Is being an artist a good career?

[Lee Brown]

I can draw really well, and would love to go to an art college (specifically SCAD), but could I get a good job and actually make money from being an artist? My cousin is an artist but I don't really know what she does besides have a gallery every now and then (she's a painter).
Spam! Thanks

[Huntsman]

No jobs out there
Where the jobs are: math, science, medicine

[.]

Of course you can! Being an artist is so much different than being a doctor, a CEO, or a computer scientist. It's not a JOB. It's a PASSION.

As an artist, you work for yourself, you're your own boss, and there is no regular guaranteed paycheck, but that by no means means you can not make a living off of it. I have seen some people make over 100k being an artist selling their stuff to galleries, to be used as logos, ads, and/ or commission work.

I have seen many people try to be artists and fail at miserably simply because they do not have the passion, dedication and ability to work long and hard on their skill and trade. You start off slow, but you have to keep working. You can not stop and you have to CONSTANTLY network. Network, network, NETWORK! It's how you get money, it's how you get into galleries, and it's how you get your name out there. If you're an anti-social kind of person, don't be an artist.

Also, there are MANY different kids of artistic and creative careers out there, not simply being an exhibition and gallery artist. You can be a graphic designer, a comic book artist, a children's book illustrator, a portrait artist (like for police or even for movie stars who pay big bucks to get paintings of themselves), an animator, movie concept artist, and educator (and not just a school teacher), etc and SO ON! So much you can do.

Once again, the magic word here is PASSION. You can't just love art, you have to live it, breath it, want it, and feel it.

[lisagrndy]

have it as a second choice for a job because there isnt mutch call for artistes unless youre really good and sell a painting every week . its not an income to be relied heavily on.