Artist Resume: Examples & Tips
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Artists compose paintings, sketches and prints, representing themselves or creating work for commissioned customers. An artist can specialize in a particular medium or style of art, such as working with inks, watercolors, charcoal, oil, paints, pencils or computer software programs.
Create a resume that shows both your creative side and your ability to fill an artist position using these expert examples and tips.
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3d artist example (text version)
Name: KEVIN HANSON
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Creative and motivated Artist with progressive career experience in various forms of structure and design. Known for strengths in project design, planning and management to exceed customer expectations.
WORK HISTORY
Artist
01/2017 to Current
Company Name, City, State
- Created custom drawings and paintings using fine oils, acrylics
and charcoal on high quality canvas. - Interfaced with art director, designer, production manager and
print producer. - Preserved branding standards of assigned accounts.
Art Teacher
09/2009 to 06/2015
Company Name, City, State
- Responsible for developing course outlines that had to be
approved by the school and the board of regents. - Assisted in developing much of the reference material that was
used for each class. - Developed a series of unique projects that succeeded in
getting students excited about art.
Design Assistant
07/2006 to 02/2011
Company Name, City, State
- Assisted interior designer in designing and creating
comfortable and functional environments to represent clients’
lifestyle, taste and budget. - Conducted market research to understand trends and
customer preferences. - Developed design deliverables that elevated, differentiated
and functioned on-brand and on-strategy.
SKILLS
- Composition
- Technical illustration
- Visual Art Creation
- Dreamweaver
- Sculpture
- Corporate identity branding
- Painted finishes
Education
Master of Arts: Design
City, State
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Artist Resume FAQ
1. What are some top skills you can mention in a resume for this position?
- Constructive drawing
- Ability to compose pieces from life and/or from memory and imagination
- Knowledge of art materials and their use
- Knowledge of basic art concepts and rules of perspective
- Composition skills
- Knowledge of current design and graphic trends
- Proficiency with aesthetics and design concepts
- Thinking outside the box
- Imaginative and creative
- Corporate identity branding
- Thinking outside the box
- Detail-orientated
- Presentation skills
2. How should I format my resume for the position of an artist?
If you’re an experienced applicant with many credits to your name, consider a chronological format for your resume, which highlights your career accomplishments. If you’re a recent graduate or just starting out in the art world, use a functional format, which emphasizes the skills and training you already have. If you’re between these two extremes, you can use a combination format, which features a blend of pertinent accomplishments and skills.
3. How should I update my resume to take the next step in my career?
To continue moving forward, look to improve yourself in these areas:
- More opportunities to successfully display leadership, whether it’s a major art project, or managing clients to complete a successful project.
- Networking with established artists and participating in art events such as gallery openings and shows.
- Keep yourself informed and up to date on art trends, and incorporate them in your artwork.
- More examples of creating art for specific target groups, and gaining recognition of your work.
4. What are some examples of extra certifications for an artist?
Apart from your standard degree, there’s training in a variety of areas you can take advantage of to improve your skills, and buff up your resume. For example:
- 2-D design fundamentals
- Software courses
- Graduate Diploma in Art and Design
- Graduate Diploma: Art, Design and Media
- Production design
- Diploma in Fine Arts
- Color theory
- Digital imaging
5. How do you create an “elevator pitch” for your resume?
Recruiters usually only take a few seconds to scan a resume, so grab their attention from the get-go by making your summary statement an elevator pitch. Pick out a few skills and traits you have that best fit what the job needs, and then present them in a few sentences. Throw in an important accomplishment too, if you have one. For example: “Flexible, dedicated artist who specializes in hand-drawn art and oil-paint based works. Received ‘best new artist’ honors at Anytown University annual student art show.”
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Resume
- DO use punchy phrases and verbs. use active verbs and crisp phrases instead of long long-winded sentences that start with “I” and “we,” For example, rather than writing “I consulted with clients to discuss commission ideas and style preferences so that we could create mutually agreeable project parameters,” write “Consulted with clients to discuss commission ideas and style preferences, creating mutually agreeable project parameters.” Space is at a premium in your resume, so use it on critical information rather than pronouns.
- DO make sure your resume isn’t too long. As we mentioned just above, it’s best to keep your resume lean. Aim for a length of two pages at most, and only share information that directly addresses the position you’re interested in. For example, experience keeping track of supply inventory in an administrative gig is a worthy skill, but it won’t help you stand out when it comes to showing you have the right artistic vision for a particular project.
- DO tailor your resume for each job opening. An artist position for an advertising agency will have very different requirements than a role in a private gallery. Make sure you revise your resume summary, skills and work history to best fit what the job needs. If you use one of the resume examples on this page, our tools help you to adjust and save different versions of your resume easily.
- DON’T send in your resume without proofing it. Even a minor mistake in your resume can have a negative effect on recruiters. Check for grammatical and spelling errors before you turn in your resume, and double-check your facts, such as dates worked in past jobs. For extra insurance, use our Resume Builder, which will scan your resume for these types of errors.
- DON’T forget to quantify your skills and achievements. Make your accomplishments come alive using numbers and specific details. For example, earning a spot in a student art exhibition is impressive, but it’s even more impressive when you note that you were one of only 10 artists selected from a pool of 150. Applying numbers to your achievements makes them more tangible, and gives recruiters a better idea of your impact. For example: “Developed unique projects for two-month art gallery exhibit that attracted 5,000 visitors each week” leaves more of an impression than “Developed unique projects that succeeded in getting students excited about art.”
- DON’T forget to use relevant keywords related to the art industry. You can extract specific keywords for an artist position from the job description. Note down requirements such as “a keen eye for aesthetics and details,” match these keywords with your own skills and experiences (e.g., “Completed art project for city government that gained recognition from local newspaper for its aesthetic daring”), and incorporate them in your resume. For more keyword tips, see How to Use Keywords Effectively.
Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class 3D Artist Resume
Summary
In a few crisp sentences, present a blend of skills and experiences that display your top strengths and show how you’re a good fit for the job opportunity. For example: “Dedicated artist with extensive knowledge of 2D motion art, and project design, planning and management.”
Skills
Present a balanced mix of technical skills, such as “visual art creation,” “logo design,” or “proficiency with digital and 35mm cameras,” and intangible (or soft skills) such as “strong creative sense” or “creative planning.” You can also highlight skills in programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign or Adobe Illustrator.
Work History
Many artists have experience as art teachers, designers, or design assistants, so mention your accomplishments in these areas. Showcase projects you’ve successfully completed (e.g., “Created 15 custom drawings and paintings onclient commission, using fine oils, acrylics and charcoal on high-quality canvas”), and list any recognitions you’ve received for your work (e.g., being featured at an exhibition or arts journal, or placing in an art contest).
Education
Feature your highest academic credentials, such as a bachelor’s in Art History, BFA in Graphic Design, M.A., Master’s in Design or MFA. You should also mention additional training or certifications you have, such as Adobe Creative Suite certification.
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Artist Resume Example
Nilda Melissa is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
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