60 Career Ideas for Artists, a Growing List...

CREDIT: Medical Drawing: Amanda Moore

Which profitable jobs can you do with an art degree? Quite a lot, plus, you have the benefit of mixing and matching them for a more varied work-life than the average person usually has.

Here is an idea list of 60 potential jobs for artists including ones I've personally tried.

Why 60? Because this was how many I could think of in one hour. I'll keep adding to this list:

1. Super famous artist, selling art to collectors all over the world (I didn’t do this)
2. Public commission artist (I do this)
3. Artist in residence: galleries, scientific research departments, etc
4. Artist assistant, helping above artist make their art
5. Artist representative schmoozing and selling their work to collectors
6. Art or design studio manager (I did this)
7. Arts administrator giving grants to artists
8. Art shipping
9. Art teacher/lecturer or freelance tutor (this paid for architecture school)
10. Art therapist
11. Community arts worker or public art officer
12. Communications or engagement officer for museum or arts organisation 
13. Creative director for magazines or advertising
14. Gallery curator
15. Digital Image editor
16. Graphic designer
17. Signmaker
18. Printer: ink, silkscreen, binding services
19. Logo designer
20. Animator
21. Special effects artist
22. 3D visualiser (I’ve modelled other people’s work in CAD software like Rhino)
23. Architectural model maker
24. Film editor or maker
25. Theatre set designer
26. Makeup artist
27. Museum exhibit designer
28. Facilities manager for gallery or museum
29. Shop window designer
30. Illustrator: books, records, planning applications, articles...
31. Fashion designer or illustrator
32. Tattooist
33. Medical illustrator (I’ve done this, I've have had some nightmares)
34. Court room artist
35. Portraitist or pet portraitist
36. Photographer or stock photo seller
37. Image librarian or database manager
38. Maker: jewellery, wood turning, upcycling of furniture, weaving, etc
39. Etsy super-star in relation to the above
40. Customiser: engraving, decal-ing, blinging with crystals...
41. Foundry sculptor; lost wax bronze casting
42. Cake decorator
43. Print on demand T-shirt design (I’m trying this for Amazon Merch)
44. Wall sticker designer
45. Fashion stylist
46. Decorator including 'dressing' properties for sale
47. Writer
48. Creative blog writer
49. How-to video maker on YouTube
50. Musician
51. Art historian
52. Art critic
53. Art guide: city walks or gallery tour guide
54. Researcher (I’ve done this for a curator)
55. Conservationist
56. Antique/vintage stuff dealer or reseller
57. Antique/vintage stuff finder
58. Art framer
59. Retail Buyer: fashion, homeware, decorative items
60. Sample librarian: architectural or design studio materials