Multimedia Artists
by Hannah Burge
What is a "multimedia artist"?
Multimedia art consist of various jobs within itself. People who do animations, illustrations, photo manipulations, commissions, and other such things all fall under the category of Multimedia Art, as long as they are done via the computer or other electronic device.
Multimedia artists aren't very important, but they make a lot of things more entertaining. An ad, for example. Nobody wants to sit and look at a boring piece of paper advertising new shoes, no they want something that pops, draws in their attention. It's the same with illustrations, if you just had a boring white book with black text nobody would want to read it, but after the Multimedia artists create illustrations and give the book color it draws in the viewers. Basically, multimedia artists are the right-brained people of america.
What type of training/education do you need to be a Multimedia Artist?
Some artists drop out of high school early and decide to sell their art online at websites like DevaintArt.com, but if you want to be the type of artists whom makes a lot more money with a set paycheck and works at Pixar, then you have to at least have a bachelor's degree in fine arts. You also need to take a study in natural science, English, Studio arts, and Art History.
Along with this it helps if you take on an apprenticeship. Some multimedia artists at a young age become apprentices to other multimedia artists whom work in the field in which the apprentice desires to do at an older age. The mentors are a great way to learn tips and tricks of the multimedia arts.
Multimedia artists to-be can also take classes out of college and high school and study what they want to do as a job. Here you can learn a lot of things as well that'll only help you on your path to success.
Salary
The lowest pay is $58,950 annually. This is not a lot after deducting what the government takes and wants from you, people have bills to pay and after deducting all the money you are not left with much.
The median pay yearly is $61,370. Usually people who get paid this much have an average job and get a good enough pay. But you will still need an extra job because after deducting the bills and such you only have $511.42 left for groceries and other things you want or need.
The highest pay that multimedia artists get annually is $72,680. Usually you get paid this much when you have your own company or work for somebody who makes hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly. This may be enough to take care of you through your years of living, but if you need more you'd need another job.
What are 2 pros and 2 cons of being a Multimedia artist?
-You have a wide variety of options:
When you are an multimedia artist you can train for a certain position, like animator or game graphic designer, and you can express your creativity through that in which you've trained for and love.
-Paid to express your creativity
When you're a multimedia artist you're most likely very passionate about drawing or animating, so you enjoy it. The best part is, your paid to do what you enjoy! Some jobs are time consuming and monotone, but when you like art you get paid to draw and animate. It really is a truly awesome thing!
Two Cons of being a Multimedia Artist are:
-Deadlines:
When working as a multimedia artist, the majority of the time you have deadlines to meet. So does everybody else, but when animating and when doing big projects it can be fairly difficult to reach those goals in time. Long hours are spent doing projects, staying up late into the night and other such, a little bit like some kids with their projects in school!
-Stress:
Following deadlines is stress. Multimedia artists can get very stressed about their work and working late hours can be difficult for them. People need their sleep and when Multimedia artists lose their sleep it can cause their mind to become fogged and make it hard for them to work. Of course, this is the same with other jobs, but it can also be considered a con of being a Multimedia artist.