Possible careers include: Set design, costume design, make up, illustration, graphic design, photography, video.

Graduate School in Art
We recognize that you may have further goals and may want to teach at the college level or become more proficient in your chosen medium. Graduate School in art can be an extremely significant period in your life or career. It is a concentrated, creative environment, and an intensive two to three year art experience. The terminal studio degree is the Master of Fine Art (MFA) although some schools offer a Master of Art (MA) degree as well. An MFA requires 64 or more credits of study that includes primarily a studio concentration in one area. Additional course work outside the concentration includes: art history, drawing, design, and in some schools, other liberal studies.