Who wants to be a starving artist? Well, no one I can think of. The art world is exploding today, especially with the advent of the Internet. There are myriad ways to take advantage of that explosion, whether you’re a hobbyist or dream of making your living off of art.

There are several myths surrounding art careers, the first of which is that artists are born talented. There may have been a few artists in history who had such excellent hand/eye coordination that art came easily, but most professional artists have studied their craft over a number of years. Most of the great painters of Renaissance fame participated in apprenticeships that lasted for decades. In fact, the Greek term for artist is “techne”, directly translating to “master of a craft”. The Greeks did not hold artists in the high regard we do today because they saw artists as technicians, masters of a set of techniques, not divinely inspired beings. To a degree, the Greek perspective is valid, there is a set of techniques that anybody can learn which will produce decent art. As far as inspiration goes, is freely available to any human who looks for it. Techniques can be learned either by investing in an expensive education, or by the much cheaper alternative of studying a lot of books.

The next hurdle to be overcome is the availability of art materials. Throughout history, art materials have never been less expensive than they are today. If money is really limited, choose an art form that doesn’t require as much investment. Such art forms include Conte crayons, pastels, colored pencils, and charcoal. All you really need is a reputable online supplier of art supplies and artist grade custom sized papers. Other art forms get more expensive, but even the most expensive is no more than a few hundred dollars outlay to get started with.

Once you find all of the books and art supplies you need, practice, practice, and practice some more. No one learns to draw, paint, or sculpt overnight. No one is born knowing how to draw, paint or sculpt. Keep trying new things until you learn how to get the effects you want. If you are dedicated you will see your art skills growing exponentially.

On to the next and last step! Relentless self-promotion is a must. To be a professional artist, you must advertise your art where people can see it. There are many places on the web to show your finished pieces for free or relatively cheaply, but you must also show family, friends, and anyone who will sit still long enough. Get involved in your local art community and show them too. One of the best methods that artist friends of mine use is placing a suitable work of art on personalized backpacks or other usable items for their own use and for sale. Remember, you’re a visual artist. Show, don’t tell. Let your work speak for itself, and you will find those who must have it. Good luck, and may your art career skyrocket!

The best way to prepare for a career on the stage is to study acting at one of the best theater schools in the US or Canada. It takes a lot of drive to learn to be an actor or actress, and you will want to look into performing arts schools with renowned theater programs to be sure you get excellent theater training.

Primarily, when we think of schools for theater, we think of drama students taking theater classes and auditioning for college plays. And, that is certainly a large part of theater training. But, we must also realize an education in performing arts can encompass many other occupations, including those onstage and offstage, as well as administrative positions. The finest theater schools (also spelled as “theatre schools”) will offer training in all the many various aspects of performance art.

Just think about what goes into a stage performance. Most of us know there are actors, stage managers and directors involved in a theater production; and, there is no doubt you can learn about all of these professions at a school for theater. But, did you ever think about what goes on behind the scenes? Theater schools are also in the business of training lighting designers and technicians, costume designers, audio technicians, set designers (also known as scenographers), dancers, singers, set builders, house managers, prop managers, box office workers, and many other important titles.

It is important to remember that theater classes are not all just fun and games. Learning theater requires hard work and dedication. Comprehensive training will include instruction in all the basics, including Theater History, Acting and Directing, Stage Production, Costume Construction, Acting for the Camera, Theater Administration, and much more. Schools for Theater will often offer several different types of degrees, with specialties such as Dance, Musical Theater, Technical Theater, and other related concentrations.

There are also many levels education offered, from the Associate of Arts (AA) to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), to the Master of Arts (MA) with a specialty in one or more areas of performing arts. Those who aspire to be a theater administrator or educator will be required to obtain a Master’s Degree, or even a Doctor of Fine Arts (PhD), considered to be the highest degree of theater education.