Painting and Drawing
Discover more about the Painting and Drawing B.F.A. Program and find out about program requirements, courses, and the program faculty.
Career Possibilities
The following is a list of some career possibilities that students in this major might find rewarding. Remember, that your major does not necessarily determine your career. Graduates use their academic majors in a variety of professional fields. The options below can be used as a starting point to explore potential career paths, however, you may also want to investigate more using recommended resources to gain a more comprehensive list of careers. Keep in mind that additional education, training, and experiential education beyond your major may be needed to pursue these possibilities.
Acquired Skills
- Communicate emotions and ideas creatively
- Ability to work in groups/independently
- Proficiency for accuracy and detail
- Ability to accept/give criticism
- Aesthetic judgment and sensitivity
- Concentrate for long periods of time
- Ability to make keen observations and appropriate decisions
Career Titles
- Advertising Artist
- Art Buyer/Consultant
- Art Handler
- Art Historian
- Art Teacher
- Art Therapist
- Arts and Crafts Trainer
- Book Jacket Designer
- Children’s Book Illustrator
- Commissioned Portrait Painter
- Cartoonist
- Conservator
- Courtroom Artist
- Creative Director
- Critic
- Curator
- Fine Artist
- Forensic Artist
- Gallery Director
- Greeting Card Artist
- Illustrator
- Medical Illustrator
- Mosaic Artist
- Professor
- Sketch Artist
- Technical Illustrator
Types of Organizations that Hire
- Museums/Cultural Institutions/Galleries
- Television/radio/film
- Colleges/universities/schools
- Hospitality/Travel
- Hospitals
- Libraries
- Magazines and newspapers
- Publishing
- Not-for-Profit
Career Information and Professional Association Links
Buzzfile - Employers of Art & Fine Arts majors
NY Foundation For the Arts - resources for the working artists
National Endowment for the Arts
Portrait Society of America
Society of Illustrators
Association of Medical Illustrators
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
National Cartoonist Society
Americans for the Arts
Andy Warhol foundation for the Visual Arts
National Gallery of Art
World Wide Art Resources
College Art Association
Self Employment in the Arts
So You Wanna - how to information
ArtsWestchester - A guide to arts in Westchester - events, grants, links to local artists, internships, etc.
Occupational Outlook Handbook Online - Job type descriptions, job growth forecasts, and salary information
Job Search Links
Career Development Center - Visit Purchase JobScore to access jobs posted for Purchase students and alumni
Americans for the Arts (includes a job bank)
Communication Arts - Site for the professional creative marketplace
Idealist - Non-profit and arts internships and jobs
College Art Association - Jobs & Opportunities
ArtDeadline - Source for income & exhibition opportunities
Animation World Network (AWN) - Source for jobs in animation
Americans for the Arts - Job Bank
Res Artis - Worldwide network of artist residencies
World Wide Arts Resources Arts
Artist Opportunities from ArtsWestchester
Additional Resources Available at the CDC