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Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators is the O*NET name for people who create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques. The skills rated most useful are critical thinking, active learning, and active listening. The job can ask you to use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork. On the six-type interest model it reads ARI, meaning creative work with room for original expression comes first, followed by hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world. Getting in usually takes one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree, a level O*NET calls medium preparation. If you want creative work with room for original expression, keep it on your list. If you need helping, teaching or caring for people, it may feel thin.

What they do

Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.

Main tasks

  • Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
  • Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
  • Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
  • Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities.
  • Market artwork through brochures, mailings, or Web sites.
  • Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors.

Skills

  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Judgment and Decision Making

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You want room to make something in your own way.
  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
  • You are comfortable relying on critical thinking and active learning.

May not suit you if

  • You prefer clear instructions to open creative briefs.
  • You want helping people to be at the center of your work. Social rates 2.3 out of 7 here.
  • You need to start within a few months, with no training period.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ARI takes the three highest, and Artistic comes first here.

Preparation

Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Artist
  • Automotive Artist
  • Blacksmith
  • Fine Artist
  • Ice Carver

Related careers

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.