Namaste! I'm still in High School and I'm two grades behind. I want to just get out because I hate the stagnant, sterile, tediousness, and drama of it all. I am a right brain hippy artist stuck in a left brain dumbed-down institution. I want out! I love art. I'll do any sort of art(music, visual, whatever) if I get the chance to learn it. Right now I draw with colored pencils, make jewelry and decorations with hemp, and write poetry. My intuition tells me that I am meant to use my creative intelligence and artistry to make a life for myself(to earn a living, to achieve my dreams of creating a commune, and to further my creativity, artistry, and spirituality). So long story short. How do you make a living of art? How possible is it that I could become a starving artist if I drop out of school and pursue this alternative life? Peace!
The most reliable and stable way to make a living with your artistic abilities is to go into some form of digital/graphic/web design. I love fine art and I do it as a hobby and sell some on the side, but I am a graphic designer (I have been for 2 years) and I'm also currently working on graphic design in college. My best advice is no matter if you want to be a rocket scientist or an illustrator, STAY IN SCHOOL. Definitely finish high school. Even if it IS a dumbed-down institution it is the only means of marked education that the mass-population will take into consideration (for the most part). And unfortunately, when it comes to making money, what others think does matter. Having a diploma is really important, whether or not you want to go to college is completely optional and more based upon how ambitious your dreams are and how commercial you'd like to go. You can get into graphic design without a certificate or a degree...it will just take longer to work your way up. Making a living off of fine art alone is possible but VERY difficult and will likely take many years of hard work. You have to have an innovative vision, talent and a TON of drive. You need to be able to not only produce your art, but also market and promote yourself; find your audience; get into galleries, etc. Even some of history's most famous artists never made money whilst living, or it took them ages to get their break and make a living. I wish you the best of luck in your creative endeavors!
two grades behind? Are you sure you're even trying? I regret screwing around in high school, because if I had given a shit I would have gotten some awesome scholarships and actually gone to an awesome art college. Its very, VERY difficult to make a living solely as an artist these days because well, EVERYONE and their mom is an artist. I won't say impossible, but you have to do something to really stand out since like I said, everyone is an artist. It seems these days skill doesn't matter as much since everyone has skill, but moreso how unique you are.
Yea it's very important to stay in school no matter what...HOWEVER, there's no certain education requirement to become a professional artist...you either have the talent, or you don't. My best advice would be to get your work out there. Do whatever you can to get people to see your creations, etc. Eventually, you'll get a lot of publicity, and you'll get well known as time goes on. That's really all there is to it. =] And as a fellow artist myself, I wish you lots of luck!! =D
Start a traveling vendor. It would go perfectly with your jewelry, if they are any good. Sell artwork on E-bay...
... and take it from someone who never finished high school. You don't HAVE to finish high school, but if you do drop out try to stay focused. It is very easy to fall into the "do nothing" trend when you have nothing that you need to do. If you do drop out, get your GED and go to college. There is a lot more freedom and inspiration there, esp. for people like me and you (right brained artist types)... If you do that you could get into college before you would have even graduated.
