Career: Craft Artists
If making useful art is not just a hobby but your passion, you might consider pursuing a career as a craft artist. Whether you’re into throwing pots, blowing glass, welding sculpture, carving wood, embroidering linen, or weaving rugs, the objects you create are becoming increasingly popular in the marketplace. They can be found in a huge number of private homes and public collections around the world. Maybe your creations will become the next hot collectible.
Craft artists create works of art that have a practical as well as an artistic purpose, including ceramics, jewelry, art glass, quilts, furniture, welding, and weavings.
Did You Know?
- Some craft artists recycle objects such as license plates, soda cans, costume jewelry, and old t-shirts into purses and other surprising new forms.
Are You Ready To...?
- Spend years mastering your craft
- Continue to develop your feel for color, light and shadow, and composition
- Work with local galleries and specialty shops to sell your work
- Attend retail and wholesale art craft shows to sell your work
- Join a craft artists' collective, in which members share studio space and other resources
- Apply for grant money
It Helps to Be...
Creative, artistic, and good with your hands. In this uncertain field, you’ll need to have faith in your abilities, patience, and a good head for business.
Make High School Count
- Use your high school years to gain experience in your craft. Take studio art classes at your high school or at your local community center or park district.
- Sign up for other electives, such as welding, shop, and art history.
- Join or create an art club for students.
- Try for a booth in a local art fair.
- Enroll in a summer art camp or workshop.
- Attend as many local galleries and art fairs as possible. Talk to the artists you meet there.
“I started making a lot of phone calls to friends to let them know what I was doing, because I feel like the best way to get clients is word of mouth.”
Leslie, Home Accessories Designer
Outlook
Government economists expect jobs for craft artists to grow as fast as the average for all careers through 2014. Craft artists work mainly on a freelance and commission basis, and competition for grants and gallery showings is high. However, studios, galleries, and other clients are always looking for creative, talented artists.
Compensation
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, craft artists earned an average salary of $28,610 in 2006.
It's important to remember, however, that compensation in the arts varies. Many artists who wish to work full-time cannot do so because they cannot live off of the money their art brings in. Plan to spend years building your reputation and a base of collectors before living off your artwork.
