ff with perhaps the most obvious of art careers, there is no reason why you cannot pursue a career as a professional artist if you have talent and dedication. You will also need plenty of self-belief, stamina and the ability to promote yourself, as this is a highly competitive career path.
ff with perhaps the most obvious of art careers, there is no reason why you cannot pursue a career as a professional artist if you have talent and dedication. You will also need plenty of self-belief, stamina and the ability to promote yourself, as this is a highly competitive career path.
Illustrators use their creative skills to communicate stories, messages or ideas to an intended audience. They usually work on a freelance basis for multiple clients, and are likely to specialize in a specific medium, such as drawing, photography or digital illustration. In this case, your portfolio should demonstrate that you can work to a clear brief, such as creating designs for a book cover.
Photographers use a range of equipment to capture images in the style and brief set by a client or employer. There are a wide range of purposes and specializations in photography – from weddings to advertising, photojournalism and more. Some fields, such as fashion photography, are particularly competitive, and you may find it beneficial to have a Master of Fine Arts specializing in photography.
A graphic designer is responsible for creating design solutions that have a high visual impact. The role involves working to a brief agreed with the client, creative director or account manager. Graphic designers develop creative ideas and concepts, choosing the appropriate media and style to meet the client's objectives.
As a curator, you will be in charge of collections of exhibits in a gallery or museum, working out the best way to present an exhibition for the public, as well as raising funds and grants, collaborating with institutions or artists, and ensuring that collections are properly preserved. Curators cover a huge range of mediums, from contemporary audio-visual artworks to ancient sculpture. The field is often very competitive, so you might consider a postgraduate qualification in a subject such as museum studies.
Printmakers create art using printing presses, typically on paper, and again usually work to set briefs. Techniques used include etching, block-printing, woodcuts, silk-screening and lithography, with electronic and digital processes increasingly being used. You might find that printmaking emerges as your preferred medium following a degree in fine arts, especially if you specialize in design or illustration. To increase your employability (especially if you decide to become self-employed), seek out relevant work experience opportunities and build up a network of relevant contacts by reaching out in person and online.
If you wish to use your passion for art to motivate and inspire young people and encourage the development of budding talents, a career as an art teacher could be highly rewarding. In most countries, you will need a teaching qualification to teach at primary/secondary level, and a postgraduate degree to teach at university level.
You should also have lots of confidence and excellent communication and presentation skills, in order to effectively teach and inspire your students. You may also choose to offer private art tuition to individuals or small groups or specialize in an area such as art therapy.
If you’re creative and imaginative, art class is where you should be! Art may not be a vocational subject – that is, one that leads to a specific career – but this doesn’t mean it won’t be a good preparation for the world of work.
Whether you choose to specialize in fine art or the history of art, the skills you gain during your degree are likely to be highly valued and transferable to many sectors, including specialized art careers as well as many other graduate roles.
Fine arts programs open up a number of career opportunities, from animation and illustration to sculpting and painting. Other career choices include teaching, sales and advertising, commercial design, gallery curators and much more.
Because the career opportunities are so diverse, it is difficult to predict a salary range. Graduates of fine arts programs have an average starting salary of roughly $30,000 per year, but have the potential to make much more. For client-based work, such as graphic design or animation, hourly wages could run as high as $50 an hour or more.
Independent Artist
Gallery Operator
Graphic Designer / Illustrator
Art Instructor
Artist Representative
Whether you choose a visual arts program that encompasses multiple art forms or one that specializes in one type of art, you’ll get the theory and hands-on training needed to work in this growing cultural sector.
Most programs incorporate art history, colour theory and self-promotion courses, as well as practical lessons in traditional and modern techniques, style and visual language. Depending on the program, you may take courses focused on a variety of art forms, including (but not limited to):
Drawing
Sculpting
Painting
Illustration
Plenty of studio time will be integrated into these programs, during which students will apply their theory and design knowledge into creating their own pieces. At the end of the program, students will have a strong portfolio to help them find jobs or further their education in the field.
TGJ2O - Communications Technology
AVI2O - Visual Arts
TGV3 - Film & Video
TGJ3 - Broadcasting
AVI3 - Visual Art
What might also help
TGI3 - Animation & New Media
TGP3 - Photography
Join the Arts and Culture SHSM!
TGV4 - Film & Video
TGJ4 - Broadcasting
What might also help
TGI4 - Animation & New Media
TGP4 - Photography
TGJ4_D - Co-op in Film & TV Production
Certificate Programs
Visual Arts Certificate
Visual Design Certificate
Comprehensive Arts Certificate
To receive this certificate, students must be successful in a minimum of 5 Visual Arts courses.
To receive this certificate, students must be successful in a minimum of 5 Visual Arts courses.
To receive this certificate, students must be successful in a minimum of 5 Visual Arts courses.
The following 4 courses are mandatory:
AVI1O1 Grade 9 Visual Arts
AVI2O1 Grade 10 Visual Arts
AVI3M1 Grade 11 Visual Arts
AVI4M1 Grade 12 Visual Arts
The following 3 courses are mandatory:
AWS2O1 Grade 10 Graphic Design
AWS3O1 Grade 11 Digital Imaging
AWS4M1 Grade 12 3-D Rendering
Any one of the following courses is mandatory:
AVI1O1 Grade 9 Visual Arts
Or
AVI2O1 Grade 10 Visual Arts
The 5th course must be any other Visual Arts course at the senior level:
AWS3O1 Grade 11 Digital Imaging
AWP3O1 Grade 11 Sculpture
AWQ3M1 Grade 11 Photography
AWQ4M1 Grade 12 Photography
AWS4M1 Grade 12 3-D Rendering
The 4th course must be one of the following junior level credits:
AVI1O1 Grade 9 Visual Arts
AVI2O1 Grade 10 Visual Arts
The 5th course must be one of the following senior level credits:
AVI3M1Grade 11 Visual Arts
AWP3O1 Grade 11 Sculpture
AWQ3M1 Grade 11 Photography
AWQ4M1 Grade 12 Photography
AVI4M1 Grade 12 Visual Arts
The remaining 4 course credits must be at the senior level (grade 11 or 12) with at least one grade 12 credit:
AVI3M1 Grade 11 Visual Art
AWS3O1 Grade 11 Digital Imaging
AWP3O1 Grade 11 Sculpture
AWQ3M1 Grade 11 Photography
AWQ4M1 Grade 12 Photography
AWS4M1 Grade 12 3-D Rendering
AVI4M1 Grade 12 Visual Arts
Students must meet the requirements outlined above, as well as, receive a final grade of Level 3 or higher in each course.
Students must meet the requirements outlined above, as well as, receive a final grade of Level 3 or higher in each course.
Students must meet the requirements outlined above, as well as, receive a final grade of Level 3 or higher in each course.
If you are interested in pursuing any of the following art-related careers, you will require a portfolio for acceptance into a post-secondary program:
Graphic Design Animation Architecture Photography
Web Page Design Automotive Design Interior Design Fashion Design
Jewellery Design Industrial Design Landscape Design Set Design
Video Game Design Illustrator Environmental Design Film
Package Design Commercial Design Furniture Design Pottery
The courses in art develop skills and techniques that will help you create artworks that reflect your creative abilities and talent. The above certificates do not guarantee entrance into these programs, however, they demonstrate your talent in various media and assist you in developing a portfolio.
This chart will assist you with planning your course selection in high school if you are considering obtaining one of these certificates. In grade 12, before graduation, you would complete an application (from the Art Dept.) and attach a credit summary report from Guidance and submit it to the head of the Visual Arts Department.
If you have any questions please come and see me, my office is in room 250.