The myth has it that careers for people leaving school with good marks in maths and science are plentiful while those who go the art route are destined to lives of poverty and struggles. The reality however is that this is far from the truth and that staying true to yourself and playing to your strengths is the way to go. It is completely daft to suggest that a person with a talent for art is better off struggling along with maths in the hope that they will get a job as a banker when they could flourish with art and have a career that they really enjoy. Old school folk will say that there are no jobs for people with art or design as subjects but that is an antiquated view. Here are some examples of careers and jobs that are perfect for art graduates.

Designers

Visual and design skills have become increasingly important in the digital era. These days almost any digital project will feature at least one graphic designer. And the digital world is a rapidly growing one. So, in the same way that people with skills in languages are often very good at computer coding so too is there a place in the digital world for artistically inclined people. If you think this could be a career for you a quick online search for a phrase like ‘graphic design Canberra’ should provide you with a long list of nearby companies who employ people in this role. Make contact and arrange a job shadow. Go and see what it is all about – it could be perfect for you.

Body art

The tattoo industry has burgeoned in the last decade with body art now a very common feature on the bodies of most young people. And tattooing is a real skill and a talent. If you find yourself attracted to this, you could be tailor made for a role in a tattoo parlour where your work will live on for ages on the skins of your clients.

Stay true

If your talent shines brightly there is scope to make it as a painter; an artist in the old-school version of the word. Successful artists do very well and can make fortunes from the sale of their work. There is a perception, a completely incorrect one, that all painters are destined to be like Van Gough, slightly mad and living on handouts, unable to sell their work. This might be the case for some, but those are artists who are not as good as they think they are, these days there is a big market for quality art and talent is recognized early and paid well.

Graffiti

Once the domain of the anti-establishment and the under-ground, graffiti has slowly started to become a recognized art form and a medium through which the best can make a very good living. The British artist Banksy is the most famous of these artists and his work is coveted and collected by the rich and famous. Other artists are commissioned to do murals or to work with brands as they are seen as ideal mediums for brands to engage with youth.