Jobs for Freelance Artists

by guest author Jackie Masloff

There are many jobs for freelance artists as over 60% of artists are freelance. They are hired by individuals to do paintings, graphics or drawings, not as employees, but as independent contractors.

Because of this high percentage, there is intense competition for jobs for freelance artists because the arts attract those with talent and creative ability.

Many artists get their training by attending college and getting a bachelor’s degree or by attending postsecondary training in art or design. Although formal education is not required, it is harder to become skilled enough to make a living without some training. In addition, an artist needs a portfolio of work to demonstrate skill and talent. Some education in marketing is helpful for learning how to market and run a business, though this is not common amongst freelance artists in general.

There are many different jobs for freelance artists. As basic examples, graphic designers create logos and graphics for company web sites. Others are portrait artists that do painting and drawings of individuals. Some are illustrators that create pictures for books, magazines and comics while there are cartoonists, sculptors and multimedia specialists who are also considered artists.

Jobs for freelance artists fall into four basic categories: art directors, craft artists, fine artists and multimedia artists.

Art directors evaluate material that goes into printed or digital media such as periodicals and newspapers. They make decisions on the visual presentation of material so that it is eye-catching and appealing. They decide what graphics pieces will be used and oversee the design, layout and production of material to be published.

Craft artists create different kinds of objects by hand that are sold in their own studios, in retail shops or at crafts shows. Sometimes their work is shown in galleries and museums. They often use fine art techniques such as painting or sketching to add finishing touches to their work.

Fine artists create works that are shown in museums, commercial art galleries and corporate collections. Typically their work is created on their own and dealers agree to exhibit their work in galleries. Other times, their work is commissioned or requested from clients. Typically fine artists concentrate on one area of art, such as illustrating , painting, sculpting, printmaking, and sketching.

An artist needs to be highly successful in order to be able to support themself solely through the sale of their work. At times, artists may hold a second job to support their income. Some may work as art directors in museums, assisting with exhibits, while others teach art classes or serve as art critics for magazines and newspapers.

There are many jobs for freelance artists as illustrators.

Magazines, books and other publications require pictures from illustrators. Commercial products such as textiles ,stationery, greeting cards, wrapping paper, etc., also require special graphics from illustrators. There are medical and scientific illustrators that create graphics for medical and scientific publications while some illustrators work for lawyers, creating exhibits for court cases. Other types of illustrators and freelance artists include cartoonists, sketch artists, sculptors, printmakers, painting restorers and multimedia artists.

The pay rate for jobs for freelance artists varies widely depending on their skills, the nature of their work, and what type of client the artist has. Illustrators can earn somewhat less than $40, 000 a year while graphic artists can expect to earn about $45,000, as examples.

As previously mentioned, some may need to take on second jobs to supplement their income from their artistic endeavors. The goal behind jobs for freelance artists is for them to develop clients who regularly contract them for work. Those with skills in certain specialties may earn even higher incomes and are able to choose the kind of work they do.

Jackie Masloff is a freelance writer who specializes in writing original articles, web content and editing. When she is not writing, she teaches computer technology courses at several colleges in the Boston area. She previously was a public school teacher, teaching computer technology to middle and high school students. She holds degrees in architecture, computer science and instructional technology.

Becoming a Freelance Artist

Becoming a freelance artist takes serious commitment as well as talent. You need to spend a great deal of time building a reputation so that your clients trust you and your abilities.

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