TIP #41: How to Pursue a Creative Career – for Kids Who Love Art
Many kids who love art dream about having a creative career someday. Even the youngest students will talk about wanting to “be an artist” when they grow up. But the careers most kids dream of are only scratching the surface of what’s possible.
Before students can prepare for a future career, they need to know what their options are. The good news is that there are more career options today in the field of Art than ever before.
But by the time our students enter the workforce, some of today’s art-related professions will be obsolete. And new, never before imagined careers will have taken their place.
How do you prepare students for a creative career that doesn’t exist yet?
Danny Gregory, artist and founder of “Sketchbook Skool”, has some good advice for kids who are interested in creative careers. Here are 2 ideas that stood out to me from his podcast, “Art for All” (episode #22).
From the “Art for All” podcast:
1. Learn as much as you can about as many things as you can.
Have diverse interests and don’t limit your education to only a specific area of study. Education never stops, so do your best in school and keep learning all you can.
2. Realize that pursuing a creative career is a long and gradual process.
No choice is irreversible. Your creative career will likely change many times along the way. That alone should take some of the pressure off!
Gregory also unleashes a torrent of creative careers students could pursue today. Have a notepad handy as you listen so you can jot down ideas you may not have thought of. Older students might enjoy listening to this podcast themselves.
Another podcast with some helpful tips for students pursuing a creative career is “Undercover Influencer” (episode #2). Here the host, Thomas Schwindling, interviews actor Michelle Wong about her path to a creative career in theater.
Even though their conversation focused on theater, much of what they talked about could apply to any creative career. Here are 3 takeaways from that interview…
From the “Undercover Influencer” podcast:
1. The path to success in a creative career is different for everyone.
There isn’t only one right way to find your way. Don’t compare your journey to someone else’s.
2. You only know what you know.
Until you’re exposed to all the possibilities, you have no idea what your career even could look like. When you think you’ve found all your options, keep looking!
3. Stay curious.
Keep exploring things that look interesting. Everything you learn along the way will help in your pursuit of a creative career that you love.
To learn more about creative careers…
To explore some creative careers available today, check out this list of 25 Creative Jobs and Careers to Consider from the Skillshare Blog. It’s broken down by different skills and interests, with links to more in-depth information.
If you haven’t heard of Skillshare, they offer short online classes in all kinds of creative processes and styles. They also offer classes in business skills for creatives, productivity, and more. I’m not an affiliate, just a raving fan!
You might also enjoy Daniel Pink’s best-selling book, “A Whole New Mind – Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future” (affiliate link). It’s packed with tools, resources, and exercises for building the right-brain skills we all need.
an inspiring quote:
“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” ~ Dolly Parton
Most kids will need to try lots of different things to find where their passions truly lie. Whatever is interesting or appealing to them is a clue we can use to help them explore their options.
The future looks bright for creative people! Creative problem solving will be an essential skill for every great thinker, inventor, and leader of tomorrow.