Some Artists Seem to Have Plenty to Eat. Why Is That?
The myth of the starving artist has been depicted in books, film, television, and of course, art. And although it serves as a powerful vehicle for storytelling, this myth might need some serious reworking in the digital age. For whereas demand for still-life portraits might be on the decline, graphic designers, animators, and related workers should find demand for their skills holding steady or rising. Much of this growth stems from the rapid increase in advertising spending and digital media. For every commission that Picasso may have received 100 years ago, there are probably 100,000 magazine covers, billboards, movies, commercials, and logo requests in today’s world.

The Relationship between Art & Business
If you opt to design magazine spreads rather than pastoral scenes, does that mean you have compromised your artistic integrity? I would posit that you haven’t. Mozart, Da Vinci, and Charles Dickens all produced their works for money. Lofty symphonies, timeless masterpieces, and immortal classics don’t create themselves. They must be funded. They must be commissioned.

Were these guys sellouts? Of course not. It’s just that they understood the relationship between art and business. If anything, they should have embraced this relationship even further. Maybe then, Mozart could have produced more music and died a richer, older man.

How Do You Become a Well Fed Artist?
It used to be that talent alone was all you needed in the art world. But because there exists such a market around creative jobs, you also need education and training. Proper schooling at the associates or bachelors level can open many more doors than having no education at all. Employers want to see that you understand the basic principles of your craft. However, they also need to know that you possess the necessary problem-solving skills required for many media jobs.

Formal training can equip you with the tools necessary for success. Thereafter, you stand a much better chance of earning the $40K to $50K a year median salaries enjoyed by graphic designers and animators in the art world. With that type of money, you probably won’t have to search too hard for food.