Art majors, earn 10 points for helping a prospective art student!?

I am considering entering colllege as an art major. But I am kinda scared that I wont be able to support myself. I know that art is a very competitive field, and that there are people more talented than I am, and this is scaring me away from my dream. What if I don't make enough money?





I guess that I'm trying to ask how other art majors have managed to stay afloat:





All you art major graduates, how do you make ends meet? Are you just an amazing artist who lives off commissions? Do you have a second job? What percent of your income comes from your artwork?





Thanks so much for your help!

Art majors, earn 10 points for helping a prospective art student!?
You don't specific what your major is...like, do you plan on majoring in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, etc. If you plan on majoring in Fine Arts, I strongly suggest you do that in correlation with something that will pay. For example, go for Fine Arts with a concentration to become an art teacher. Because in reality, a BFA in itself will not get you a job.





EDIT...I just saw that you wanted person experience...well this isn't exactly my own. My art teacher went to Tyler School of Art (Temple University) and she went to get a BFA. However, her parents made her do it with a concentration in teaching because they refused to pay tuition for something that wouldn't get her a job.
Reply:um i would suggest that you minor in art and major in something else so later in life you can still do the art you love and if you make some extra cash on the side that would be great
Reply:If you plan on majoring in art, then I would suggest for you to also major or minor in business or education. Or even minor in art and major in another subject. That way, you will have something else to fall back on, if you are concerned. Some possible future career options is to go into art education or arts administration.
Reply:I'm not an art major but my cousin is and she has had a hard time with her degree. She got a job doing illustrations for a magazine, which she likes, but she still does not make enough money to live on her own, and even worse, sho doesn't find much time to commit to her own art. She has sold a few of her paintings or sculptures, but she certainly isn't making enough money off her art alone. Also, she had quite a difficult time finding a job, I think she was unemployed for something like 6 months after college.