I have been thinking of you, I don't know all that much about 'the arts' though.
But - a great idea just came to me when I was at the store ~
Industrial Design.You might like this, and you might be able to get better paying work from it, too.
I know about this from having studied and worked as a Mechanical Engineer. There is overlap in these various things - but ID is more the 'creative' stuff.
I will try to make a simplistic example -
OK a long time ago I was watching this (US) "Apprentice" show (BS thing with Donald Trump
eyes2) and one of the projects assigned to the suckers who got on this show was - design a new pop bottle. OK? Like a plastic bottle for Coke, Pepsi, you get the idea. And it had some 'theme' which I don't remember. So this one team came up with one that was like two round balls on top of each other. That was their "design".
Myself, as a Mechanical Engineer - what I would do with this is 'make it'. This type of container, the bottle is blow molded and the cap is injection molded. I will make this. If I didn't work at a company that made such, I would 'shop it around'. I would get the molds made and prototypes run. A common cap - that's easy to source. Speaking of - I may 'refine' the design or discuss with the designer - you need to go with a common cap for utility and cheapness sake, therefor the threads must be pitched at - etc.
I would advise you on the *making of the thing*, right?
The Industrial Designer is who creates more of the 'artistic look' or general idea. There is overlap in these areas, as well as with Industrial Engineering (this is more about efficiency of production, time studies, etc.)
Now this thing FAILED for Donald Trump because as he (correctly) pointed out - that bottle won't fit in the standard car cup holders. So that would be a failure of the
design. If I were working on this as an engineer, I might point that out to you too, although that really would not be my 'job' - my job would be to make what the client brings to me. If it's a piece of shit / won't work - well, that's their problem. But, I would tell you. Work wise, I pretty much always did heavy industrial stuff.
Here is some general info on other things I mentioned here -
Mechanical EngineeringIndustrial EngineeringMany people who are interested in making things go into these lines of work. It is not easy but pays well. You will need alot of Math. And Physics.
I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering
Another BS in straight Physics
And a Master's degree in Business Administration (or, MBA).
These days - I push papers. Ha. Not very creative. Money's good. I do like to make things though. I went into the work I did because I did not feel I was really all that 'artistically talented' to go into the arts. I also *do like* / have the interest in - heavy industry, and I have seen many cool things, world wide. How many people get let into a turbine hall? Only people like me
However - I always did want to go into Interior Design. Now, let me tell you what I plan to do about that -
First of all - there is NO WAY IN HELL I'm taking ANY more school! I got around 10 years already, I can't take any more. Gah. NO.
So ~ Real Estate! Which I already know much about from Biz School. And I figure - if I own the thing - then *I* can be the designer! There's more than one way to 'skin a cat' as they say. I'm sure you have noticed me talking on here, in various topics, about RE in general. And this is why I am interested in it. I already own two things so far (one, part of the roof fell in. Minor problem, let's not panic, ha.)
I am also trying to 'learn on my own' - from reading things online as well as borrowing books from people I know who went through Architecture and Art school and etc. I can learn on my own, why not?
You might want to look into this field as well. Architecture, drafting (CAD or hand drawn), rendering (illustrations of the proposed designs), home remodeling design for a home improvement store - help customers design their projects, there's all sorts of 'artistic' work in this arena too. And it pays pretty well.
High End Interior Design is tough to do, it's a hard field to get into, very competitive. As is super creative Architecture. JMHO - but one might *do better* with basic education in this - because there just isn't much 'high end' work out there. And, it's very competitive. Helping people design their new kitchen at the home improvement store - OK those employers *want* the CC grad with the basics. They're going to look at someone who went to some swank design school as being
over qualified. And / or - such a person would not be happy with more simple work. Ah but - this is the work that *pays*.
Just a mixed bag of ideas here, thought you might pick something up from these. Other people too.
And I am as well - looking to get into some RE / Interior Design type thing. I'm rather bored of my present work (I analyze and trade commodities, metals and plastics.) It pays well, but isn't very creative or fun. I consider that this funds my RE projects. It's pretty boring. Anyone who wants to do this - get sim ed. to mine. You will need tech and biz ed. And it's alot of Math, again (for 'modeling' or 'forecasting').
We all have to keep going and 're tooling' ourselves. IMO many people make the mistake of thinking that they'll get booked into some (any) type of school program - and then the path is set and they just 'go along' and everything will fall into place. Not really though, in few instances does this really happen. The education is just the 'general knowledge' - and then it is up to you to do what you will with it.
Many people I know have had to (or just wanted to) 'change course'.
Well, just a mixed bag of ideas here. You / anyone might get an inspiration from some thought here.
Oh wait - I nearly forgot what got me on this to begin with ~
I was at the store and freaking out about germy kids, dirty carts, etc. and was thinking - I (or somebody) needs to - make - things - to help us be more clean! Cart protectors. Gas masks. Hazmat suits. I don't know. STUFF to protect us! And that would be - Industrial Design. Come up with new products. Or - improve ones that already exist. That's what made me think of these things - germy kids.
Hang in there, you'll figure something out!