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Required Education

A Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts program typically includes a general education and studio art core, as well as art history classes and a concentration in a specific discipline. Individual programs may culminate in a professional portfolio that provides evidence of a student’s marketable skills. Additional training may be found through non-credit and private art classes, apprenticeships, internships and mentoring opportunities. 

Skills Required

In addition to an understanding of fundamental art principles, individual disciplines require their own set of skills. For example, multimedia artists, graphic designers and animators should be proficient in the use of design software. Key qualities for art directors include excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with other professionals. Business, marketing and interpersonal skills are also helpful to those professionals hoping to succeed in the highly competitive field of fine art. 

Career Outlook and Salary

Between 2016 and 2026, employment opportunities for art directors and fine artists nationwide are expected to increase by just 5% and 7% respectively, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In comparison to other occupations, this represents an average rate of growth. As of May 2017, fine artists in general earned median annual wages of $46,520, while art directors enjoyed median yearly salaries of $92,500. 

Nationwide, employment of multimedia artists and graphic designers is projected to increase by 8% and 4%, respectively, from 2016 to 2026, As reported by the BLS, multimedia artists received median annual wages of $70,530 as of May 2017; graphic designers earned $48,700 during the same period (http://www.bls.gov