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Fine Artist

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What is a Fine Artist?

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

List of Fine Artist Job Duties

  • Render drawings, illustrations, and sketches of buildings, manufactured products, or models, working from sketches, blueprints, memory, models, or reference materials.
  • Apply solvents and cleaning agents to clean surfaces of paintings, and to remove accretions, discolorations, and deteriorated varnish.
  • Create graphics, illustrations, and three-dimensional models to be used in research or in teaching, such as in demonstrating anatomy, pathology, or surgical procedures.
  • Study styles, techniques, colors, textures, and materials used in works undergoing restoration to ensure consistency during the restoration process.
  • Cut, bend, laminate, arrange, and fasten individual or mixed raw and manufactured materials and products to form works of art.
  • Collaborate with writers who create ideas, stories, or captions that are combined with artists’ work.

What a Fine Artist Should Know

Fine Artists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Types of Fine Artist Jobs

  • Silhouette Artist
  • Color Artist
  • Comic Book Designer
  • Reproduction Artist
  • Fine Artist

Job Opportunities for Fine Artists

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 28,000 jobs in the United States for Fine Artist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,900 new jobs for Fine Artist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,400 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Fine Artist are Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Watch out if you plan on working in Missouri, Vermont, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Fine Artists Salary

Fine Artists make between $20,020 and $97,710 a year.

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Fine Artists who work in Oklahoma, California, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Fine Artists in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Arizona $62,200
Arkansas $24,510
California $76,230
Colorado $47,760
Connecticut $80,010
Florida $46,210
Georgia $53,600
Illinois $46,870
Indiana $49,410
Iowa $46,940
Kansas $51,270
Kentucky $43,870
Louisiana $48,870
Maryland $56,320
Massachusetts $59,170
Michigan $55,340
Minnesota $57,710
Missouri $39,430
Montana $35,150
Nebraska $47,350
New Hampshire $47,540
New Jersey $62,840
New Mexico $35,110
North Carolina $43,310
Ohio $43,470
Oklahoma $65,140
Oregon $59,540
South Carolina $28,070
Tennessee $44,380
Texas $53,400
Utah $44,260
Vermont $54,910
Virginia $59,950
Washington $51,490

What Tools & Technology do Fine Artists Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Fine Artists may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • JavaScript
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Python
  • Email software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
  • Facebook
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flash
  • SmugMug Flickr

Becoming a Fine Artist

Individuals working as a Fine Artist have obtained the following education levels:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Who Employs Fine Artists?

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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References:

Image Credit: Jorge Royan via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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