Artist Marilyn McAvoy works on a painting at her Halifax studio. (Peter Parsons / Staff)

MARILYN McAVOY has taken on a number of odd jobs to support her addiction to painting.

The 47-year-old Halifax artist has worked as a waitress, coached figure skating and spent five years in the film industry painting scenes, all to ensure she would have the time and money to escape to her third-floor studio and paint.

"There are very few people who leave school and are swept up into the art world with promoters and agents swirling about them," she said in a recent interview. "It happens, but most people have to work at other jobs and take work they might not want to do initially while they build up their skills and their reputation."

She said being able to "make a living" as an artist is secondary to the passion to create.

"No artist plans their career around making money. It's icing on the cake if it happens, but for the people who are truly inspired, making art is simply part of their life. It is something they have to do."

With studios in California, British Columbia, Toronto and Halifax now carrying her work, Ms. McAvoy said that for the last five years she has been able drop most of her sideline employment and focus on teaching and creating art.

Although the bohemian stereotype for artists is still portrayed in movies and other media, she said people who want a career in the arts have to be organized, disciplined and open to new experiences.

What are the opportunities in the arts sector in Nova Scotia? Read on.

NATURE OF THE WORK
This group includes those who use manual and artistic skills to design and make handcrafted objects, both functional and decorative.

Artisans and craftspeople, such as glass blowers, potters and silversmiths, design and create objects using clay, glass, leather, wood, metal, fibre and other materials to produce items such as dinnerware, stained glass items, leather goods and shoes, jewelry, utensils, furniture, carvings, and sewn and woven items.

To work in this field, you need creativity, imagination and artistic ability. You should be able to visualize a finished piece of work from a sketch or a brief description. Self-discipline in meeting deadlines and a good business sense are also very important. Computer design and production skills may also be important.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
There are no formal academic training requirements to work as an artisan or craftsperson. It is strongly recommended, however, that you successfully complete high school. Most skills related to this type of work are acquired on the job. Therefore, it is also recommended that you engage in an apprenticeship program under the supervision of a master craftsperson.

It is extremely beneficial for anyone wishing to start up a crafts business to have some basic business training, such as bookkeeping, inventory control, pricing and marketing.

WORK PROSPECTS
Most craftspeople and artisans in Nova Scotia are self-employed. Some are employed as instructors. Wholesaling can be difficult, depending on the product. International competition for certain products has diminished demand for some occupations in this category and can make it hard for these artists to gain distribution. Many people in this sector sell their products directly at markets and festivals. Many products are targeted at tourists; so some work is cyclical, corresponding to the peaks and valleys of tourism.

LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION