What Can I Do With A Major In Fine Art?
Artists create art to communicate ideas, thoughts or feelings. They use a variety of methods—painting, sculpting or illustration—and an assortment of materials, including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, pencils, pen and ink, plaster, clay, and computers. Artists’ works may be realistic, stylized or abstract and may depict objects, people, nature or events. Artists generally fall into different categories: Art Directors, Craft Artists, and Fine Artists.
Possible Career Options
(Some may require further education/specialization)Advertising Artist
Animator
Appraiser
Architecture Model Builder
Archivist
Art Agent
Art Conservator
Art Specialist/Critic
Art Therapist
Audio-Visual Specialist
Billboard Artist
Book Designer
Cartoonist
CD/Record Cover Designer
Ceramic Artist
Children’s Book Illustrator
Cinematographer
Comic Strip Artist
Consultant
Corporate Designer
Costume Designer
Courtroom Sketcher
Custom Decorator
Desktop Publishing Artist
Exhibit Designer
Fashion Coordinator
Flatware Designer
Graphic Designer/TV Graphic Designer
Illustrator
Interior Designer
Jewelry Designer
Magazine Designer
Medical Illustrator
Museum Curator
Package Designer
Pallet Manufacturer
Photographer/Picture Framer
Press Operator
Printing Crafts Worker
Printing Store Manager/Owner
Production Artist/Coordinator/Manager
Tattoo Artist
Teacher/Professor of Art or Art History
Technical Illustrator
Textile Designer
Visual Merchandiser
Types of Employers
Apparel Manufacturers/Textile Mills
Architecture/Engineering Firms
Art Galleries
Art Publications
Auction Houses
Colleges/Universities
Community Service Agencies
Consulting Organizations
Consumer Products Firms
Corporate Communications
Craft Guilds
Cultural Organizations
Federal, State and Local Agencies
Historical Societies
Hospitals/Nursing Homes/Rehab Centers
Independent Production Companies
Libraries
Media Organizations
Museums
National Associations and Councils
Photo Agencies & Studios
Preschool/Day Care Centers
Private Schools - National
Private Schools - International
Public Relations/Advertising Firms
Public Schools
Publishing Houses
Regional and National Accrediting Agencies
Retail Stores
Transferrable Skills
Possesses proficiency for accurate detail
Concentrates for long periods
Possesses aptitude for spatial relationships
Meets deadlines
Recognizes differences in shapes, shading and color
Makes critical observations and appropriate decisions
Possesses good manual dexterity
Communicates ideas and emotion creatively
Experiential Education
Designing logos/publications for a graphic arts firm
Assisting an interior designer with plans for a retail store
Teaching students in a summer art enrichment program
Working with at-risk youths to develop their art talent
Helping children with disabilities cultivate their art abilities
Professional Associations
AIGA,
aiga.org
Americans for the Arts,
americansforthearts.org
Association of Art Museum Curators,
artcurators.org
College Art Association,
collegeart.org
National Association for the Visual Arts, Ltd.,
visualarts.net.au
National Endowment for the Arts,
nea.gov
Society of Illustrators,
societyillustrators.org
United States Artists,
unitedstatesartists.org
Enhancing Your Employability
Join relevant student organizations to develop leadership skills
Participate in internships and field experience placements
Become active in alumni and/or mentor networks
Plan on a graduate degree for advancement
Take part in mock interview opportunities
Contact Us
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