Careers · Explore one path
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.
Other titles employers use
Artist · Automotive Artist · Blacksmith · Fine Artist · Ice Carver · Illustrator · Muralist · Painter
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to creative and practical work.
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
Subjects to know
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Fine Arts
Useful strengths
- Originality
- Fluency of Ideas
- Visualization
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Visual Color Discrimination
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 1.4 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 3.0 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 3.2 | Occasional |
| Working with your hands | 4.6 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 37%
- A four-year degree 35%
- High school or less 28%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Web platform development software
- Document management software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Desktop publishing software
- Video creation and editing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 6,700
- Job openings each year
- 660
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 13.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,700 | 660 | 13.6% |
| Texas | 4,200 | 430 | 17.6% |
| Florida | 3,280 | 330 | 13.9% |
| Washington | 1,080 | 130 | 22.7% |
| Georgia | 1,070 | 110 | 12.6% |
| Ohio | 1,070 | 100 | 4.9% |
| Wisconsin | 700 | 70 | 16.7% |
| North Carolina | 600 | 60 | 15.4% |
| Illinois | 540 | 50 | — |
| Missouri | 530 | 50 | 6.0% |
| Arizona | 520 | 50 | 13.0% |
| South Carolina | 510 | 50 | 13.3% |
| Utah | 500 | 50 | 35.1% |
| Colorado | 420 | 40 | 10.5% |
| Louisiana | 400 | 40 | 5.3% |
| Minnesota | 400 | 40 | 5.3% |
| New Hampshire | 390 | 40 | 5.4% |
| Oregon | 390 | 40 | 25.8% |
| New Jersey | 380 | 40 | — |
| Michigan | 350 | 30 | — |
| Indiana | 330 | 30 | 3.1% |
| Kentucky | 310 | 30 | 3.3% |
| New Mexico | 300 | 30 | 25.0% |
| Virginia | 300 | 30 | 7.1% |
| Alabama | 270 | 30 | 8.0% |
| Tennessee | 270 | 30 | 22.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 260 | 20 | 8.3% |
| Connecticut | 200 | 20 | 11.1% |
| Maryland | 180 | 20 | 12.5% |
| Iowa | 150 | 20 | 15.4% |
| Nebraska | 150 | 20 | 15.4% |
| Oklahoma | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Kansas | 110 | 10 | — |
| Montana | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| North Dakota | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Mississippi | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Massachusetts | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Puerto Rico | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| South Dakota | 70 | 10 | — |
| Vermont | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Arkansas | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Idaho | 60 | 10 | 20.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Degrees each year
- 587
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $47,000
California State University-Long Beach
- Degrees each year
- 456
- Admit rate
- 47%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 433
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
California State University-Northridge
- Degrees each year
- 324
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of North Texas
- Degrees each year
- 256
- Admit rate
- 72%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
San Diego State University
- Degrees each year
- 254
- Admit rate
- 34%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
San Jose State University
- Degrees each year
- 211
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 210
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000