How much do artists get paid?

Question

i want to make a fortune out of a art major. and i want to know how much they get paid? is it possible for me to become an childrens book illustrator? would i make a fortune? because i dont want to draw for people on the streets and you only get paid 10 dollars. i want a decent living and im hoping for a good career in life. so plz help me out here . thnx

Answer 1

it depends on how good your work is and how many people are willing to buy it.

Answer 2

If you want to become an artist to be rich then you are very much doing it for the wrong reasons. If your work is absolutely outstanding then it's possible to eventually earn a lot of money, and "artist" is a very broad term which covers many different jobs in many different industries; some people in artist positions make good money and some do not.

However, art is not something you do to make a fortune. It is something you do because you love it. Despite all the constant work and practice that goes into becoming a skilled artist, it is unlikely that your average artist will ever be rich; they do it for the privilige of doing the thing they most love every day and managing to make a living at it. If this is not reward enough for you, you probably don't have what it takes to be an illustrator. Freelance illustrators (which almost all illustrators are, including those who illustrate children's books) are often poor as they can struggle to find work and may go through patches when they are unable to find work at all, having to supplement income through work in other areas or take other jobs to sustain themselves. Years of hard work can result in you making a name for yourself which generally solves this problem, but it IS hard work to succeed as an illustrator.

There are steady jobs with good pay that you can go into with drawing skills - product/vehicle/packaging design, concept art, architectural design, art teacher - so perhaps you would prefer to look at those. Honestly, unless you are an incredible artist who has people bowing at your feet, I think you must come to terms with the fact that everyone wants to make a fortune and few people actually do, no matter what they study.

Answer 3

One thing artists often do right after school is teach art.

Or, be a starving artist and wait tables.

You don't have to finish school to start looking into resources for illustration jobs - do free advertising online - like at craig's - have your portfolio ready - put it online in a website of your own. BUT it's all hit or miss, there is alot of work you need to do until you get your name out there and find connections that will work for you.