It’s too bad you had to pass on the art scholorship, it would have exposed you to materials and techniques you probably wouldn’t try left to your own devices and expose you to people and contacts that would help in your carreer, but for heavens sake don’t lament the lack of a degree or anything. In the real making-a-living art world a degree (even from the best college) is not hardly as important as a bit of drive.
Just as a good start-off lets define the term “artist”. There are “Fine Artists” – sculpters, painters, etc. who are doing art sold through galleries and dealers to collectors. And then there are “Commercial Artists”, a nebulus term for artists who do everything from illustrating childrens books to Cocoa Krispies boxes to greeting cards to sculpting toys. Since the word “Commercial” is rooted in the word “Commerce” you can guess which of the two types gets paid occasionally.
If your planning to make a living as a Fine Artist, wow, good luck. Unless you’ve got a working significant-other or a trust fund it’s practically impossible to make a living exclusivly on ones art without a day job (or two), and day jobs have a tendency of taking over and monopolizing you time, energy and life.
The few Fine Artists I know who are making it in their respective fields got there by doing their work for the sheer pleasure of it in their spare time, developing a signiture style, and building an impressive portfolio over years and years, so when they do exibit it’s a strong showing that makes an impression. If a buzz starts and suddenly they have a marketable product they can make money with and lose the day job, it’s almost a happy accident.
If your still game to try it here’s a bit of advice: (1) WORK CONSTANTLY. The only Fine Artists I know who have made even the meanest living were driven like demons. (2)Develop a thick skin. Your going to get rejected alot, and not responded too even more (somehow the indifference is worse than the rejection). (3) Find a community that’s conducive to your art. Creative types always benefit from the support, criticism and ideas of other creative types. New York, Seattle, San Francisco – all very active creative communities, as well as around the better art colleges (the area around The Art Institute of Chicago I hear is having a bit of a renaissance).
Commercial art is a much more realistic way to make a living with art. Start out by working very hard for a few months. Do work that plays to your strengths in both subject and media. Afterward, go though these and pick out the ones which best exemplify your style – art directors prefer an artist with a well-defined style over one who can mimic dozens of others. Take these final, best examples and get them scanned or digitally photographed and cook up a nice promotional brochure with a blank side with your return address on it so you can just slap a stamp on, address and mail it to prospective clients. Don’t scrimp on the printing costs either. Your selling yourself here, and the only thing that art director knows about you is on that brochure, so look professional. Go with the heavy, glossy stock and don’t settle for washed-out colors. Also, don’t make the newbie mistake of including art-class charcoal sketches, figure drawing stuff, etc. unless it’s really, really strong. They scream “Art Student” and art directors are looking for pro’s who will deliver the goods with a minimum of drama.
"What are some good resources for those seeking artistic jobs?"
The 2003 Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market. Read it, read it again, memorize it, love it. It has contact addresses for every greeting card place, magazine, poster manufacturer, childrens book publisher, etc. not to mention all the legal junk associated with selling your work, like copyright stuff, contracted work provisions, retention of original work clauses, etc.
"What fields offer fairly stable employment?"
Sadly, the best paying, most stable areas of art employment are in the somewhat creativly sterile fields of Technical Illustration and Layout Design (stuff like the Sunday advertising suppliments in the paper or the Sears catalogue). If you have really good chops you might try getting a job at an advertising agency. They like talent that can crank out both quick conceptual sketches for ad campaigns as well as finished, polished product. Be warned, it can be a high-pressure job, but if you can be creative at gunpoint it’s rewarding.
"What areas of the country are best?"
In your area, Atlanta is a great bet right now. It’s got one seriously growing little multimedia/ communications/ tech thingie happening that looks like a great opportunity to get in on at the ground floor (I’m considering it myself). Other than that New York, L.A., Chicago are the standard. Seattle and Portland are a bit anemic right now, and San Francisco is a right mess.
"What kinds of skills and disciplines should I learn?"
Like I said, play to your strengths. Learning-wise, you can’t go wrong with a good foundation in Color Theory, Composition, and Layout. Media-wise I’d suggest a good working knowlage of transparent watercolor technique and opaque acrylics. A good working knowlage of Photoshop or the very powerful (and more economical) Paint Shop Pro 7.
