Commercial Artists
| Description |
OES Code: 34035 |
Artists design and execute artwork to illustrate subject matter; promote public consumption of materials, products, or services; or to influence others in their opinions of individuals or organizations.
Wages, California
| Entry-Level Hourly Wage |
$13.15 |
| 25th Percentile |
$14.97 |
| 50th Percentile |
$19.41 |
| 75th Percentile |
$25.46 |
Wages, San Joaquin County
| Entry-Level Hourly Wage |
$9.27 |
| 25th Percentile |
$10.17 |
| 50th Percentile |
$13.08 |
| 75th Percentile |
$17.76 |
Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey
Hours & Benefits
Commercial Artists normally work standard hours and workdays. Overtime may be required to finish big projects or to meet unchangeable deadlines in the news or motion picture media. Paid vacation, sick leave, health related insurance, and retirement plans are common benefits.
Employment Trends, California
| Employment 1998 |
22,100 |
| Projected Employment 2008 |
29,700 |
| Percent Change 1998-2008 |
34.4% |
| Separations 1998-2008 |
5,300 |
Employment Trends by California County
Working Conditions
Most Commercial Artists work for advertising agencies, organizations with art or publicity departments, publishers, and television and film studios. In most cases, the art department is small, consisting of art directors, perhaps an assistant director, and a small staff of design and production workers. Free-lance illustrators are frequently hired to create illustrations in styles that cannot be done by the staff. Beginning illustrators may successfully compete with established professionals for these assignments. Work environments are brightly lit and temperature-controlled, with drawing tables and easels arranged for the quick and efficient production of commercial art. Much of the design, illustration, layout, and paste-up work is done sitting down, sometimes for extended periods. The work generally requires visual acuity and color vision.
Advancement
Commercial Artists may work several years before acquiring the skills and reputation for higher paying jobs with more responsibilities. They may advance to the position of art director or become director of projects within an agency or organization. Many freelance artists work as consultants while continuing in their craft.
Getting the Job & Other Information
Artists skilled in the use of computers and other mechanized methods of graphic design are usually hired first.
Job openings will be more plentiful in the State's large metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles or San Francisco since most firms with art departments are concentrated there.
Artists need an art portfolio which contains at least ten samples that exhibit practical applications along with creative ability and technique.
Job seekers should apply directly to newspaper and magazine publishers advertising agencies, motion picture and television studios, and government agencies.
For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.
|
|
Career preparation in a specific field, such as design or fashion illustration is very important. For example, the screen cartoonists' union sponsors an institute offering basic and advanced course work in animation techniques. Such specialized training should be enhanced by hands-on training for both professional development and networking contacts.
Skills & Other Requirements
Commercial Artists are classified by the type of work they do. Commercial Artists need a solid base in design and color, practice in drawing and lettering, and knowledge of photography and reproduction techniques. Aspiring artists also need the latest computer-graphic techniques.
They may complete work by hand in various media such as oils, acrylics, silk-screen, and clay. They might also use computers or offset printing presses to complete their jobs. In contrast to the "fine
arts," that are characterized by the expression of beauty without regard to utility, the emphasis of commercial artwork is to communicate specific ideas or concepts in response to assignments or requests from employers and clients.
Fashion Artists create wearing apparel and accessory illustrations for newspapers, magazines, and catalogs.
Graphic Designers design copy-layouts (pictures) for books, magazines, newspapers, television, product packaging, letterheads, brochures, and organizational logos and icons. They determine the size and arrangement of graphics to be used based on their knowledge of layout principles in printing and publishing. They write instructions for workers who prepare the final layout for printing. Some Graphic Designers do animated graphics for television using electronic video equipment.
Illustrators create rough sketches and finished art work to elucidate, to decorate, or to substitute for spoken or written messages. Working for various media, they create graphics with pen and ink, watercolor, charcoal, oil, or the computer.
Motion Picture Cartoonists (Animation Artists) draw a series of cartoons with very slight variations in each successive drawing or frame.
References
California Occupational Guide: #4
Related Occupations: Fashion Designers #185, Interior Designers #189
|
