To be or not to be an artist? please help

Can you teach it? What about creating a gallery? There are many ways to incorporate art design into business. I know several artists who have made it, some with children. It's tough, but what life isn't?

Would it be possible for you to start out as an artist while still working your day job? That's how my parents and some of my friends got started as artists. It's a slower start, but it gives you some security while you get some of your work out there. If you start achieving some success as an artist, you can cut your hours or quit your job.

I think that your family should be a major contributor in making this decision. You should take our words as merely suggestions, and when it comes down to it, you should talk it over with your husband, kids, parents, advisers, and friends.

It's only worth focusing entirely on art if people want to buy what you make.

Have you had exhibitions? Have people shown interest in buying your work? Have you sold work to people who you aren't friends with and aren't members of your family?

If not, it's a big risk to take. However technically good you are, if you can't make what people want then you won't make money.

Also, there isn't much studying art can teach you that you can't teach yourself. So I suggest the option - Minor in art, major in something certain to make money. That's the option with the least risk in my opinion, but at least gives you a chance to spend time on your passion :) Good luck

The starving artist is a myth. I know there's extra pressure since your family is dependent on you but if your skills are good enough you'll make it.

Unfortunately you'd have to be very lucky to make it these days. My dream is to make films and I know I can make people some truly incredible movies to watch dozens of times over and over. I'm going to sell my soul to the corporate world instead because that's the world we live in. Degrees and millions of dollars sounds better than doing what I love and not being certain of my financial safety.

This sounds like a decision that should be made as a family. Unless you're doing some sort of corporate graphic design gig, which I assure you, can pay quite well, I don't know that you would be able to support yourself, let alone a family off painting. Ask yourself this: in the houses and businesses unaffiliated with art or artists that you've been in, how many actual paintings have you seen?

You've wanted to be an artist all your life. Be an artist. You know you could never live cooped up in an office building every day. Learning to be proficient in another area (that would get you a more stable job) would be useful, but if you really want to be an artist, and your work is good enough, God dammit, be an artist. I believe you can make a living that way if you try. Good luck! <3

im a 4th year student going to a pretty big art school, and i kind regret coming to university for a art/design degree... i think when it comes to art, a degree doesn't really get you anywhere. the school does teach you a bit about the field and you get to make some connections but honestly, who can teach art?? I used to love drawing and painting, and ever since i came to art school i started losing interest in art because i have to do stuff that the profs tell me to do. now that im in my last year of school, i realized that there's no decent job i can get with a art degree lol what the fuck am i going to do with my life now??? if you really love it, and you're good at it, you don' t need a damn art degree. instead i would major in something safe to get my bills and tuitions paid. Remember, you need money to buy good art materials too.... fuckin hell...i may sound pessimistic but this is the reality...

I'd say double major. Making a living as an artist can be hard, but it's far from impossible. You might need to have a quote-unquote real job for a while, but if you're good you can make some real money. Your primary responsibility is to your child now, but that's not to say that you can't still follow your dreams. I'm sure you've probably already heard of this website, but just in case you haven't, you might want to check out Etsy. Good luck!

i kinda think its a bit late you have all your degrees in arts (i guess) so what will be beneficial for you to think practically in the fields of art only...!!! like you can create a gallery or a kind of showroom with your paintings decorated where you can put your paintings and sell them ....take part in exhibitions to sell your paintings costly...;p !! go into painting only but deep inside and put all your energy and talent for this .... on the other side always keep an option for you as part time to fulfill many of your expenses and keep you satisfied.....
if you dont mind.... why dont you even engage your husband in some kind of creative work or other work so that he doesn't feel useless and retarded but can help you in any work and feel satisfied like sitting on a counter or any home business he feels easy in... just take it as an advice... BEST OF LUCK!!!

You totally answered your own question when you said "I've always known my destiny was in the world of art" and "I just don't think I'd be happy any other way" - WOW, when I was younger I would've given anything to feel like that about any possible career - and the fact that it's a cool one (being an artist is cool) makes it even better! So do it - whatever it takes - or make yourself a liar!

Dude, if you get poor, can't feed your family bla bla you can always go live under a bridge or eat berries from some forest or kill yourself or something...Money's so useless, really. Surviving is also useless. Living too. So spend your living time doing what you like.

I'm afraid we can't give decent advice on that.
I know a lot of people say "follow your dreams", but I doubt that they ever had money problems.

If you feel like your art courses are helping you as a painter, you should do them, but keep an open mind about what job you'll do when you graduate. You can always take a simple office job and paint in your free time.

But... it's your call. This is a huge life decision and we can't give you accurate advice on that.

Follow your dreams.
Learn to Use the internet to your advantage.
You could try to tutor someone for extra cash,etc.

http://nymag.com/arts/art/rules/
^^^ Perhaps, this might help?

I heard it is very, very hard to make it in the world as an artist. Personally, if you are taking up the responsibility of provider for a family, I wouldn't recommend it. Perhaps make some paintings in your free time and sell them online? That way you can work and do some art on the side for some extra cash.

You can excel as an artist, but it will take time and effort to get yourself out there. Try to get a job that's sort of relevant, even an associate's degree in something else you're interested in if you could. It never hurts to have something to fall back on.

I've considered trying to get a certification for welding since I am already interested in metal sculpture, that way I could work in a factory if I needed it.

Show us some of your stuff...

Dammit. It was approved before I could figure out how to attach a picture. Oh well, I'm a pretty good artist. I could improve in some areas, but in my opinion I've always been one of the best students in the classes I mainly focus in (painting). I have had the most well-rounded and experimental work. I'm not always the best; I feel I have a vibrant, yet somewhat vague, portfolio.