If i wanted to become a fashion designer or an artist, would it be smart to major in business and minor in art? How does one become a successful artist and what is a smart path that'll benefit me for both?

Well, first of all, figured out if you like to draw for fashion, the human figure, clothing, etc. Really think about if you like being an artist as a hobby or casual thing to do or is it your passion? If so, first figure what kind of art you want to make. But I wouldn't think too much about the business end since you first need a backbone,experience, knowledge. Yeah, it's good to have but focusing on that and the side "interests" as art, maybe, but I would really think about it first before spending so much money and time into something you might change later on. Art as a career is fulltime, all the time, every day. Not a 9 to 5, not a hobby, it's your life. I did some fashion design coming out of HS but have always been a cartoonists so decided to go my own way, direction and focus on having a core backing of art knowledge. Business is great to know but in my experience, you will waste a ton of time and funds doing something that not really clear on what "business" you want to get into. It's a easy fallback and yeah, good to have a backup plan but first, jump over the cliff and really go for what YOU want to do. Good luck and don't follow the path to the trees, look beyond them.

Good for you to be thinking about the business end of fashion, because it is a business, albeit a creative one. If you strongly believe a career in fashion is for you, then a major/minor combo of art and business would be a good choice, or, depending on how "big" your plans are and your resources, you could get an undergraduate degree with a major in art, and then get an MBA (a masters of business administration). What ever route you follow, you really should investigate some internships or part time jobs in various fields related to fashion (retail, fashion design studios, advertising, fashion magazines) along the way; that will give you a good look at the fashion business from the inside.

However, if you are interested in other types of art, I agree with the previous reviewer in keeping your options open; your interests can change as you go through high school and college. In terms of looking at a career in art, there are lots of choices----fine art, photography, graphic design, industrial design, textile design, work in advertising, art education, careers in museums, and so on. Again, having some business sense can be helpful, especially if you want to be self-employed at some point. When I was right out of art school, I did some freelance graphic design for a time, and it would have been nice to have had a better handle on the money and book keeping end of things, but I did manage . Ultimately, I ended up as an art teacher, and that was a good choice for me; I was immersed in art everyday on my job, got to see kids express themselves in art, was able to work on my own art during the summers, and I made a decent living.

Talk to your current and past art teachers, and if your school or local library has a career center, do some investigating there. Generally success in art comes down to having a personal vision of your art, hard work, talent, art and people skills, personal connections, and sometimes just plain luck.

Best wishes!

Choosing business as a major is a great idea for a foundation. Then taking art or design as a minor will introduce you to information in these areas. I would not narrow down my career choice at this time but broaden it so you can get all the experience you can which will lead to a natural evolution of your choices and preferences. It is always helpful to talk with those in the profession as well and take internship offers or volunteer in areas where you will be exposed to these experiences. I was interested in these areas myself, but I chose to obtain my teaching certificate and then pursue a masters degree in counseling. I have never regretted any of it. I am now a counselor and an artist.
Best of luck,
Marilyn Lowry