Art

Artist Overview

The title of artist can include painters, sculptors, sketch artists, illustrators, cartoonists, multimedia artists, animators, printmakers, and many additional variations. Artists create work which conveys thoughts, expressions, feelings, and reflections of life. Artists use a variety of methods to create their works, including clay, paint, marble, stone, plaster, charcoal, pencil, ink, non-traditional media, crafts, and computer-based design.

Artist Training & Education

While there is no specific training required to become an artist, many artists choose to develop their talent through some type of formal education. Many colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees with a major in fine arts. It is also possible to earn an advanced degree, such as a master’s, at many such institutions. Artists who opt not to pursue a degree in art may also cultivate their interests through community or local art programs or even self-direction.

There are also independent schools of art and design which offer degree or certificate programs with specializations in different forms of art. The United States Department of Education offers a searchable database online where prospective students can search for schools by name and program and verify an institution’s accreditation status.

Artist Salary & Career Outlook

Pinning down the salary range for a typical artist is nearly impossible. Many artists earn little or no money from their work, while others may find great financial success. For self-employed artists in particular, pay can vary greatly, making statistics difficult to gather.

Competition for paying or salaried positions in the field of art is intense. According to the BLS, there are more qualified candidates than paying positions available. The BLS estimates that for salaried artists (not self-employed), the median annual salary for an art director in 2006 was just over $68,000. The median wage for salaried fine artists and illustrators was just under $42,000 per year. The median annual pay for multi-media artists was a little more than $51,000. Salaried craft artists’ median annual salary was just over $24,000 in 2006. The BLS also projects a 16 percent growth in the employment rate for salaried artists by the year 2016.

Of the 218,000 reported working artists in the U.S. in 2006, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about 62 percent, or roughly 135,000, of those artists were self-employed. Self-employed artists may work on commission, perform freelance work for companies, agencies, or private parties, or develop their own work and try to sell it through galleries or other artists’ representatives. Artists who are employed by others often work for advertising agencies, newspapers, book or magazine publishers, movie and video production houses, or design companies.

Artist Career Fields & Specializations

Artists can take many forms. Painters, sculptors, illustrators, sketch artists, and restorations artists are usually considered fine artists. Multi-media artists create work using digital imagery, computer programs, or non-traditional media. Even craft artists and art directors fall into the category of artists. Craft artists are those who use materials such as glass, ceramics, or fabric to create their work. Though perhaps not considered by most to be artists, for statistical purposes, the BLS also includes art directors, such as those who may work at agencies and publishing companies, as artists.

Article Resources

United States Bureau of Labor Statistics: Music and Arts
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics: Artists and Related Workers
US Department of Education: Accreditation Database