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How to become An Artist

Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications

Art speaks where words are unable to, which is why Artists have long been admired for their ability to convey information, communicate an idea, represent an experience, or produce something fresh from their imagination. Continue Reading

Skills a career as an Artist requires: Painting Art History Acrylic Painting Oil Painting Watercolor Painting View more skills
Artist salary
$68,894
USAUSA
£38,977
UKUK
Explore Career
  • Introduction - Artist
  • What does an Artist do?
  • Artist Work Environment
  • Skills for an Artist
  • Work Experience for an Artist
  • Recommended Qualifications for an Artist
  • Artist Career Path
  • Artist Professional Development
  • Learn More
  • Conclusion

Introduction - Artist

Art speaks where words are unable to, which is why Artists have long been admired for their ability to convey information, communicate an idea, represent an experience, or produce something fresh from their imagination.

Similar Job Titles Job Description
  • Professional Artist
  • Artiste

What does an Artist do?

What are the typical responsibilities of an Artist?

An Artist would typically need to:

  • Create unique pieces of art or restore damaged artwork through the use of complementary techniques, materials, and media
  • Make use of a single medium or a judicious mix of different media to express an idea in a preferred physical form
  • Design and create installations, sculptures, paintings, drawings, pottery, performances, photographs, videos, and other media 
  • Produce art to market and sell directly to clients, exhibit/sell in galleries and exhibitions, or fulfil commissions from clients
  • Conduct due research to gain inspiration and add to their innate creative skills and acquired techniques
  • Work with the creative team to understand the client’s needs and expectations, if working on a commission basis
  • Use industry and demographic research as a springboard for the content, which is created using traditional/digital tools and platforms
  • Seek client approval for rough and revised drafts; have the client sign off on the proposed budget and production schedules; submit final pieces for client review
  • Manage the daily workload in the studio; direct in-house and freelance CAD (computer-aided design) artists, if required
  • Use software such as Dreamweaver to manage online product catalogues; connect with managers of galleries/exhibitions for beneficent marketing and display of completed works of art
  • Help clients choose pleasing art pieces; process POS (point-of-sale) transactions, if necessary

Artist Work Environment

Artists usually prefer to work alone and spend most of their time in a studio with their creative muse of the moment and art supplies. When the project at hand calls for collaboration, they may work out of a studio or home/corporate office.

 

Completed works of art call for working with art dealers, museum curators, gallery managers or with the public if the Artist is keen on handling the marketing and selling. Additionally, Artists who are illustrators also team up with writers, while graphic designers collaborate with art directors and production staff.

Work Schedule

Full-time Artists working in the corporate sector may have a regular schedule, although they may need to put in extra hours to meet deadlines. Freelancers may have more flexibility. However, a relatively normal schedule will help you establish a healthy routine and maintain a solid workflow.

Employers

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Artists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. Self-employed and freelance Artists may find fairs, department stores, libraries, and shopping malls attract business.

 

Artists are generally employed by:

  • Art Galleries
  • Dealers
  • Art Centres
  • Writers
  • Design Agencies
  • Advertising Agencies
  • Museums 
  • Schools, Colleges, & Universities
Unions / Professional Organizations

Professional associations and organisations, such as Artist Organisations International (AOI), are crucial for Artists interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in your industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

Workplace Challenges
  • High probability of frustration, stress, and lack of self-confidence due to the intensely competitive nature of the field with no guarantees
  • Lack of work-life balance due to unpredictable creative urges that call for irregular work times
  • The need for self-discipline and accountability in the face of little or no routine to ensure constant honing of one’s artistic talent
  • Unsteady source of work and income until one is established and recognised may require taking on additional jobs
  • A well-thought-out sales strategy to keep pushing the completed works of art and maintain a healthy bank balance
  • Emotional stress and frustration may lead to artist’s block and lack of aspiration
  • Knowledge of local tax rules on sold art and the ability to get a certificate from a local/state tax office to make direct sales legal

 

Work Experience for an Artist

Any academic program undertaken by a potential Artist typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship. Relevant work experience in the creative industry, such as serving as a studio assistant, is highly encouraged. 

 

Most art internships are with museums, galleries, or cultural NGOs. Still, there are openings in fields like advertising, entertainment, publishing, and gaming that integrate visual arts into their services or products.

 

Future Artists must compile a portfolio of their finest work and market it. They should also be resourceful in seeking new and intriguing social media platforms to present and sell their work to get themselves known. 

Recommended Qualifications for an Artist

Aspiring Artists must have the natural ability to sketch, use colour, or sculpt. However, it is recommended that they complete formal training through a university or community college to refine their skills. 

 

Formal training is offered at all academic levels, from associate to doctoral. Students are encouraged to take art courses that allow them to work with various mediums from high school. In addition to that, they can also take up certificate programs to expand their skill set.

Certifications, Licenses and Registration

Certification demonstrates an Artist’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. It can also help you stand out in a competitive job market, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant.

 

Two of the most common accredited certifications among Artists are in decorative arts and graphic communications. However, you can also pursue certifications most educational institutions offer in various art-related specialities like art history and colour theory. Furthermore, accreditation in software such as Photoshop, Dreamweaver and POS may also increase your chances of success.

Artist Career Path

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Artists, which may vary across the board, depending on whether you are a fine artist, art teacher, or museum curator, to name just a few of the myriad avenues open for income-generating activities.

 

Fine Artists may need to sweat it out for a long time before receiving due recognition from dealers, art critics, and museums as a good measure of their professional success.

 

Art teachers employed by colleges and universities may advance to being Full Professors, while those in schools may aspire to teaching higher grades and moving to post-secondary educational institutions.

 

Museum curators may become Museum Directors once they prove their worth; on the other hand, Artists who focus on illustration or graphic design can work their way up to being Art Directors of magazines, publishing houses, or advertising firms.

Job Prospects

Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree with an art major along with the necessary skills and work experience of working with various mediums have the best job prospects.

Artist Professional Development

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Artist build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, 

formal education, or self-directed learning. It will allow them to upskill continually, regardless of age, job, or level of knowledge.

 

While specialised training, mentorships, and workshops will help you build on your professional skills and advance your career, note that many Artists prefer to teach, pursue commercial art, and work in other fields to supplement their income and continue to hone their skills and talent.

 

Building one’s portfolio and maintaining a highly visible social media platform such as a self-run Instagram page to promote your art must remain a constant and sustainable endeavour. Blogs and articles offering professional advice to art enthusiasts and fledgling Artists may also help drive awareness and expand your customer base.

 

Artists could pursue specialised training, mentorships, apprenticeships, internships and attend workshops. Many artists also work in other fields, do commercial art or teach art as they work towards gaining recognition in their area.

Learn More

Who is an Artist?

Regardless of their specialisation, artists must be creative, pay close attention to detail, have highly sophisticated artistic skills, and most importantly, know how to manage their time efficiently.

 

Art In All Its Forms

 

Fine Artists create paintings, sculptures, prints, illustrations, and other visually appealing, thought-provoking, or educational works of art. Applied Artists, on the other hand, design and produce articles that serve a practical purpose, such as rugs, ceramics, pottery, jewellery, or furniture.

 

The Current Scenario

 

Art sells exceptionally well when the economy is booming, some styles sell better at certain times, and reputed Artists can be more confident of selling their work. It is unusual to find an Artist who solely sustains themselves by selling their art. 

 

Despite the uncertain nature of the field, it’s a fast-growing profession with various creative avenues, both offline and online. Artists are indeed known for their fierce rivalries, but history reveals that highly talented individuals have a way of always making it.

 

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

 

Freelance Artists have more flexible work schedules and locations. They fully own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk. 

 

A full-time artist has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed source of income and guidance from their bosses. They may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety. 

 

When deciding between freelancing and being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons.

Conclusion

True Artists receive inspiration from and impact the world around them, so every work of art becomes a beautiful expression of human emotion.

Advice from the Wise

Go to the studio for at least a few hours daily to establish a routine. Work on your skills and techniques, study art history, watch instructional videos, or sketch out concepts and topics that intrigue you. Keep at it until your ideas, inspiration, and work flow easily.

Did you know?

Learning and practising art leads to higher achievement in reading and maths.

Introduction - Artist
What does an Artist do?

What do Artists do?

An Artist would typically need to:

  • Create unique pieces of art or restore damaged artwork through the use of complementary techniques, materials, and media
  • Make use of a single medium or a judicious mix of different media to express an idea in a preferred physical form
  • Design and create installations, sculptures, paintings, drawings, pottery, performances, photographs, videos, and other media 
  • Produce art to market and sell directly to clients, exhibit/sell in galleries and exhibitions, or fulfil commissions from clients
  • Conduct due research to gain inspiration and add to their innate creative skills and acquired techniques
  • Work with the creative team to understand the client’s needs and expectations, if working on a commission basis
  • Use industry and demographic research as a springboard for the content, which is created using traditional/digital tools and platforms
  • Seek client approval for rough and revised drafts; have the client sign off on the proposed budget and production schedules; submit final pieces for client review
  • Manage the daily workload in the studio; direct in-house and freelance CAD (computer-aided design) artists, if required
  • Use software such as Dreamweaver to manage online product catalogues; connect with managers of galleries/exhibitions for beneficent marketing and display of completed works of art
  • Help clients choose pleasing art pieces; process POS (point-of-sale) transactions, if necessary
Artist Work Environment
Work Experience for an Artist
Recommended Qualifications for an Artist
Artist Career Path
Artist Professional Development
Learn More
Did you know?
Conclusion

Holland Codes, people in this career generally possess the following traits
  • R Realistic
  • I Investigative
  • A Artistic
  • S Social
  • E Enterprising
  • C Conventional
United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals that this career profile addresses
Climate Action Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Partnerships for the Goals