Degree and no career

Hello all!

I have a bachelor's degree in fine arts. I finished my degree a year and a half ago. It took me 6 years to complete and a massive pile of student loans. I worked full time when I was going to school. It was difficult.

I left home at 17 years old, and it took me a few years to go to university after I graduated high school. I've always worked in kitchens since the age of 14. I currently am I kitchen supervisor at a casino.

I'm a talented painter. I've worked for an arts council, I've had my work shown in exhibits. I've sold my work.

My mother made a comment at a family event the other day. My sister is a tattoo artist and went to school for fine arts as well. My mom says "at least yoooour doing something with your art". This comment hurt as it was a jab at me.

I've been stuck working at my job. I've looked for art jobs, had interviews even but no job. The job market is terrible for it, full time work is almost non existent. It's just not a viable career choice.

The past year I've bought a condo with my partner, whose salary is much higher than mine. We've bought a new car, made home upgrades and have been busy with life. I work 50 hours a week and travel 2 hours a day to and from work. I try to balance time with friends and family. I have little energy to paint or draw after a long day. I still have to maintain my home (cleaning, laundry, etc) and have fun (going out for concerts, movies, etc).

My mother's comment is still bothering me two days later. I could go back to school but my student loans are capped at the maximum amount I am unable to take out more. I cannot afford out of pocket. Reason I would go back to school is to further my education to make me qualified to be a high school teacher. I could also go back to school for a different career choice. It's a finicial burden as school would be full time and I would need to work on top of that to afford the cost of living.

I've had to overcome a hell of a lot in my life. My mother judges me as if I work at McDonald's. I make over minimum wage but not a well paid salary. I work hard, I try my best.

I guess I am feeling stress from a bad choice of education. I wish I chose a path that would give me a job after school is done. I feel like a failure in the eyes of my family.

I want to pursue my art privately and sell but my apartment is too small to do so. I don't move into my condo for a year which is when I will have studio space.

I am stressed constantly. I don't know which path to take

Keep your day job and when able pursue you art on the side. It's just the way of the world really. Maybe one day your hobby will become your income but until it does, maintain the steady income.

You have to rejig your life as it is to make room for the art. Art is the most competetive career out there and you have to keep diggin the ditches. You have to keep at it.

Also, ignore your mom. She doesn't know what she's talking about.

What would be your dream job?

I agree with Jetta.

I used to work at a restaurant- almost all of the workers were doing their art on the side- there were very accomplished musicians, dancers (ballet), actors, potters, and painters. They did the restaurant job in order to support doing what they love.

Continue to build your portfolio, and do your shows. You will need to keep your work out there in order to continue building your name.

Your long term goal of becoming an art teacher is a great one - if the market for art teachers is still viable in your area.

Obviously you cannot afford the training for that right now, so you will just need to continue to work to support your arts.

If you are getting burned out in your restaurant, you might consider working in the schools as an assistant or office worker. That way you would get summers off to pursue your art (and/or work in the restaurant for some extra money) and you would also have a better chance at getting your teaching job once you finished your certification.

Build a website, build a mailing list. Put your work, and/or prints of your work, on Etsy.

It doesn't happen overnight, but there's never been a better time to reach people with your creative work.

I love the etsy idea.

Have you thought about teaching? Maybe be an instructor for a Paint Nite? Maybe a good way for you to network with local businesses.

Fine Arts can be a dead end degree for most, you really have to put 110% selling yourself , putting yourself out there and working on your portfolio.

I did it for 3 years, then changed my major and I was happy that I did. some of my friends did use your fine arts degree and have some very nice jobs

but a lot of my close friends don't use there degree in anyway but you can say the same about a lot of degrees nowadays.

I think you are letting your mother get to you a bit much.

Tons of people aren't really using their degrees and are doing something completely different. It's really not uncommon. The idea that a degree means lucrative career and a job is a bit of a myth. Most tradesmen today make way way way more than college grads as most professional fields are over saturated and salaries are low and jobs are scarce.

As for artistic talent - degrees mean nothing in that field. Either you got it or you don't. In terms of self promotion, for artists today is truly the golden age. You've got Etsy, you've got FB, you've got blogs, you've got so many ways to get your work out there that doesn't even take up much time as in having to take time off work to go to shows. However, just like with anyone, until your work catches on enough that you can pay bills with it, a day job is a must and that doesn't make you a lesser person. Frankly, from what you describe, you really have your life and your act together and things for you are coming along nicely.

Just realize that there will always be naysayers out there and sometimes they are going to be the people who are closest to you, but you've got to tune them out, focus on your plan and keep going. Success is a long bumpy road, not a straight line to the top.

Do not let a divisive remark like this fuel sibling rivalry. You are doing fine.

My mom says "at least yoooour doing something with your art"

If you need to make a living off of it to justify it, how passionate about it were you to begin with really?

You entered into one of the most saturated programs out there today. Really, it's an uphill battle with any BA, but especially one in Fine Arts. It also takes a hefty amount of networking and self-promotion.

As agent said, your mom doesn't know what she's talking about and likely comes from an era where a bachelors in anything was likely to get your foot in the door somehwere on its own. While it's a good chunk skill and a willingness to play to the trends (tattoo artists with skill and an academic background are in high demand), there's certainly an element of luck to your sister's opportunity. I wouldn't bog yourself down with comparing yourself to her.

Are you happy with your partner? Your home? Your living situation overall? Is your partner content with what you're able to provide? Comparisons aside, are you happy with your current work? Look to your own life and what you have. If you feel it's missing the art, incorporate it more into your spare time. Who knows? Maybe someday you'll build a portfolio someone loves and will bag yourself a client. For now, I'd take solace in the fact that if you're financially stable, happy with your marriage, and aren't googling how to tie a noose with a bedsheet the moment you come home from work, you're actually a bit ahead of the game.

A piece of paper does not define who you are!

I have a BFA in Painting, and MAT, and I was also getting joint and solo shows, and selling my work to buyers straight off the bat, and burnt myself out. I got tired of having to sharing personal stories about the inspiration of my work. I wanted to go into business, and did, and I love it.

I think you are putting too much pressure on yourself that it has to be a job no ifs, ands, or buts.

Don't for one second think that your mom isn't proud of you - she thinks she's encouraging you, but it's coming off all bad.

These days, I don't paint - I just other priorities in life. But I do make web art, design cards, and websites for fun. And I still sell my work at $5000 a painting - excellent vacation money!

Your job doesn't have to be directly painting - what is your ideal job? What is your short term and long term goal?

I'm in the top 5%, and I have an art degree - it takes time to carve out a career. You will be okay!

Just always write out your goals, put dates you will complete them, and steps to get you there.

So it's an hour commute one way?

I will say this though - if you want fame, working only 50 hours a week is a pittance, even with a commute. You need to prioritize what's more important after work and on the weekends - your career, or a clean carpet and kitchen? And if it's time with your guy and a clean kitchen, own it, and enjoy it. Don't ever let anyone naysay you for being true to what you want in life.

But it it's art, after work, you network, you join art groups, meetups, you sign up for residences, rent out a studio with other artists. Fame is not luck or given. It comes from hard work, and not listening to people who poo-poo you.

Thank you everyone! Great feedback!

Reinforces what I was thinking

It really shows some level of ignorance from your mum not only that she thinks the world is still like it was in the 1980s where many BAs were a passport to a job, but she also isn't aware of how tough it is in fine arts (which was always a difficult field).

Just remember that when people say stuff like "so and so did the same degree as you and got X, what's your excuse?" that the thing is it's more subtle than that. Different art students are different types of artists and employers look at that more than grades or even work experiences - and all degrees work that way e.g. I was probably the only person in my MSc to become a quant as I was a very different type of mathematician to my classmates hence any comparison to classmates or advice form them on "jobs" when I graduated was a misguided notion when my career has been vastly different from theirs. Ignore her - there is a certain age of 20-30 beyond which certain people will never grow out of these habits and you are just creating a minefield trying to talk sense into her. Also remember you have worked in your field. I have come across people with degrees in maths, physics or engineering that never used them even though markets are not as tough in those areas and I wouldn't consider it anything other than crass and ignorant to make comments like that towards them as my success with my degree was really down to a chance meeting with a recruiter (and also as I have never worked in some people's careers hence don't know what it is like).

I would say stand back and ask what you want. I have a sister that worked in TV production and, while she left out of annoyance at the nepetism in the industry in Ireland, the one thing that she noticed was that those that stayed in were people who had to be "in the biz" and have their hair and clothes a certain way and that were willing to scrape by on low wages and ok with only getting a decent job once very 5 years on a project that would be over within a year. I'm not sure if it is exactly the same with your area of fine arts but you need to think if you really want it. The problem I suspect isn't so much the sacrifices you might need to make to succeed but the risk you wind up getting into something that you want but that demand for your specific market goes a bit funny. I'm not sure about the specifics but remember even in demand careers like data science or IT this is a risk graduates face. One thing I have noted as a quant is how wildly markets move these days and how many, many people are blissfully unaware of that. Staying where you are may have more benefits than you realise but good luck if you want to take the plunge and sell art again.