Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

What does a professional in this career do?

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

In this job you will...

• 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.
• Monitor events, trends, and other circumstances, research specific subject areas, attend art exhibitions, and read art publications to develop ideas and keep current on art world activities.
• Photograph objects, places, or scenes for reference material.
• Model substances such as clay or wax, using fingers and small hand tools to form objects.
• Create sculptures, statues, and other three-dimensional artwork by using abrasives and tools to shape, carve, and fabricate materials such as clay, stone, wood, or metal.
• Set up exhibitions of artwork for display or sale.
• Render drawings, illustrations, and sketches of buildings, manufactured products, or models, working from sketches, blueprints, memory, models, or reference materials.
• Shade and fill in sketch outlines and backgrounds, using a variety of media such as water colors, markers, and transparent washes, labeling designated colors when necessary.
• Frame and mat artwork for display or sale.
• Submit artwork to shows or galleries.
• Submit preliminary or finished artwork or project plans to clients for approval, incorporating changes as necessary.
• Collaborate with engineers, mechanics, and other technical experts as necessary to build and install creations.
• Cut, bend, laminate, arrange, and fasten individual or mixed raw and manufactured materials and products to form works of art.
• Provide entertainment at special events by performing activities such as drawing cartoons.
• Develop project budgets for approval, estimating time lines and material costs.
• Create and prepare sketches and model drawings of cartoon characters, providing details from memory, live models, manufactured products, or reference materials.
• Create finished art work as decoration, or to elucidate or substitute for spoken or written messages.
• Create sketches, profiles, or likenesses of posed subjects or photographs, using any combination of freehand drawing, mechanical assembly kits, and computer imaging.
• Trace drawings onto clear acetate for painting or coloring, or trace them with ink to make final copies.
• Apply solvents and cleaning agents to clean surfaces of paintings, and to remove accretions, discolorations, and deteriorated varnish.
• Collaborate with writers who create ideas, stories, or captions that are combined with artists' work.
• Brush or spray protective or decorative finishes on completed background panels, informational legends, exhibit accessories, or finished paintings.
• Teach artistic techniques to children or adults.