Craft Artists
Craft artists use a variety of materials and methods to produce art for sale and exhibition. They create hand-crafted objects, such as pottery, glassware, fabrics, and other objects that are designed to be purposeful. Fine artists, together with painters, sculptors, and illustrators, make original works of art for their artistic value, rather than for a purposeful one.
The craft artist's job description usually includes using techniques such as knitting, weaving, painting, drawing, and sculpting, evolving creative ideas or innovative methods for making art and choosing which resources to use based on colour, texture, strength, and other qualities, using visual techniques, such as composition, colour, space, and perspective, to produce desired artistic effects.
In craft jobs, fine artists often exhibit their work in museums, commercial or non-profit art galleries, craft fairs, the Internet, and in private homes. Some of their artwork may be custom-made for a client but most are sold by the artist or through private art galleries. The artist, gallery, and dealer together agree in advance how much of the profits from the sale each will possess.
For a successful craft artist career, one can opt for postsecondary education to receive degrees that can improve their skills and job prospects. High school courses such as art, shop, and home economics can teach forthcoming craft artists some of the elementary skills they will need, such as drawing, woodworking, and sewing.
The craft artist's salaries for self-employed artists vary widely. Some charge only a minimal fee while they gain experience and build a reputation for their work. Those artists who are well recognized can earn more than paid artists.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- MFA Master of Fine Arts
- M.A. Visual Arts
- BFA Bachelor of Fine Arts
- B.A. Visual Arts
Tasks
- Create functional or decorative objects by hand, using a variety of methods and materials.
- Cut, shape, fit, join, mold, or otherwise process materials, using hand tools, power tools, or machinery.
- Select materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability and other characteristics.
- Apply finishes to objects being crafted.
- Develop concepts or creative ideas for craft objects.
- Set specifications for materials, dimensions, and finishes.
- Confer with customers to assess customer needs or obtain feedback.
- Fabricate patterns or templates to guide craft production.
- Create prototypes or models of objects to be crafted.
- Sketch or draw objects to be crafted.
Progression Routes
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