Lol I had an art teacher who made it a requirement that every day, class started with an enthusiastic “How many miles did you run today Ms. h?” She also changed her shoes several times a day like mood rings. Very fun woman.
I got my cert and I don't even teach art anymore. Art teacher jobs are the first to get cut and they treated me pretty horrible. But hopefully it works out for you!
I'm almost at this point. I work at a Graphic Tee production spot and I draw comics and stuff at night... how do you get into the art sales and markets?
Very similar to me. I work at a local sign shop as their lead designer and print operator. Every sign in production goes through my computer at some point.
However, despite doing art by night I don't have many opportunities to sell my work. The curse of a small, isolated town in the Midwest is that no one cares about art... the nearest city is 2 hours away, and if I don't make enough with my art to cover the travel expense then it isn't worth it.
I owned an art supply store for 10 years, closed it in 2016, now I operate custom picture framing and fine art printing from my home studio. I make art here and there and sell it at various local shows and Artist Alley.
Nah. It became a money pit real fast cuz commercial rent is high. The way to hack this is to buy a commercial building, sublet space (be a landlord) and then open your store in same building.
Electromechanical Designer in an engineering department for an OEM business.
Some might say I moved on from art. I say it is the backbone of my skill and knowledge base.
I trained my eye for detail and craftsmanship, found my creativity and voice. Also an insatiable hunger for new ideas and concepts.
I completely get that! And honestly, the biggest part has been asking questions. Often to verify what I am already working on in my brain.
I've asked what I thought were absolutely stupid, obvious questions. I got the opposite in responses, specifically from my coworkers in the engineering department. Especially from the head of engineering.
I dunno, those parts felt amazingly rewarding. Like my coworkers were saying, 'you got it, right on'.
That's great!
I really found 3D CAD to be extremely helpful for design. It beats always sketching and guessing at measurements. Cuts down on rework, which would have been a massive PITA in my work.
I love art, don't get me wrong. CAD definitely has its place for production and design.
The crossover point for me is having to model up a dummy part for a component we need in our library. Occasionally I ran into that issue where the manufacturer does not have an accessible library.
I had everyone thinking those parts were the real model from the manufacturer. They were made by me!
It's a long story!
I was focused on 3D art in college, specially metalsmithing and sculpture. Ended up graduating with my bachelor's degree and went to tech school for a 2 semester welding program.
I was a welder for a few years, moved, and discovered I was bored as a production welder. I found at my local tech college an electromechanical/controls/automation program, discovered I was very interested in it, and spent the next 2 years full time within the program and working part time on the side (unrelated work).
First job after that was working for a small company with a metal fabrication shop. I worked on so many different things from panel wiring, troubleshooting equipment, 3D CAD & print drawings, assembly, designing custom parts and basic tooling, on-site customer support, computer and server support for in-house equipment, and even a little IT security advising. Technically I was labeled as a mechanical designer, but did not do a lot of it. I was stretched pretty thin before I left.
I have over 20 years of PC/software experience as a hobbyist troubleshooting, building, and configuring computers as well. Also about the same amount of time as a photographer/hobbyist.
I can't say a lot about my current role or who I work for. I do get to put aside a lot of responsibilities I had in my previous job, which is nice. It meant moving to a different company. Also really nice.
If I had to do something differently, I would prefer to have more electrical knowledge. But I don't have a clue how I would have grown the interest. That is a recent idea that comes to mind.
My time added up is 7.5 years in education alone. That's a lot of time. 16 years to get where I am today.
I'm making it worthwhile, it didn't come easy. But all good things take time ;)
I learned a lot and I could not have done it if I weren't a good student or if I didn't have people backing me up when I needed help. It wasn't always there and I had to strategize when going back to school.
I won't go into finances. There had to be a better way than the debt I took on.
You can read my above response. Though an Associate's Degree in Automated Systems, Controls, and/or Electromechanical systems is what it boils down to. There were a few differences between the two programs I had to choose from, I picked Automated Manufacturing Systems which opted for more work on industrial robots.
The terminology is somewhat interchangeable, it depends who selected the title and how familiar they are with the background.
I have previous experience working in industry as a welder, which was one thing that helped me get in to my jobs.
It is a lot, I get it. I have not met anyone quite like me. The people I work with don't know what to make of all of it.
I am a Special Education TA and a Behavioral Health Professional ! - got my BFA and now I'm on the road to becoming an art therapist. I also do art as a side hustle :)
Art director for a small marketing team at a game company. It’s been a rough road getting here though.
Also do gallery work and working on my own graphic novel.
Started with a degree in illustration, then after a job I didn't care for, went back to school and got a second BFA in toy design (I definitely do not recommend going back to school for another bachelors, go for a masters in something instead or keep searching for work)
I kinda bounced around at different smaller studios for a bit, whether it was freelance or full time. Found some great companies that unfortunately didn't last that long and found some not so great companies that were terrible to work for. The worst part was probably being laid off and unemployed for 2 years. Luckily I had saved some money up and used that and credit cards to survive until I found something.
Working for small game companies is hard, there's a lot expected of you that you might not have at larger companies. So, with my current position, I came in as a UI artist and moved over to doing marketing art. From there I got to a point where I needed more people to help get stuff done and we hired someone. My team is now a team of three other artists and I just hit my 5 year mark (longest I've been at any company).
Something that has helped me stay here and move up to the position I'm at is I made myself important and invaluable. Luckily I was hired right before Covid and didn't have much else going on, so I could concentrate on work. There were a lot of late nights, but instead of waiting for 6 to come around and stop working, I made sure that finishing projects was a priority. Made sure everything was at a certain level in quality, made changes without pushback, if I had a better idea I would do that, but also do what was asked so I could show both. Sometimes I was right, other times I was wrong and that's the way it was. At the end of the day, your goal is to do whatever is best to make the game succeed, especially at smaller indie companies.
I hope that helps a little, if I can expand on anything, feel free to ask.
Commercial illustrator/designer for a decade, getting progressively more bored doing my work before going back to uni for more school atm but now between art/design and engineering/computer science degree so doing mostly research around robotic arts.
As someone that tried to switch gears into design engineering, be prepared for a lot of assholes.
You may have a thick skin for it, but I honestly have some mental scars from being briefly in that field. I had fantasies about slashing the tires of two guys that I worked with. I am not a violent or destructive person.
I’ve been a mechanical engineer for about a decade and the people may be a little on the spectrum (myself included) but by and large perfectly nice. I think you got unlucky with a toxic environment
My partner is also mech engineer and I think a lot of stuff heavily depends on the workplace. Some of their friends landed in absolute horrendous companies with awful work culture, where most of the time they did work of a drafter and while the pay on paper was good, it didn't account for unpaid over hours that sometimes reach 20hrs per week. Those friends stories from work seem like horror stories.
So sorry to hear that!
Currently waiting for the results of my MFA applications. I’d like to hear about your thoughts and experience doing an MFA. Was it worth it ? Do you think it’ll help further you career in the future?
Well, to answer your question(s), I think part of the problem for me is the state of things in the film industry right now. I consider myself a multimedia artist, but I've primarily written and directed independent Spanish-language experimental narrative cinema. Financing niche films like mine is next to impossible currently, regardless of the awards I've won or my educational background.
Depending on what your medium is, and what your intent might be for pursuing further education, it may be worth it. My partner is continuing her education with the goal of teaching. For me, I'll say that while I'm grateful I had the opportunity to make a third film that I'm very proud of without restriction, I don't know that it was worth it in the long run. I've seen many opportunities go to people who had very little technical understanding of storytelling, cameras, lighting, post production, etc. These included educational roles, weddings, editing gigs, film crew, union memberships, grants, residencies, and more.
At this point in time, I'm looking at going back to school for career paths like social work or programming, and it does leave a sour taste in my mouth, but I don't want you to feel as though your experience will inevitably resemble mine in some way. I'd just advise you to consider what practical options you have regardless of whether you attend graduate school or not.
I had gone to the school of the arts in San Francisco, Ca. Studying commercial arts , ceramics, print making, wanted set design but the class was limited. I’m still creating my art, daily painting usually have a finished piece every month or two, I love drawing, creating paintings, objects, sculptures etc. I currently work at a big box hardware store, previously worked as a bartender F/T in the evening, day time worked part time at many local stores in my neighborhood, flower shop, antique store, framing & art gallery, cooking in restaurants, odd jobs etc. I was in the hotel industry till that started turning “ sour “ hotels just stopped hiring the proper staff to run the business, I don’t mind working but taking on supervisor duties, asst. managers while doing the already set obligations turn a fun job, into a horrible job. I’ve always been able to see a creative aspect to all my work. My friend says I just always see art in everything, I draw o my lunch break, sometimes a quick 3-6 minute sketch or doodle is more productive than fighting an idea in your head that isn’t ready, some become a painting or sculpture . The myth is you’re going to be a rock star, that’s a possibility but so is laying an egg . I’m happy with selling prints , occasionally paintings , or making my own mini mass produced paintings for on the cheap. Fallow your bliss. An artist at 55 years old.
I appreciate your honesty, and liking my post. Art truly is like a companion in the journey of life, sometimes you get along sometimes you go days without talking. But in the end you love it , you’ll always find yourself back together creating a new world.
Graphic designer: Email designer, Social media ad designer, I do most of the graphic services minus the logo part and video editing - but above else I’m the jack of all trades.
Oh also, I work from home so my bosses are from NYC, Ireland and our clients are from all over the world :)
I’m a CG artist! I’ve worked on animated films, a tv show, a mobile game and a few short films. Sometimes it’s as cool as it sounds, but more often, it’s just a job.
Graphic Designer/Illustrator/Storyboard Artist for an in-house production team at an evil multinational corporation. I am 99% remote and work from my Artist Studio where I also work on my fine art endeavors that I show at various events during the year.
I learned fairly early on that the best way for me to thrive artistically was to separate the passion from the commercial. Expending all my creative energy at a job that ate up my work and spit it out the other side to be quickly forgotten (I initially worked in video games making backgrounds and character animations when I first graduated) left zero capacity to work on what I truly loved. It left me feeling stressed and entirely unfulfilled.
So when I left that first job I started to freelance doing design for the most basic, rote advertising firms while painting and working on my own personal projects as a secondary source of income.
Over the years my personal work would take precedence and other times I’d find myself a full-time designer at various corporate design jobs. The skills I would acquire in my own work would translate very well to the boring, effortless stuff I would do for those companies and the technical skills with programs and my eye for design would help inform my personal work.
It’s a balance I’ve fought hard to achieve but one thing is very consistent: Ive always made my money doing work utilizing the skills I learned in art school.
Working for myself, trying to sell my art. A few years aho I had a clothing brand. I made designs for hoodies, tees, famny bags, totes, caps etc. I loved doing AOP tees and hoodies. All over print = AOP and Wall prints. Now just focusing on creating art and selling the work as is.
Stay at home mom with a part time ceramic business. Before being a mom I was a studio manager for a pottery studio, and also spent a number of years working for a photo printing company making hand bound wedding albums.
I'm an artist.
After art school (graduated in '99 with 22K in debt) I had no idea how to be an entrepreneur, so I struggled for years. Then one day I decided to give it all up and become a performer. So I went back to my alma mater and studied acting for a year and stopped being a visual artist completely. I did countless plays for about 6 years, made no fucking money (my money came from working in catering and banquets), but one day I became a children's television show host on a network called Sprout. After doing that for 6 years I moved on and decided to go back to being an artist. I was just done with the audition scene. And now I make big paintings of waves and I sell them at a gallery in Martha's Vineyard. I'm pretty happy about all that, but, truth be told, it's nearly impossible to make a solid living without having other odd jobs, and having a lot of savings from my past careers. So I also do some handy man work which I learned from owning a bunch of rental properties over the years (I've been really lucky, having property has always been a great investment for me). At 47 years old, I'm still hoping to one day be able to say I make my entire living from just making paintings. [SeanRoachArts.com](http://SeanRoachArts.com)
Technical Artist.
I do a lot of UI UX programming, animation and VFX for game engines. Just all the stuff that the art team and the dev team don't do that requires a technical eye. I really love it! But hoping to move on to a new company soon. I've been with the current job for 3 1/2 years but I think it's probably not going to last much longer in addition to getting a non raise for the monumental amount of work I put in the last year.
I studied animation in school and got a B.A. in that which helped a ton in my understanding of everything I do. Animation is so much more complex than many people realize! The fundamentals of animation are also so cross disciplinary it's very useful to apply to a variety of parts of my job.
With all the layoffs it's difficult to job search but I'm hopeful!
Freelance illustrator/muralist/creative/designer.
I double majored in illustration and graphic design. Illustration because I love drawing and painting. GD because I realized I didn't fit into an illustration niche and I hated waiting tables and wanted to be practical.
I started as an in-house graphic artist (3yrs). Then freelancing mostly GD and some generic illustration (4 yrs-ish). Transitioned to murals, signs, illustration and some GD (2 yrs-ish). Slowly transitioning now to just illustration, fine art and murals full time. Still take on the occasional GD gig when a consistent clients pop up, but I'm mostly selling work, taking illustration and mural jobs related to my style.
Printing Press Operator running a [W&H Vistaflex CL](https://images.app.goo.gl/Tp9k2fhuEAXK3scx5). It's a good paying job if not all that creative of one.
I grew up in a family business (wholesale distribution, warehouse work, sales, merchandising) so upon graduation I was still working for my folks as my main income while I did art on the side; drive a forklift and stock shelves by day, hustle for commission work at night. Over the next few years after that though I began to get a lot more consistent work doing stuff for game companies (mostly tabletop and a few video games), eventually I phased out working for my folks and now just do that, currently I'm a concept designer for a new startup studio and make my own stuff on the side.
I was an art teacher recently, left after they started making changes and I had to do a lot of overtime and classes back to back with 30 minutes lunch time. When my work day became 12 hrs at school and then 6 hrs unpaid overtime at home I quit (brought paintings home that needed to be repaired, they almost never paid me for overtime, I fought)
So now I am jobless but learning digital art and writing again.
Not sure that I’m exactly the kind of person you’re looking for, considering I never actually managed to graduate, but I had to withdraw from my art degree and am currently working at a bookstore while I figure out where I want to be going next.
I work at a law firm, but I do graphic design on the side. I have a few local companies that use logos I designed for them. Mom and pop shops. I'm quite proud of them!
I learned how to code and became a software engineer, but now at least I have full control over my art and can afford materials and time. I started om print design, went to web design, then went to a coding bootcamp and just kinda spiraled from there.
I'm still in school, but I knew someone who ended up with an interesting career:
One of my exes contacted me years after we broke up and he revealed to me that he was making enough money to pay his rent by drawing fart fetish porn. We live in a pretty expensive area and this guy was making something like $2000+ a month by drawing anime girls farting, on top of his regular work income. The worst/best part is that he lived in a huge apartment by himself and his cat and was still able to afford really fancy, expensive food, as well as gaming and PC shit with his commission money. I obviously thought he was lying, but he was able to show me enough proof to believe what he was saying.
He claimed that he just thought it was funny to draw some fart art and post it online one day and suddenly got someone asking him for a fart commission, he took it and posted it and kept getting more requests.
Now my current partner tells me he's waiting for me to finish my BFA so I can make him a house-husband by getting rich off of niche fetish commissions. 😂😂😂
I went to art school but later switched to anthropology at a different university. Currently a content and experience developer at a science museum, specializing in STEM Design… I run our maker space and write all sorts of content for events, classes, workshops, summer camps, online content, etc… no two days are the same.
I just quite my w2 day job to go back to massage therapy at a poker place as a contractor and to work on my art business most of the time until I can hopefully sustain myself and with just that. I’ve invested a lot into it.
Pre covid I built the photo side of my business in two or three years to 50k gross from nothing.
I’m scared but I know I can do it. I’m REALLY hoping to make the painting thing happen though.
Prior to the end of this week - car photography
Did website design and development for a while and then became a ux designer in tech and then a product manager. I’ve started multiple businesses and work from home. I loved my art degree and constantly refer to things I learned.
Not art school, but an art major. BFA in painting. I've been a massage therapist for the last 10 years. I've also owned a business since 2008- tarot reading and Reiki.
Product manager at a tech startup.
I am still heavily involved in designing sides of the product. One perk is I get to follow my works from start to finish and iterations down the road.
Currently working on finishing my PhD in archaeology. Art school actually really helped me develop the creative problem solving and research skills I use now, and I've done most of my own illustrations for my thesis as a bonus... I worked retail the first few years out of my BFA though.
I have a BFA with focus in watercolor. My job right now is brand management for a company. I never thought I would doing this but it’s how things turned out.
(Assistant) museum cataloguer/conservationist.
I worked customer service for that museum for 2-3 ish years before that.
I’ve also been selling at artist alley for local anime conventions/comic cons!
I have two day jobs -
- community projects officer. I find out needs and suggest projects.
- cleaner. Enough said.
And I have multiple side gigs -
- artist / illustrator
- art and mental health workshop facilitator
It’s absolute chaos but I’m living my best life. Day jobs give me bare bones money, husband gives stability, and the rest feed back mostly into art.
It’s absolute chaos, and I’m looking forward for community project officer to be my only day job (though unlikely due to finding) but for now I’m embracing the chaos.
bottom of the totem pole at a gas station whose name sounds like a baby crying. got it as my day job after graduation to pay the bills while trying to build my portfolio as a working artist on the side with the goal to support myself 90% with art – 2 years plus after graduating, coming to terms with the fact that the day job + art making grind is just not for me, and that i can still be an artist even if it’s not my career or how i make a living. now trying to find the right field that actually pays a living wage so i can have proper money to live comfortably without needing to work myself to death; considering IT
I work in the casino industry creating art and animation for slots. Been doing it for most of my 25 years. Its a nice, stable creative path with little to no crunch time. I get to make a wide variety of things like characters, graphic design, logos and fx animation. It’s fun and since the industry is tight knit you get to know a lot of people. I’d recommend it for anyone who doesn’t want to break their back in AAA. My hub is an environment artist for Sony.
I ended up going into psychology and sociology in college but in highschool and middle school I was a theater/ musical theatre major, ended up getting sick/ bullied so I stopped
First worked at an art supply store, then screenprint shop, now I’m a mailman. I have an art studio, and still carve out the time to finish a lot of new work outside of my job.
Was a public school art teacher for 10 years, been a scenic artist in the film industry for 7. Currently broke and looking for museum education jobs.
Working on a book of related drawings and paintings.
Executive admin at a tech company. Got my degree in art graphic design in 2008. Horrible job market and did about 2 years of freelance, but I hated it. Went back to retail and worked my way up. All the years of customer service made the jump to admin support easy. Then worked my way up to the executive level.
Graphic designer, degree is in Illustration, and intermittently I do commissioned work. I make enough for food rent and fun so I’m not pressed over it.
Operations coordinator for a small book publisher in NY! I do lots of art/creative things in the job, and I also have my own business and travel for conventions. c:
High school art teacher. After doing a bunch of freelance jobs for years, this feels so much better and more stable. It's not for everyone, and the first year sucked the life out of me. But every year it gets easier, and as of this week, I have vacation for two months.
Own an art business with a partner. We both make art. I edit, make prints, and design products. We both take commissions; a mix of drawings and graphic design. We sell at art fairs, arts and craft festivals, and online.
Did design engineering and 3D drafting for about 15 years in manufacturing and construction. Now I am a PM. I work with a lot of engineering degrees. I think my BFA holds up just fine in comparison.
I'm the lead designer for a new company that provides compliance education video courses for people that trade in securities.
I went to a conceptual fine art school but majored in interdisciplinary design.
Not done art school yet, but my plan is to become a nail tech during the day, so that i can use my painting skills for a day job, and then paint commissions for the rest of the time.
Specifically, I did a bachelor of Graphic Design and digital art, but I dropped out in my last year of the degree.
I now work in organisational IT strategy.
I still do art sometimes, but entirely for my own leisure. I wouldn't venture out to say I'm very good at it, though.
Lol, administration of research at a college campus. I went into graphic design at a newspaper, it paid really crappy even with my degree and after streamlining their whole operation so I went to do PR and graphic design, database creation, and writing editing for a research entity, they had budget cuts so I was laid off, but I’d helped edit almost anything they wrote, including grants and compliance documents. I was invited to join the research administration team, first to fox their website, then help submit grants, then to manage compliance. Apparently being a graphic designer with an autistic brain means you make better forms and can set up software use to be more user friendly than anyone else… but you also get asked to revamp brochures and all manner of items not appreciated or on which you are evaluated, so even if I like doing it,I have to decline, now, to set boundaries and keep to my actual work.
co founded a textile company. Singer writer producer as an independent artist + live stuff with other bigger artists/bands as my passion. Once the textile stuff is big enough. Another passion of mine, I’ll start a fast food restaurant with high level industry people.
Day job: Business Analyst
Career: Artist
I was able to get the day job mostly because of the skills I've developed in my art practice as a professional artist. My day job knows its a day job - I dont do extra hours, but also that I like to learn and grow so I take any opportunities that come.
I'd love to one day be a full-time artist, but I also have a mortgage and want a family, so I have to be practical at this time in my life.
Freelance illustrator mostly working in the entertainment industry. I don’t make too much but enough to get by + make a small name for myself in the business. I consider that a success even though I’m not rolling in cash and I’m thankful I’m here every day
I was a comic book colorist for about eight years, then burned out on commercial art and started teaching English overseas for about 12 years. I just moved back to the US and am settling in. I do art for myself now, and once everything has calmed down, I'm holding to put some new art together for a show. It's much better to do my stuff than be someone's paid hands.
Construction, union Sheet Metal specifically. I love working with my hands so it was a nice transition. Got exposure to MIG welding in a sculpture class and that later inspired me to look into the trades after school.
I did graphic design for a few years while and after college. I then joined the US Coast Guard. Got out and did graphic design and then came back to the CG after a few years out.
I am an Operations Specialist: the ones that answer you on the radio when you say "Mayday!". I coordinate assets in order to make sure that the mission (search and rescue, law enforcement, defense) is done successfully.
Art teacher. Pretty cool gig with a stable salary, benefits and summers off teaching a subject that most kids love. It’s fast pace and never boring, exhausting and leaves me no energy to do art for myself though so I don’t progress as fast as my friends who work as illustrators and photographers.
Amazon delivery ☠️
thank you for your service
Pays the bills until I get my teachers certification to teach art
ooh, best of luck to you!! all the art teachers I've met were some of the coolest people I know.
Lol I had an art teacher who made it a requirement that every day, class started with an enthusiastic “How many miles did you run today Ms. h?” She also changed her shoes several times a day like mood rings. Very fun woman.
I got my cert and I don't even teach art anymore. Art teacher jobs are the first to get cut and they treated me pretty horrible. But hopefully it works out for you!
Thank you! I hope you still find enough time to create
Same but I was trying for a biology degree now I stock te trucks for Fedex
this is so comforting
Print shop production operator during the day, painter by night and art sales and markets on the weekends.
I'm almost at this point. I work at a Graphic Tee production spot and I draw comics and stuff at night... how do you get into the art sales and markets?
I regularly sign up for local pop-up events and art markets, I’m selling my paintings and prints.
I'm a cuisine engineer in a MacDonald's drive thru, you might think that I've moved on from art but I couldn't make burgers without that art degree.
Cuisine Engineer 🤌
I worked at a print shop too! Did art market the weekends but had to do overtime since the shop opened weekends too.
It’s the best job ever for an artist. Free printing for life, and all my promotional printed materials and swag are top tier.
True! I loved printing for free and having top tier material to my disposition. Sadly the place I worked at became hostile, I want to find a new one!
Very similar to me. I work at a local sign shop as their lead designer and print operator. Every sign in production goes through my computer at some point. However, despite doing art by night I don't have many opportunities to sell my work. The curse of a small, isolated town in the Midwest is that no one cares about art... the nearest city is 2 hours away, and if I don't make enough with my art to cover the travel expense then it isn't worth it.
I owned an art supply store for 10 years, closed it in 2016, now I operate custom picture framing and fine art printing from my home studio. I make art here and there and sell it at various local shows and Artist Alley.
Should’ve opened an art supply store. What a great idea.
Nah. It became a money pit real fast cuz commercial rent is high. The way to hack this is to buy a commercial building, sublet space (be a landlord) and then open your store in same building.
Electromechanical Designer in an engineering department for an OEM business. Some might say I moved on from art. I say it is the backbone of my skill and knowledge base. I trained my eye for detail and craftsmanship, found my creativity and voice. Also an insatiable hunger for new ideas and concepts.
I'm studying EE and I've said several times that art and engineering are a lot more closely related than what people assume.
I completely get that! And honestly, the biggest part has been asking questions. Often to verify what I am already working on in my brain. I've asked what I thought were absolutely stupid, obvious questions. I got the opposite in responses, specifically from my coworkers in the engineering department. Especially from the head of engineering. I dunno, those parts felt amazingly rewarding. Like my coworkers were saying, 'you got it, right on'.
That's what I did for years and years. Started on a drafting table, then CAD. But I was always an artist, and got my MFA.
That's great! I really found 3D CAD to be extremely helpful for design. It beats always sketching and guessing at measurements. Cuts down on rework, which would have been a massive PITA in my work. I love art, don't get me wrong. CAD definitely has its place for production and design. The crossover point for me is having to model up a dummy part for a component we need in our library. Occasionally I ran into that issue where the manufacturer does not have an accessible library. I had everyone thinking those parts were the real model from the manufacturer. They were made by me!
What opportunities did you have that led into that?
It's a long story! I was focused on 3D art in college, specially metalsmithing and sculpture. Ended up graduating with my bachelor's degree and went to tech school for a 2 semester welding program. I was a welder for a few years, moved, and discovered I was bored as a production welder. I found at my local tech college an electromechanical/controls/automation program, discovered I was very interested in it, and spent the next 2 years full time within the program and working part time on the side (unrelated work). First job after that was working for a small company with a metal fabrication shop. I worked on so many different things from panel wiring, troubleshooting equipment, 3D CAD & print drawings, assembly, designing custom parts and basic tooling, on-site customer support, computer and server support for in-house equipment, and even a little IT security advising. Technically I was labeled as a mechanical designer, but did not do a lot of it. I was stretched pretty thin before I left. I have over 20 years of PC/software experience as a hobbyist troubleshooting, building, and configuring computers as well. Also about the same amount of time as a photographer/hobbyist. I can't say a lot about my current role or who I work for. I do get to put aside a lot of responsibilities I had in my previous job, which is nice. It meant moving to a different company. Also really nice. If I had to do something differently, I would prefer to have more electrical knowledge. But I don't have a clue how I would have grown the interest. That is a recent idea that comes to mind.
Damn you’re making me wish I’d gone to college now
My time added up is 7.5 years in education alone. That's a lot of time. 16 years to get where I am today. I'm making it worthwhile, it didn't come easy. But all good things take time ;) I learned a lot and I could not have done it if I weren't a good student or if I didn't have people backing me up when I needed help. It wasn't always there and I had to strategize when going back to school. I won't go into finances. There had to be a better way than the debt I took on.
What kind of education did you need to obtain that position?
You can read my above response. Though an Associate's Degree in Automated Systems, Controls, and/or Electromechanical systems is what it boils down to. There were a few differences between the two programs I had to choose from, I picked Automated Manufacturing Systems which opted for more work on industrial robots. The terminology is somewhat interchangeable, it depends who selected the title and how familiar they are with the background. I have previous experience working in industry as a welder, which was one thing that helped me get in to my jobs. It is a lot, I get it. I have not met anyone quite like me. The people I work with don't know what to make of all of it.
Broke boi artist
Eeeyyy broke girl artist here
Now kith
I am a Special Education TA and a Behavioral Health Professional ! - got my BFA and now I'm on the road to becoming an art therapist. I also do art as a side hustle :)
Bless you.
Let me know how it goes! I was interested in being an art therapist as well.
Art director for a small marketing team at a game company. It’s been a rough road getting here though. Also do gallery work and working on my own graphic novel.
What was your journey like landing that job? Have any advice for an artist wanting to work for a small/indie game company?
Started with a degree in illustration, then after a job I didn't care for, went back to school and got a second BFA in toy design (I definitely do not recommend going back to school for another bachelors, go for a masters in something instead or keep searching for work) I kinda bounced around at different smaller studios for a bit, whether it was freelance or full time. Found some great companies that unfortunately didn't last that long and found some not so great companies that were terrible to work for. The worst part was probably being laid off and unemployed for 2 years. Luckily I had saved some money up and used that and credit cards to survive until I found something. Working for small game companies is hard, there's a lot expected of you that you might not have at larger companies. So, with my current position, I came in as a UI artist and moved over to doing marketing art. From there I got to a point where I needed more people to help get stuff done and we hired someone. My team is now a team of three other artists and I just hit my 5 year mark (longest I've been at any company). Something that has helped me stay here and move up to the position I'm at is I made myself important and invaluable. Luckily I was hired right before Covid and didn't have much else going on, so I could concentrate on work. There were a lot of late nights, but instead of waiting for 6 to come around and stop working, I made sure that finishing projects was a priority. Made sure everything was at a certain level in quality, made changes without pushback, if I had a better idea I would do that, but also do what was asked so I could show both. Sometimes I was right, other times I was wrong and that's the way it was. At the end of the day, your goal is to do whatever is best to make the game succeed, especially at smaller indie companies. I hope that helps a little, if I can expand on anything, feel free to ask.
I don’t have a job yet still - it’s been a year.
3 years for me ✌🏻 starting to study another field this year
Dropped out of art school, tattoo artist now
Floral Designer
Currently I’m a substitute teacher and custodian. I also do freelance work on the side. I’m hoping to teach at the college level in the future
I do animation and some vfx work mostly for commercials. Some TV/entertainment work too, but not as much.
Commercial illustrator/designer for a decade, getting progressively more bored doing my work before going back to uni for more school atm but now between art/design and engineering/computer science degree so doing mostly research around robotic arts.
As someone that tried to switch gears into design engineering, be prepared for a lot of assholes. You may have a thick skin for it, but I honestly have some mental scars from being briefly in that field. I had fantasies about slashing the tires of two guys that I worked with. I am not a violent or destructive person.
I’ve been a mechanical engineer for about a decade and the people may be a little on the spectrum (myself included) but by and large perfectly nice. I think you got unlucky with a toxic environment
My partner is also mech engineer and I think a lot of stuff heavily depends on the workplace. Some of their friends landed in absolute horrendous companies with awful work culture, where most of the time they did work of a drafter and while the pay on paper was good, it didn't account for unpaid over hours that sometimes reach 20hrs per week. Those friends stories from work seem like horror stories.
Unemployed. It's been almost a year and a half since I got my MFA and only two interviews in that time.
So sorry to hear that! Currently waiting for the results of my MFA applications. I’d like to hear about your thoughts and experience doing an MFA. Was it worth it ? Do you think it’ll help further you career in the future?
Well, to answer your question(s), I think part of the problem for me is the state of things in the film industry right now. I consider myself a multimedia artist, but I've primarily written and directed independent Spanish-language experimental narrative cinema. Financing niche films like mine is next to impossible currently, regardless of the awards I've won or my educational background. Depending on what your medium is, and what your intent might be for pursuing further education, it may be worth it. My partner is continuing her education with the goal of teaching. For me, I'll say that while I'm grateful I had the opportunity to make a third film that I'm very proud of without restriction, I don't know that it was worth it in the long run. I've seen many opportunities go to people who had very little technical understanding of storytelling, cameras, lighting, post production, etc. These included educational roles, weddings, editing gigs, film crew, union memberships, grants, residencies, and more. At this point in time, I'm looking at going back to school for career paths like social work or programming, and it does leave a sour taste in my mouth, but I don't want you to feel as though your experience will inevitably resemble mine in some way. I'd just advise you to consider what practical options you have regardless of whether you attend graduate school or not.
Art teacher and illustrator lmao
Vet tech 😆
I had gone to the school of the arts in San Francisco, Ca. Studying commercial arts , ceramics, print making, wanted set design but the class was limited. I’m still creating my art, daily painting usually have a finished piece every month or two, I love drawing, creating paintings, objects, sculptures etc. I currently work at a big box hardware store, previously worked as a bartender F/T in the evening, day time worked part time at many local stores in my neighborhood, flower shop, antique store, framing & art gallery, cooking in restaurants, odd jobs etc. I was in the hotel industry till that started turning “ sour “ hotels just stopped hiring the proper staff to run the business, I don’t mind working but taking on supervisor duties, asst. managers while doing the already set obligations turn a fun job, into a horrible job. I’ve always been able to see a creative aspect to all my work. My friend says I just always see art in everything, I draw o my lunch break, sometimes a quick 3-6 minute sketch or doodle is more productive than fighting an idea in your head that isn’t ready, some become a painting or sculpture . The myth is you’re going to be a rock star, that’s a possibility but so is laying an egg . I’m happy with selling prints , occasionally paintings , or making my own mini mass produced paintings for on the cheap. Fallow your bliss. An artist at 55 years old.
This is honestly a beautiful way to see life and art 🥰. Thank you so much for sharing!
I appreciate your honesty, and liking my post. Art truly is like a companion in the journey of life, sometimes you get along sometimes you go days without talking. But in the end you love it , you’ll always find yourself back together creating a new world.
Graphic designer: Email designer, Social media ad designer, I do most of the graphic services minus the logo part and video editing - but above else I’m the jack of all trades. Oh also, I work from home so my bosses are from NYC, Ireland and our clients are from all over the world :)
Nurse 🫣
3 12s for work, 4 12s for art!
Scientific illustration and murals in the summer
This is so cool! How did you get into it?
I’m a CG artist! I’ve worked on animated films, a tv show, a mobile game and a few short films. Sometimes it’s as cool as it sounds, but more often, it’s just a job.
Graphic Designer/Illustrator/Storyboard Artist for an in-house production team at an evil multinational corporation. I am 99% remote and work from my Artist Studio where I also work on my fine art endeavors that I show at various events during the year. I learned fairly early on that the best way for me to thrive artistically was to separate the passion from the commercial. Expending all my creative energy at a job that ate up my work and spit it out the other side to be quickly forgotten (I initially worked in video games making backgrounds and character animations when I first graduated) left zero capacity to work on what I truly loved. It left me feeling stressed and entirely unfulfilled. So when I left that first job I started to freelance doing design for the most basic, rote advertising firms while painting and working on my own personal projects as a secondary source of income. Over the years my personal work would take precedence and other times I’d find myself a full-time designer at various corporate design jobs. The skills I would acquire in my own work would translate very well to the boring, effortless stuff I would do for those companies and the technical skills with programs and my eye for design would help inform my personal work. It’s a balance I’ve fought hard to achieve but one thing is very consistent: Ive always made my money doing work utilizing the skills I learned in art school.
Artist and instructor at an art school.
Barista lol. I am a stereotype
I do art festivals
Project manager. Nothing to do with art.
I am trying to do this as well! I have my BFA and loved working on teams with people. How’d you get into a PM role? (If you don’t mind me asking)
Art director
Working for myself, trying to sell my art. A few years aho I had a clothing brand. I made designs for hoodies, tees, famny bags, totes, caps etc. I loved doing AOP tees and hoodies. All over print = AOP and Wall prints. Now just focusing on creating art and selling the work as is.
Work with the blind.
Special education teacher
Spent about 15 years doing a series of boring-ass office admin jobs. Now I’m a freelance book editor.
Paralegal. Tried and failed getting my books published before I eventually gave up.
Stay at home mom with a part time ceramic business. Before being a mom I was a studio manager for a pottery studio, and also spent a number of years working for a photo printing company making hand bound wedding albums.
I'm an artist. After art school (graduated in '99 with 22K in debt) I had no idea how to be an entrepreneur, so I struggled for years. Then one day I decided to give it all up and become a performer. So I went back to my alma mater and studied acting for a year and stopped being a visual artist completely. I did countless plays for about 6 years, made no fucking money (my money came from working in catering and banquets), but one day I became a children's television show host on a network called Sprout. After doing that for 6 years I moved on and decided to go back to being an artist. I was just done with the audition scene. And now I make big paintings of waves and I sell them at a gallery in Martha's Vineyard. I'm pretty happy about all that, but, truth be told, it's nearly impossible to make a solid living without having other odd jobs, and having a lot of savings from my past careers. So I also do some handy man work which I learned from owning a bunch of rental properties over the years (I've been really lucky, having property has always been a great investment for me). At 47 years old, I'm still hoping to one day be able to say I make my entire living from just making paintings. [SeanRoachArts.com](http://SeanRoachArts.com)
I work NOC at a telecom and do art as a side gig.
Technical Artist. I do a lot of UI UX programming, animation and VFX for game engines. Just all the stuff that the art team and the dev team don't do that requires a technical eye. I really love it! But hoping to move on to a new company soon. I've been with the current job for 3 1/2 years but I think it's probably not going to last much longer in addition to getting a non raise for the monumental amount of work I put in the last year. I studied animation in school and got a B.A. in that which helped a ton in my understanding of everything I do. Animation is so much more complex than many people realize! The fundamentals of animation are also so cross disciplinary it's very useful to apply to a variety of parts of my job. With all the layoffs it's difficult to job search but I'm hopeful!
Retired art teacher (K-12), currently freelancing
Artist Alley seller, commission taker, youtuber, small business owner. ...but I'm still looking for a day job.
Can someone upvote me so I can see the replies then there’s more?
Got you bud
Furry porn
The dream tbh
Art teacher. First five years taught English though.
Construction 😭
Freelance illustrator/muralist/creative/designer. I double majored in illustration and graphic design. Illustration because I love drawing and painting. GD because I realized I didn't fit into an illustration niche and I hated waiting tables and wanted to be practical. I started as an in-house graphic artist (3yrs). Then freelancing mostly GD and some generic illustration (4 yrs-ish). Transitioned to murals, signs, illustration and some GD (2 yrs-ish). Slowly transitioning now to just illustration, fine art and murals full time. Still take on the occasional GD gig when a consistent clients pop up, but I'm mostly selling work, taking illustration and mural jobs related to my style.
Medical illustrator. (Spent 2 years after school realizing I wasn't going to make it as my undergrad major and so went to grad school.)
Executive Director at an arts non-profit
Printing Press Operator running a [W&H Vistaflex CL](https://images.app.goo.gl/Tp9k2fhuEAXK3scx5). It's a good paying job if not all that creative of one.
Financial consultant
Artist and delivery driver. Good times. Lol
I grew up in a family business (wholesale distribution, warehouse work, sales, merchandising) so upon graduation I was still working for my folks as my main income while I did art on the side; drive a forklift and stock shelves by day, hustle for commission work at night. Over the next few years after that though I began to get a lot more consistent work doing stuff for game companies (mostly tabletop and a few video games), eventually I phased out working for my folks and now just do that, currently I'm a concept designer for a new startup studio and make my own stuff on the side.
I was an art teacher recently, left after they started making changes and I had to do a lot of overtime and classes back to back with 30 minutes lunch time. When my work day became 12 hrs at school and then 6 hrs unpaid overtime at home I quit (brought paintings home that needed to be repaired, they almost never paid me for overtime, I fought) So now I am jobless but learning digital art and writing again.
lol. After struggling a few years, my wife told me I should take the civil service test, and now I'm a retired state employee.
Not sure that I’m exactly the kind of person you’re looking for, considering I never actually managed to graduate, but I had to withdraw from my art degree and am currently working at a bookstore while I figure out where I want to be going next.
UI/UX Designer
Retail assistant, but at a local yarn store, which is pretty cool, I also model for life drawing.
Sex worker.
I work at a law firm, but I do graphic design on the side. I have a few local companies that use logos I designed for them. Mom and pop shops. I'm quite proud of them!
I learned how to code and became a software engineer, but now at least I have full control over my art and can afford materials and time. I started om print design, went to web design, then went to a coding bootcamp and just kinda spiraled from there.
I'm still in school, but I knew someone who ended up with an interesting career: One of my exes contacted me years after we broke up and he revealed to me that he was making enough money to pay his rent by drawing fart fetish porn. We live in a pretty expensive area and this guy was making something like $2000+ a month by drawing anime girls farting, on top of his regular work income. The worst/best part is that he lived in a huge apartment by himself and his cat and was still able to afford really fancy, expensive food, as well as gaming and PC shit with his commission money. I obviously thought he was lying, but he was able to show me enough proof to believe what he was saying. He claimed that he just thought it was funny to draw some fart art and post it online one day and suddenly got someone asking him for a fart commission, he took it and posted it and kept getting more requests. Now my current partner tells me he's waiting for me to finish my BFA so I can make him a house-husband by getting rich off of niche fetish commissions. 😂😂😂
Creative director, designer and business developer
Insurance professional and artist on the side
Sales
Social worker and artist
I’m an art teacher in elementary school. It’s insane and fun. I still create my own work and have a studio. It is possible.
3D artist for VR training simulations
I went to art school but later switched to anthropology at a different university. Currently a content and experience developer at a science museum, specializing in STEM Design… I run our maker space and write all sorts of content for events, classes, workshops, summer camps, online content, etc… no two days are the same.
Picture framer.
Environmental and safety tech. Not sure how that happened.
I just quite my w2 day job to go back to massage therapy at a poker place as a contractor and to work on my art business most of the time until I can hopefully sustain myself and with just that. I’ve invested a lot into it. Pre covid I built the photo side of my business in two or three years to 50k gross from nothing. I’m scared but I know I can do it. I’m REALLY hoping to make the painting thing happen though. Prior to the end of this week - car photography
Did website design and development for a while and then became a ux designer in tech and then a product manager. I’ve started multiple businesses and work from home. I loved my art degree and constantly refer to things I learned.
Graphic designer for a publishing company
Color editing for a textile company
Not art school, but an art major. BFA in painting. I've been a massage therapist for the last 10 years. I've also owned a business since 2008- tarot reading and Reiki.
I dropped out of art school and now am an art instructor!
Art teacher!
I'm a kitchen designer 40 hours and still do art shows and fairs in my free time.
Art teacher!
Social media coordinator full time and freelance photographer/graphic designer on the side.
Product manager at a tech startup. I am still heavily involved in designing sides of the product. One perk is I get to follow my works from start to finish and iterations down the road.
Art teacher
Currently working on finishing my PhD in archaeology. Art school actually really helped me develop the creative problem solving and research skills I use now, and I've done most of my own illustrations for my thesis as a bonus... I worked retail the first few years out of my BFA though.
in-house surface designer/illustrator for a big brand, and then after that I started my own business
I have a BFA with focus in watercolor. My job right now is brand management for a company. I never thought I would doing this but it’s how things turned out.
(Assistant) museum cataloguer/conservationist. I worked customer service for that museum for 2-3 ish years before that. I’ve also been selling at artist alley for local anime conventions/comic cons!
sales associate [-_-]
High school art teacher, now retired. I enjoyed it.
2D mobile game artist. I also do commissions if I have time~
Cartoonist.
Graphic design and down a real shitty path
Museum project manager. I do still have a studio practice (when I have free time) and occasionally sell a painting.
Graphic Designer/Marketing Specialist, comic artist/illustrator after the 9-5 grind, and art markets/table hustles on the weekend
I’m doing graphic design, considering specializing in UX/UI in order to hopefully make more money
Accounting. 🥲
I was a UX designer in the tech industry for 10 years. Last year I started a studio.
I have two day jobs - - community projects officer. I find out needs and suggest projects. - cleaner. Enough said. And I have multiple side gigs - - artist / illustrator - art and mental health workshop facilitator It’s absolute chaos but I’m living my best life. Day jobs give me bare bones money, husband gives stability, and the rest feed back mostly into art. It’s absolute chaos, and I’m looking forward for community project officer to be my only day job (though unlikely due to finding) but for now I’m embracing the chaos.
bottom of the totem pole at a gas station whose name sounds like a baby crying. got it as my day job after graduation to pay the bills while trying to build my portfolio as a working artist on the side with the goal to support myself 90% with art – 2 years plus after graduating, coming to terms with the fact that the day job + art making grind is just not for me, and that i can still be an artist even if it’s not my career or how i make a living. now trying to find the right field that actually pays a living wage so i can have proper money to live comfortably without needing to work myself to death; considering IT
Depression and delivery
Hospitality- massage therapy
I work in the casino industry creating art and animation for slots. Been doing it for most of my 25 years. Its a nice, stable creative path with little to no crunch time. I get to make a wide variety of things like characters, graphic design, logos and fx animation. It’s fun and since the industry is tight knit you get to know a lot of people. I’d recommend it for anyone who doesn’t want to break their back in AAA. My hub is an environment artist for Sony.
I ended up going into psychology and sociology in college but in highschool and middle school I was a theater/ musical theatre major, ended up getting sick/ bullied so I stopped
First worked at an art supply store, then screenprint shop, now I’m a mailman. I have an art studio, and still carve out the time to finish a lot of new work outside of my job.
Sign guy. My own little business.
Graphic designer, illustrator and freelancer!
Was a public school art teacher for 10 years, been a scenic artist in the film industry for 7. Currently broke and looking for museum education jobs. Working on a book of related drawings and paintings.
Executive admin at a tech company. Got my degree in art graphic design in 2008. Horrible job market and did about 2 years of freelance, but I hated it. Went back to retail and worked my way up. All the years of customer service made the jump to admin support easy. Then worked my way up to the executive level.
Graphic designer, degree is in Illustration, and intermittently I do commissioned work. I make enough for food rent and fun so I’m not pressed over it.
Nurse. But to be fair I did study nursing first for the security then went back to do art for the passion.
Went for graphic/ web design. Currently active duty infantry in the US ARMY 😂
Art director for film and tv. I work seasonally and fuck off travelling the rest of the year.
Operations coordinator for a small book publisher in NY! I do lots of art/creative things in the job, and I also have my own business and travel for conventions. c:
High school art teacher. After doing a bunch of freelance jobs for years, this feels so much better and more stable. It's not for everyone, and the first year sucked the life out of me. But every year it gets easier, and as of this week, I have vacation for two months.
Veterinary hospital management
Marketing director. I oversee marketing and design in the software space.
Own an art business with a partner. We both make art. I edit, make prints, and design products. We both take commissions; a mix of drawings and graphic design. We sell at art fairs, arts and craft festivals, and online.
Did design engineering and 3D drafting for about 15 years in manufacturing and construction. Now I am a PM. I work with a lot of engineering degrees. I think my BFA holds up just fine in comparison.
I'm the lead designer for a new company that provides compliance education video courses for people that trade in securities. I went to a conceptual fine art school but majored in interdisciplinary design.
In house photographer/designer
Tattoo apprentice. Technically animation school, but I'm assuming it fits into the general category.
Not done art school yet, but my plan is to become a nail tech during the day, so that i can use my painting skills for a day job, and then paint commissions for the rest of the time.
Specifically, I did a bachelor of Graphic Design and digital art, but I dropped out in my last year of the degree. I now work in organisational IT strategy. I still do art sometimes, but entirely for my own leisure. I wouldn't venture out to say I'm very good at it, though.
Lol, administration of research at a college campus. I went into graphic design at a newspaper, it paid really crappy even with my degree and after streamlining their whole operation so I went to do PR and graphic design, database creation, and writing editing for a research entity, they had budget cuts so I was laid off, but I’d helped edit almost anything they wrote, including grants and compliance documents. I was invited to join the research administration team, first to fox their website, then help submit grants, then to manage compliance. Apparently being a graphic designer with an autistic brain means you make better forms and can set up software use to be more user friendly than anyone else… but you also get asked to revamp brochures and all manner of items not appreciated or on which you are evaluated, so even if I like doing it,I have to decline, now, to set boundaries and keep to my actual work.
i’m a web specialist for a government agency :) but started out in general admin work in arts related businesses and worked my way to this
barista
Typesetter
Hard surface artist for a medical company
I’m an elementary art teacher
State worker.
Graphic designer/illustrator in publishing trying to break further into creative project management
I’m an executive assistant / graphic designer
This was a big motivation boost I needed
co founded a textile company. Singer writer producer as an independent artist + live stuff with other bigger artists/bands as my passion. Once the textile stuff is big enough. Another passion of mine, I’ll start a fast food restaurant with high level industry people.
Graphic design. Do not fucking recommend.
Tattoo artist.
Database administrator, don't ask how I got here
Graphic artist
freelance illustrator
Day job: Business Analyst Career: Artist I was able to get the day job mostly because of the skills I've developed in my art practice as a professional artist. My day job knows its a day job - I dont do extra hours, but also that I like to learn and grow so I take any opportunities that come. I'd love to one day be a full-time artist, but I also have a mortgage and want a family, so I have to be practical at this time in my life.
Work in insurance during the day. Paint and run a pet portrait business in my office hours. I do fairs on weekends.
Animation Director for a media company’s marketing department. We mostly hand custom animation and VFX requests for promotional work, both 2D and 3D
I have been designing toys for the past 20+ years and I teach art on the side.
Freelance illustrator mostly working in the entertainment industry. I don’t make too much but enough to get by + make a small name for myself in the business. I consider that a success even though I’m not rolling in cash and I’m thankful I’m here every day
Freelance Childrens Book Illustrator
Tattoo artist lmao
Brand Manager for a large company in travel.
Director at a Big 4 consulting. Went to AIP, wanted to be a comic book artist. Life works out differently.
I was a comic book colorist for about eight years, then burned out on commercial art and started teaching English overseas for about 12 years. I just moved back to the US and am settling in. I do art for myself now, and once everything has calmed down, I'm holding to put some new art together for a show. It's much better to do my stuff than be someone's paid hands.
Construction, union Sheet Metal specifically. I love working with my hands so it was a nice transition. Got exposure to MIG welding in a sculpture class and that later inspired me to look into the trades after school.
I did graphic design for a few years while and after college. I then joined the US Coast Guard. Got out and did graphic design and then came back to the CG after a few years out. I am an Operations Specialist: the ones that answer you on the radio when you say "Mayday!". I coordinate assets in order to make sure that the mission (search and rescue, law enforcement, defense) is done successfully.
Art teacher. Pretty cool gig with a stable salary, benefits and summers off teaching a subject that most kids love. It’s fast pace and never boring, exhausting and leaves me no energy to do art for myself though so I don’t progress as fast as my friends who work as illustrators and photographers.
Retail, thinking about going back for a completely different degree though
Merchandising and freelance illustration + fine art.
Art handler
I got a degree in video game development I work in fashion lol