Home / Career Explorer / Arts, Design, and Entertainment

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$60,560	2400	4.0%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$60,560

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

2400

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

4.0%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Some College Courses

Related Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration

Detailed Work Activities

Construct distinctive physical objects for artistic, functional, or commercial purposes.
Apply paint to surfaces.
Apply finishes to artwork, crafts, or displays.
Develop artistic or design concepts for decoration, exhibition, or commercial purposes.
Collaborate with others to determine technical details of productions.
Present work to clients for approval.
Maintain records, documents, or other files.
Construct distinctive physical objects for artistic, functional, or commercial purposes.
Construct distinctive physical objects for artistic, functional, or commercial purposes.
Monitor current trends.
Conduct research to inform art, designs, or other work.
Research new technologies.
Draw detailed or technical illustrations.
Draw detailed or technical illustrations.
Construct distinctive physical objects for artistic, functional, or commercial purposes.
Estimate costs for projects or productions.
Draw detailed or technical illustrations.
Coordinate logistics for productions or events.
Draw detailed or technical illustrations.
Apply finishes to artwork, crafts, or displays.
Draw detailed or technical illustrations.
Clean surfaces in preparation for work activities.
Clean objects.
Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.
Build models, patterns, or templates.
Collaborate with others to prepare or perform artistic productions.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Perform marketing activities.
Operate still or video cameras or related equipment.
Arrange artwork, products, or props.
Prepare materials for preservation, storage, or display.
Send information, materials or documentation.
Teach classes in area of specialization.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

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.
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.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 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. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired