I may live on options a or c.

Option a because I would like to do video game art as a living. It would be a nice dream job and I enjoy doing artwork.

Option c because its probrably one of the most typical fates of an artist. The state of reality may not be as fair to artists like us but I read that it would be best to combine your love of art with very marketable skills. Currently, I am an studio art major, probrably one of the worst college majors you will find on Forbes.com. To counter this, I would like to major in buisiness or marketing (Marketing is a vocational major right?) as a second major.

There are lots of Starving Artists. I publish under Starving Artist Press so I should know, LOL. I have my BFA in Illustration and have been working full time for 20 years. I presently work for a group of newspapers building ads, setting up pages and prepress them. I was teaching part time at a couple colleges, but with cutbacks those jobs are now gone along with about a 1/5 of my income. I was working on my master degree but had to give it up because of the cost. I pick up some freelance work but not alot. I also do an online comic strip. I love doing art but it's very frustrating not being able to make ends meet when I'm in my 40's and not being able to pay to print finished issues of work or go to comic shows cause I just don't have the funds.

There are a lot of good artist running around and struggling. It's a very hard field.

A starving artist is a stupid artist.

There's only so much gravy and bread a person can survive on before they go a little loopy, haha.

I've been a professional cartoonist/illustrator/designer for (ouch) twenty-five years this year and in that time I have lived on the road hawking my wares to craft and trade shows, in penthouse apartments been, wined and dined by executives and gathered woodland fare for sustenance.

Occasionally have had a 'proper job' when things have been lean, often with disastrous results (I left a mail service just moments before I would have gone 'postal' ).

The artist is by nature a creative person and a well managed combination of a) through d) generally forms and informs an artist's life.

Now where are those gravy granules

a, you're planning to make a living doing your art no
b, you're currently making a living soley as an artist no
c, you're making money on the side from art, but you have a different full-time/part-time jobnot yet
or d, you don't make money from your art. this, it just doesn't get sold
(For d, is it because you simply don't want to, don't think you have the skills, or don't think it's worth it?)

I am C. On average I make an extra 100-150$ a month in commissions, it's not crazy money, but it's always nice to have extra cash.

CHECK THIS PAINTING OUT !!!!!!

[link]

Well; I'm currently D since my skills are subpar. I'd wanted to be A, at the very least; but I don't even have the degree or skills, so ...(*shrugs)

Currently I'm studying a different degree, one that's supposed to be more marketable. But it keeps getting harder and harder to do my best at something I don't like/ care for. Only it's life and I've to be practical....art isn't a respectable job where I live after all.

I originally planned on making a career of art (design)- graduated college with a degree in computer graphics & new media only to find there is absolutely nothing around me for work in art or design. Many graduates I know are facing this as well- 1 applicant out of 500, 1 out of 900, and 1 out of 1200. That's the competition. Portfolios do not even seem to matter anymore- it is about luck or knowing somebody. Truthfully I wished I picked a slightly different major (marketing & communications)- seeing there is no work and I have been trying so hard to find anything. I am skilled in a variety of areas- but I have yet to find a title that really fits the extent to all the stuff I do.

After seeing the statistics I realized I need to change what I do or else I won't get anywhere. I have loans piled up, and now I am focusing on small businesses and working local. Small businesses need design work, websites, advertisements, photos, etc. I have some part time things I do- helping out other companies with design and marketing. I am also in the process of starting my own craft business, so that also helps bring in some money and builds a name for myself. I am becoming more and more involved with different communities and vendors- which all make great networks, and you never know what a job might come by.

If I could change it over again- I would focus on a different career and minor in art, or work with art/ design on the side. While I do have projects here and there- to me, it isn't stable- it will not pay the loans and it's just something I cannot rely on. I also have a business and law background- but people seem to view that as a threat- and tell me I am "overqualified" for every position I go for. So seeing I cannot force people to hire me, and cannot get an opportunity with a large company because I'm overqualified apparently (I can't go for higher positions because I don't have the experience)- I will do what I can. Work local. I still apply to jobs daily- I apply to every position I can (even non related fields) and while I am trying and trying, nothing seems to be panning out, so I have to try different methods of making money. I noticed though the more time goes on, the less and less becomes available. I cannot relocate because I will not get paid enough for the opportunity to live (loans, bills, food, transportation, etc) so I am kind of stuck.

Crafting has been my way out of this- and is currently my only source of income. There seems to be a lot of opportunities booming in engineering and computer science from what I have seen. It's worth a look if you are thinking about going to school.