Beyond The Canvas: 10 Jobs For People Who Love To Draw

While traditional art jobs like graphic design, illustration, and fine art are excellent options for artists who love to draw, they are not the only career paths available. As an artist, your unique skills can be applied in various industries and fields. Moreover, with the advancement of technology and the emergence of new media platforms, the demand for creative individuals with drawing skills has increased in various fields. Therefore, now is the time to explore career options to use your drawing skills in unconventional ways and gain experience in different industries.

Here are 10 Non-Traditional Artistic Careers for People Who Love to Draw:

1. Tattoo Artist: A Non-Traditional Creative Job

Love bringing your unique creative vision for people who are looking for a way to express themselves permanently? Then, here is a job for creative people like you that actually pays well. You can use your creativity and artistic ability to come up with designs that cater to your client's preferences and tastes. 

To begin with, study the different types of tattoo styles, including traditional, neo-traditional, realism, black and grey, therapeutic tattoos and many others. You can get an upper hold in this industry by having a comprehensive understanding of the body's anatomy to ensure that the tattoo design will complement the client's physique. Further, enrol yourself in courses that teach using tattoo machines and other tools, such as needles, inks, and gloves. 

Tattoo artists are responsible for ensuring their clients' safety by providing them with adequate aftercare instructions. Following best practices for tattooing, including proper hygiene and sterilisation techniques will build permanent business relationships just like your permanent tattoos! 

2. Costume Designer: Express Your Art Through Clothes

We all have a set of friends who give you the best tips for dressing professionally. Or you would always see them scribbling a costume on a piece of paper. For friends like these, the costume design field can be the best professional fit.

Costume designers are responsible for creating the clothing and accessories worn by actors in movies, television shows, and theatre productions. They use their drawing skills to create sketches and illustrations of their designs, which are used as a guide for the final costumes. A few pointers to walk in this field are:

       - A degree and an internship will make your job hunt easy

       - Keep yourself updated with the latest market trends

       - Network: to get clients and inspiration for your next sketch

    -Understand the elements of costume designing like shape, colour, texture, mood/occasion of the costume to be worn, etc.

      -Enrol for online courses that teach relevant topics like fashion designing so as to get a peek at related fields.

Open a boutique or launch a product line of your own; this profession has not set any limits!

3. Medical Illustrator: A Creative Art Career In The Medical Field

"Medical illustrators are uniquely positioned to communicate the beauty and complexity of the human body in ways that other medical professionals cannot."

-David Mazierski

President of the Association of Medical Illustrators

Have an interest in medicine and drawings? If yes, then being a professional medical illustrator can be your blended creative choice. Medical illustrators use their artistic skills to create visual representations of medical and scientific concepts. They create illustrations for textbooks, medical journals, and educational materials, helping to communicate complex medical and scientific ideas to a wider audience.

Since being a medical illustrator requires the representation of body parts, it is essential to obtain a background in sciences. Many universities offer specialised programs in medical illustration, providing you with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in this field. Accordingly, you can work in a variety of institutions, like hospitals, research labs, and universities. 

4. Forensic Artist: Be Your Own Creative Detective!

Forensic artists are responsible for creating drawings, sketches, and reconstructions of crime scenes, missing persons suspects, and victims. The drawings are to be matched with the briefs received from the eyewitness or any physical evidence. They work closely with law enforcement agencies and can be called to testify in court cases. 

The work of a forensic artist requires a great deal of sensitivity and attention to detail, as they must accurately represent the features of a suspect. A degree in art and to receive specialised training in forensic-related art techniques like anatomy, facial recognition, and computer software allows you to create highly detailed and accurate images. Being an evolving field, brushing up on the latest techniques and technologies is a must. Overall, by being a forensic artist you can significantly impact the lives of people and society as a whole.

5. Industrial Designer: A Job For Creative Thinkers

Industrial designers create products and systems that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. They create sketches, blueprints, and 3D models which help to finalise the industrial designs. You can get a job as a furniture designer, automotive designer, or consumer product designer to make a career in this creative field.

To become an industrial designer, a degree in industrial design or a related field such as engineering or architecture is required. An experience in 3D modelling and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software makes your career objective in the resume more aesthetically pleasing just like your industrial design. The field of industrial design is one of the non-traditional jobs that pay well as it effectively stands out in the list of creative fields. 

6. Courtroom Sketch Artist: A Non- Conventional Career

Courtroom sketch artists create drawings of court proceedings for newspapers, magazines, and television news broadcasts. By being a courtroom sketch artist, you can capture the mood and emotions of the courtroom in their drawings. Another benefit of this career is that courtroom sketch artists often work freelance and are paid per drawing.

To become a courtroom sketch artist, it is important to have strong drawing skills and the ability to work quickly under pressure. Networking with local news outlets and attending trials can also help aspiring courtroom sketch artists gain exposure and build a portfolio.

7. Visual Effects Artist: One Of The Creative Careers In Demand

Love depicting stories through your art? Or are you fond of storybooks so much that now want to be a part of the digital story world and make your own characters? Then, being a visual effects artist can be at the top of the creative careers list for you.

Also known as VFX artists, they build digital effects for movies, television shows, and video games. Their drawing skills create storyboards and concept art, which are used as a guide for the final digital effects. Building a story in your head already? Let’s know how you can build this story better!

Becoming a VFX artist requires a combination of artistic talent, technical skills, and practical experience. In addition to your art degree, get a degree in a field like digital design or computer animation to gain technical skills in digital art. You can opt for online courses to get a gist of the current industry trends as well. You never know, your visual effects might take you to the Oscars!

8. Concept Artist: Set Up Your Unconventional Stage

While both concept artists and VFX artists contribute to the visual aspects of a project, their roles are different. Concept artists are involved in the early stages of the project, helping to develop the visual style and design. 

A concept artist develops the overall look and feel of a project. They work closely with the creative team to set the visual style of the project. Concept artists create sketches, illustrations, and other visual representations of characters, environments, and props. 

To become a concept artist, it is important to be proficient in digital art software like Photoshop, Procreate, or Sketchbook Pro. Many concept artists also have a background in game design, animation, or film. And you can have a creative job that pays well!

9. Mehndi Artist: Keep The Tradition Alive 

Although an occasion-related thing traditionally, Mehndi art has become a popular trend recently, with more people choosing to adorn their skin with henna designs. Nowadays, many communities do not need an occasion to enjoy putting beautiful Mehndi designs on their body parts,  thus increasing the demand for skilled Mehndi artists. 

If you have a liking towards Mehndi art and can keep your hand still, you can choose to be a Mehndi artist; one of the many creative jobs you can pursue without a degree.  You can customise designs based on your client's preferences, such as traditional or modern styles or designs based on the client's culture or heritage. Your Mehndi business by specialising in Indian, or Pakistani mehndi designs is another option available to be successful in this field.

As a Mehndi artist, you get to work in beauty salons and bridal studios. You can also visit your client to apply henna designs and become a successful entrepreneur. These occasions work as an excellent place to market your services as well. Plus they also make a career for creative people like yourself!

10. Art Therapist: A Creative Job For Mental Health

As the importance of mental health and wellness continues to grow, the field of art therapists has become one of the non-traditional career paths for those interested in both art and psychology. An art therapist uses psychology and art materials to support the emotional and mental well-being of individuals, groups, and communities. 

An art therapist uses creative processes and helps clients gain clarity about their emotions, subsequent behaviours, and thought patterns. Using creative techniques such as drawing, painting, etc., they help clients explore their emotions, resolve conflicts, and express themselves in nonverbal ways, especially those who struggle with verbal communication or have experienced trauma. 

To become an art therapist, you will need a master's degree in art therapy or a related field. Additionally, a degree or an online course in psychology will give you a better understanding of your client and their problems. Many mental health professionals, such as counsellors and social workers also collaborate with art therapists to provide comprehensive care for their clients. 

Thus, there are countless ways to use your artistic skills in a professional setting. These careers offer a unique combination of creativity and problem-solving, and they can be incredibly rewarding for those who are passionate about art. So, if you love to draw, don't limit yourself to traditional career paths. Explore these non-traditional careers and find the one that's right for you.

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