Career
Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
Make paintings, sculptures and illustrations.
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- 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.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
AI
BLS now cites artificial intelligence in this occupation's outlook: “share decreases as more images are generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools, substituting for some illustrators.”
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on creation & expression, then objects & tools?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Active Listening, Speaking.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
4 years of education after high school (bachelor's degree), for a median of $55,490 a year and 2,200 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Fine and Studio ArtsSee the degree →
- Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralCIP 50.0101
- Art/Art Studies, GeneralCIP 50.0701
- Fine/Studio Arts, GeneralCIP 50.0702
- DrawingCIP 50.0705
- Intermedia/MultimediaCIP 50.0706
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Special Effects Artists and Animators$102,030 · -0.3%
- Graphic Designers$62,960 · -1.7%
- Craft Artists$46,080 · +2.0%
- Etchers and Engravers$43,310 · -0.7%
- Art Directors$114,850 · +4.2%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
Not sure this fits who you are? Start with Vocational Finder →
Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.