How do I Become an Art Instructor?

If you have a background in the arts and want to become an art instructor, it’s easier than you may think. There are many opportunities for skilled creative artists to share their talents with others through teaching. Whether you choose to teach at a grade school level, conduct art classes as an independent art instructor or work with adults in a college environment, getting a job as an art instructor can be accomplished in a similar fashion

The first question you can ask yourself before making the decision to become an art instructor is if you have a demonstrated talent for the arts that will last a lifetime. Oftentimes, young people are fleetingly interested in art, but being able to be an art instructor requires a love for the industry as well as a reputation as an accomplished artist. Teaching art is a challenging field that requires a passion for all forms of art media, highly developed communication skills and plenty of patience to teach others.

If you want to become an art instructor, you will also need to have some formal education in the industry and be able to prove you are a certified art instructor. Institutions that hire artists to work as instructors look for candidates with at least a four-year college degree in fine art or graphic design. Colleges and universities often require a minimum of a master’s degree in fine art in order to become an art instructor, even for adjunct or seasonal positions.

Another aspect of becoming an art teacher is getting training in order to create art in many different forms or mediums. Fine art training often requires training in drawing, sketching, painting, sculpture and collage work. Other art training that is vital to your success as an art instructor include graphic design, computer design, illustration, digital design and even website design. You will also be required to learn basic teaching fundamentals in order to create and present valid teaching plans to students.

Once you have accomplished the necessary training and education in order to become an art instructor, you can begin searching for work with local schools, colleges and universities. In addition, you may want to develop coursework that is within your area of expertise or art specialization and begin offering art classes in a shared work environment or as an independent instructor. Many art and design colleges hire art instructors as do community colleges, technical trade schools and public school systems.