Different Stokes for Different Folks
If you are studying to be an artist through a graphic design school or graphic design college, there are many fields within this category that you can specialize in.

In some cases the duties of one career overlaps into another one, but this can be considered beneficial because it allows the opportunity for artists to crossover into other areas.
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What’s Out There?
The following list of artist careers can help you to understand the function and job description for each position. There are more categories but these are among the more commonly recognized:

Multi-Media Artist - Artists in this line of work are usually found in the motion picture industry, television industry, and computer-Internet industry. Multi-media artists produce animations, graphics, and images used for movies, television programs, computer games, and advertising/marketing companies. The extensive use of image design software and computer hardware is typical for artists who decide to make a career in multi-media.

Illustrator - Illustrators are usually employed by publishing or product companies to create pictures, scenes, or other images. The illustrations that are produced can be used for commercial purposes, consumer products or books and magazines. Illustrators are usually required to have a good working knowledge of digital imaging techniques and computer software and hardware.

Medical / Scientific Illustrator - Artists in this field of work use their knowledge of the sciences in the creation images for use by the medical and science disciplines. They draw pictures to illustrate human anatomy, scientific data and experiments, and other graphics for illustrative purposes. Illustrators in this field also produce images for educational and teaching purposes.

Fine Artist - This is the classic definition for a career as an artist. In this field an artist creates works of art in oil and acrylic painting, sketching, printmaking, art restoration or illustration. Fine artists specialize in portraiture, scenic, still life, or abstract art. They use a variety of medium to produce their pieces and can utilize sculpture or electronic means for their art.

Craft Artist - Artists in this career make various handmade objects and creations that are sold or displayed in art museums, craft fairs, and art galleries. They work with a variety of materials such as glass, textiles, ceramics, paper, metal or other media to produce their art.

Educational Requirements
The educational background for a career in art varies according to the field you are in. For individuals who want to go into the fine arts or crafts, a formal education is not necessarily required but it can still be of assistance in learning design theory, art techniques, and related skills.

For those who want to become art directors, illustrators, or multi-media specialists, earning a bachelor’s degree at a graphic design college is usually required for entry level positions.

Salary Ranges for Artists
Jobs for artists are expected to grow 14% - 20% from now until 2016, which is faster than average when compared to other job categories. The median annual wages for the following job categories in art are (Bureau of Statistics 2008):

Craft Artists:     $29,080
Fine Artists and Illustrators:    $42,650
Multi-Media Artists and Animators: $56,330

Next Time…
We’ll investigate what it takes to become an instructor in graphic design. We’ll see you then.