Artists generally fall into one of three categories. Art
directors formulate design concepts and presentation approaches
for visual communications media. Fine artists, including
painters, sculptors, and illustrators create original artwork,
using a variety of media and techniques. Multi-media artists and
animators create special effects, animation, or other visual
images on film, on video, or with computers or other electronic
media. (Designers,
including graphic designers, are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Art directors develop design concepts and review material
that is to appear in periodicals, newspapers, and other printed or
digital media. They decide how best to present the information
visually, so that it is eye catching, appealing, and organized. Art
directors decide which photographs or artwork to use and oversee the
layout design and production of the printed material. They may
direct workers engaged in artwork, layout design, and copywriting.
Fine artists typically display their work in museums,
commercial art galleries, corporate collections, and private homes.
Some of their artwork may be commissioned (done on request from
clients), but most is sold by the artist or through private art
galleries or dealers. The gallery and the artist predetermine how
much each will earn from the sale. Only the most successful fine
artists are able to support themselves solely through the sale of
their works. Most fine artists must work in an unrelated field to
support their art careers. Some work in museums or art galleries as
fine-arts directors or as curators, planning and setting up art
exhibits. Others work as art critics for newspapers or magazines or
as consultants to foundations or institutional collectors.
Usually, fine artists specialize in one or two art forms, such as
painting, illustrating, sketching, sculpting, printmaking, and
restoring. Painters, illustrators, cartoonists, and sketch
artists work with two-dimensional art forms, using shading,
perspective, and color to produce realistic scenes or abstractions.
Illustrators typically create pictures for books,
magazines, and other publications, and for commercial products such
as textiles, wrapping paper, stationery, greeting cards, and
calendars. Increasingly, illustrators work in digital format,
preparing work directly on a computer.
Medical and scientific illustrators combine drawing
skills with knowledge of biology or other sciences. Medical
illustrators draw illustrations of human anatomy and surgical
procedures. Scientific illustrators draw illustrations of animal and
plant life, atomic and molecular structures, and geologic and
planetary formations. The illustrations are used in medical and
scientific publications and in audiovisual presentations for
teaching purposes. Medical illustrators also work for lawyers,
producing exhibits for court cases.
Cartoonists draw political, advertising, social, and
sports cartoons. Some cartoonists work with others who create the
idea or story and write the captions. Most cartoonists have comic,
critical, or dramatic talents in addition to drawing skills.
Sketch artists create likenesses of subjects using pencil,
charcoal, or pastels. Sketches are used by law enforcement agencies
to assist in identifying suspects, by the news media to depict
courtroom scenes, and by individual patrons for their own enjoyment.
Sculptors design three-dimensional artworks, either by
molding and joining materials such as clay, glass, wire, plastic,
fabric, or metal or by cutting and carving forms from a block of
plaster, wood, or stone. Some sculptors combine various materials to
create mixed-media installations. Some incorporate light, sound, and
motion into their works.
Printmakers create printed images from designs cut or
etched into wood, stone, or metal. After creating the design, the
artist inks the surface of the woodblock, stone, or plate and uses a
printing press to roll the image onto paper or fabric. Some make
prints by pressing the inked surface onto paper by hand or by
graphically encoding and processing data, using a computer. The
digitized images are then printed on paper with the use of a
computer printer.
Painting restorers preserve and restore damaged and faded
paintings. They apply solvents and cleaning agents to clean the
surfaces of the paintings, they reconstruct or retouch damaged
areas, and they apply preservatives to protect the paintings. All
this is highly detailed work and usually is reserved for experts in
the field.
Multi-media artists and animators work primarily in motion
picture and video industries, advertising, and computer systems
design services. They draw by hand and use computers to create the
large series of pictures that form the animated images or special
effects seen in movies, television programs, and computer games.
Some draw storyboards for television commercials, movies, and
animated features. Storyboards present television commercials in a
series of scenes similar to a comic strip and allow an advertising
agency to evaluate proposed commercials with the company doing the
advertising. Storyboards also serve as guides to placing actors and
cameras on the television or motion picture set and to other details
that need to be taken care of during the production of commercials.
Many artists work in fine- or commercial-art studios located in
office buildings, warehouses, or lofts. Others work in private
studios in their homes. Some fine artists share studio space, where
they also may exhibit their work. Studio surroundings usually are
well lighted and ventilated; however, fine artists may be exposed to
fumes from glue, paint, ink, and other materials and to dust or
other residue from filings, splattered paint, or spilled fluids.
Artists who sit at drafting tables or who use computers for extended
periods may experience back pain, eyestrain, or fatigue.
Artists employed by publishing companies, advertising agencies,
and design firms generally work a standard workweek. During busy
periods, they may work overtime to meet deadlines. Self-employed
artists can set their own hours, but may spend much time and effort
selling their artwork to potential customers or clients and building
a reputation.
Artists held about 149,000 jobs in 2002. More than half were
self-employed. Of the artists who were not self-employed, many
worked in advertising and related services; newspaper, periodical,
book, and software publishers; motion picture and video industries;
specialized design services; and computer systems design and related
services. Some self-employed artists offered their services to
advertising agencies, design firms, publishing houses, and other
businesses on a contract or freelance basis.
Training requirements for artists vary by specialty. Although
formal training is not strictly necessary for fine artists, it is
very difficult to become skilled enough to make a living without
some training. Many colleges and universities offer programs leading
to the Bachelor in Fine Arts (BFA) and Master in Fine Arts (MFA)
degrees. Course work usually includes core subjects, such as
English, social science, and natural science, in addition to art
history and studio art.
Independent schools of art and design also offer postsecondary
studio training in the fine arts leading to an Associate in Art or
Bachelor in Fine Arts degree. Typically, these programs focus more
intensively on studio work than do the academic programs in a
university setting. The National Association of Schools of Art and
Design accredits more than 200 postsecondary institutions with
programs in art and design; most award a degree in art.
Formal educational programs in art also provide training in
computer techniques. Computers are used widely in the visual arts,
and knowledge and training in computer graphics and other visual
display software are critical elements of many jobs in these fields.
Those who want to teach fine arts at public elementary or
secondary schools must have a teaching certificate in addition to a
bachelor’s degree. An advanced degree in fine arts or arts
administration is necessary for management or administrative
positions in government or in foundations or for teaching in
colleges and universities.
Illustrators learn drawing and sketching skills through training
in art programs and through extensive practice. Most employers
prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree; however, some
illustrators are contracted on the basis of portfolios of their past
work.
Medical illustrators must have both a demonstrated artistic
ability and a detailed knowledge of living organisms, surgical and
medical procedures, and human and animal anatomy. A 4-year
bachelor’s degree combining art and premedical courses usually is
preferred; a master’s degree in medical illustration is
recommended. This degree is offered in only five accredited schools
in the United States.
Evidence of appropriate talent and skill, displayed in an
artist’s portfolio, is an important factor used by art directors,
clients, and others in deciding whether to hire an individual or to
contract out work. The portfolio is a collection of handmade,
computer-generated, photographic, or printed samples of the
artist’s best work. Assembling a successful portfolio requires
skills usually developed in a bachelor’s degree program or through
other postsecondary training in art or visual communications.
Internships also provide excellent opportunities for artists to
develop and enhance their portfolios.
Artists hired by advertising agencies often start with relatively
routine work. While doing this work, however, they may observe and
practice their skills on the side. Many artists freelance on a
part-time basis while continuing to hold a full-time job until they
are established. Others freelance part time while still in school,
to develop experience and to build a portfolio of published work.
Freelance artists try to develop a set of clients who regularly
contract for work. Some freelance artists are widely recognized for
their skill in specialties such as magazine or children’s book
illustration. These artists may earn high incomes and can choose the
type of work they do.
Fine artists advance professionally as their work circulates and
as they establish a reputation for a particular style. Many of the
most successful artists continually develop new ideas, and their
work often evolves over time.
Employment of artists and related workers is expected to
grow
about as fast as the average through the year 2012. Because the
arts attract many talented people with creative ability, the number
of aspiring artists continues to grow. Consequently, competition for
both salaried jobs and freelance work in some areas is expected to
be keen.
Art directors work in a variety of industries, such as
advertising, public relations, publishing, and design firms. Despite
an expanding number of opportunities, they should experience keen
competition for the available openings.
Fine artists mostly work on a freelance, or commission, basis and
may find it difficult to earn a living solely by selling their
artwork. Only the most successful fine artists receive major
commissions for their work. Competition among artists for the
privilege of being shown in galleries is expected to remain acute,
and grants from sponsors such as private foundations, State and
local arts councils, and the National Endowment for the Arts should
remain competitive. Nonetheless, studios, galleries, and individual
clients are always on the lookout for artists who display
outstanding talent, creativity, and style. Talented fine artists who
have developed a mastery of artistic techniques and skills,
including computer skills, will have the best job prospects.
The need for artists to illustrate and animate materials for
magazines, journals, and other printed or electronic media will spur
demand for illustrators and animators of all types. Growth in motion
picture and video industries will provide new job opportunities for
illustrators, cartoonists, and animators. Competition for most jobs,
however, will be strong, because job opportunities are relatively
few and the number of people interested in these positions usually
exceeds the number of available openings. Employers should be able
to choose from among the most qualified candidates.
Median annual earnings of salaried art directors were $61,850 in
2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $44,740 and $85,010. The
lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,410, and the highest 10
percent earned more than $115,570. Median annual earnings were
$67,340 in advertising and related services.
Median annual earnings of salaried fine artists, including
painters, sculptors, and illustrators, were $35,260 in 2002. The
middle 50 percent earned between $23,970 and $48,040. The lowest 10
percent earned less than $16,900, and the highest 10 percent earned
more than $73,560.
Median annual earnings of salaried multi-media artists and
animators were $43,980 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between
$33,970 and $61,120. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,830,
and the highest 10 percent earned more than $85,160. Median annual
earnings were $58,840 in motion picture and video industries.
Earnings for self-employed artists vary widely. Some charge only
a nominal fee while they gain experience and build a reputation for
their work. Others, such as well-established freelance fine artists
and illustrators, can earn more than salaried artists. Many,
however, find it difficult to rely solely on income earned from
selling paintings or other works of art. Like other self-employed
workers, freelance artists must provide their own benefits.
Source - Bureau of Labor Statistics
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