If there’s one field where a degree might not always be required, it’s that of art. The field is, however, very wide-ranging and competitive. Many artists typically develop their skills through art degrees and other degrees at the bachelor’s level, or they embark upon some other type of art or design training beyond high school, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many colleges and universities, along with art and design schools, offer degrees in art.
There are, in many people’s minds, two types of artists: Fine artists and commercial artists. A fine artist typically creates their own sketches, sculptures, paintings and illustrations. These artists (think Vincent van Gogh or Claude Monet) might not need degrees in order to carry out their work. However, fine artists often work second jobs as curators or teachers, information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests. In the latter instance particularly, a college or university degree along with teacher certification would be necessary. There are also commercial artists who typically create products to satisfy a client’s needs and goals.
Artists create art to communicate or to express thoughts, feelings or ideas. They might sketch, sculpt or paint. Many artists work also with computer programs to draw, create animations and more. Students who consider obtaining a degree in art might work toward any one of a wide variety of degrees, many of which might provide opportunities for students to enhance their computer skills. It’s difficult to become successful without some form of training, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provides information recommending that students take high school art courses.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists four categories of artists and notes that employment growth into 2018 is expected to be about as fast as the average for all occupations, with many talented people wanting to become artists. The different types of artists include fine artists who showcase their paintings, illustrations, sculptures and more in museums, galleries, corporate collections and private residences and who sometimes are hired on commission; craft artists, whose handmade pottery, glass, wood, metal, paper creations and more are often sold in stores, at arts and craft shows or out of their own studios; multimedia artists and animators, who might draw by hand as well as on computers to create motion pictures, videos, computer games and television programs; and art directors, who might design and review the pages of newspapers and magazines or materials for new media formats, such as the web. Students considering degrees in some of these areas might work toward fine art degrees or art degrees in 3D modeling for animation and games, or in digital film and video. They might also consider animation and visual effects, web design and interactive media or in game art and design.
Art directors, who might begin work as artists or as graphic designers, must often show that they have artistic and leadership abilities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Entry to careers as graphic designers typically requires a bachelors degree in graphic design. Students interested in becoming art directors might also consider a degree in art administration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes.
Some artists might work in salaried positions, while others might freelance and find it difficult to rely only on the income they receive from selling their art. Still, there are well-established artists who earn more than their salaried counterparts. Art directors in May 2008 earned annual salaries averaging $88,510, information from the BLS shows. Multimedia artists averaged $62,380 annually, fine artists made an average of $48,300 yearly, and craft artists on average took in $32,570, according to the Bureau. The artists who are most successful often develop new ideas; artists also showcase their creations in portfolios as a means of selling their work and obtaining jobs.
Students who pursue degrees in the United States have opportunities to earn bachelor of fine arts or bachelor of arts degrees as well as master of arts and master of fine arts degrees. Bachelor of fine arts programs in the United States are often accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design. Students interested in these programs also have scholarships and grants available to them from colleges, universities and art schools, as well as from outside organizations that often require that institutions are accredited by nationally recognized agencies, which can be found on the US Department of Education website.