Artists create visual and three-dimensional forms using painting,
drawing, printmaking, carving, sculpting, photography, modelling,
film-making, music, acting, dancing, video and computers to communicate an
impression or idea.
Artists conceive and create visual representations to investigate, respond
to or communicate an impression or idea.
An artist may be concerned with the production of two-dimensional or
three-dimensional forms, employing a number of methods such as painting,
drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture and ceramics to realise their
ideas. They may also use film, digital technology and performance techniques
and forms.
ANZSCO ID: 211411
Specialisation:
Performance
artist: A performance artist uses their own or other people's physical attributes to
create a performance. They use their body as the site and material of their
art practice. Through action and spectacle performance and live art, artists
may explore ideas of process, experience and production. The performance may
be scripted or unscripted and can include audience participation.
The performance is occasionally enhanced by the use of props or visual aids
to enhance the artistic impact.
Alternative names:
Art Practitioner, Visual Artist, Painter,
Sculptor,
Knowledge, skills and attributes
artistic ability
good hand-eye coordination
creativity
self-discipline
promotional skills
knowledge of business/management skills, if self-employed.
Creating two-dimensional or three-dimensional forms to realise and
explore ideas.
Generating artwork based on commissions or briefs by clients, or the
artist’s own creative desires.
Participating in applying for grants and residencies, exhibiting and
selling work at galleries, stores, festivals and museums.
An Artist may be a person who
creates works in a number of mediums, such as painting, drawing, sculpture,
photography, textiles, glasswork or pottery.Artists are creative
individuals, and depending on the field that they work in, they may produce
different types of artwork using various mediums.
Working conditions
Artists may concentrate on a specific area of work or may use a combination
of these techniques. They work in studios and may share rented space with
other artists.
Education and training/entrance requirements
Formal qualifications are not required to work as an Artist in Australia.
However, many aspiring artists wish to gain qualifications in visual arts,
fine arts or design.
Develop a body of work. You can then work as an artist or undertake formal
qualifications in visual arts, fine arts, creative arts or design. This may
be a course such as a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) or a Bachelor of Fine
Arts. Entry to these courses usually requires the successful completion of
secondary school, an interview and/or submission of a folio of work.
There are a number of areas of specialisation for artists including
painting (fine/visual arts), performance, printmaking, photography and
sculpture.
Did You Know?
Jo Bain
hails from a long line of taxidermists and from a very early age he knew
he wanted a career in taxidermy too.
At
fifteen he joined the South Australian Museum where he's still employed
to this day.
He's
worked on everything from blue whales to tiny spiders and 500 million
year old fossils. In this feature we meet Jo in his basement workshop
and he explains his passion for preserving dead creatures in a way that
shows their natural power and beauty.
For
him, taxidermy isn't just the craft of stuffing things; it's an art-form
which he calls 'sculpture with skin'. Jo shows us what he has in his
acid bath and takes us into his walk-in freezer to see what's on the
shelves. He also tells us some stories about the first taxidermist at
the museum, George Beazley, a troubled man who left secret messages
inside some of the animals he preserved.
(Source:
ABC: RN: Earshot, 2015)
A painter (fine/visual arts) conceives and develops ideas for paintings,
drawings, designs or installations. Painters select a medium such as oil,
watercolour, pencil, pastel, acrylic or ink and prepare surfaces such as
canvas, paper or board to produce designs or illustrations for publications.
Painters mix or apply colours using appropriate techniques while taking into
account the relationships of line, colour, design and form. Painters may run
workshops and oversee community arts projects.
Artists become renowned for their individual
techniques and in some cases have created dynamic artistic movements based
on their original style. Pablo Picasso is remembered for his cubism, and
Salvador Dali began the surrealist movement.
ANZSCO ID: 211411
Alternative names:
Art Practitioner, Visual Artist,
Knowledge, skills and attributes
artistic ability
good hand-eye coordination
creativity
self-discipline
promotional skills
knowledge of business/management skills, if self-employed.
Duties and Tasks
Conceives and develops ideas, designs and
styles for paintings and drawings.
Arranges objects, positions models, and
selects landscapes and other visual forms according to chosen subject
matter.
Selects artistic media, method and
materials.
Applies media to surfaces using
appropriate techniques
Maintain portfolios of artistic work to show styles, interests,
abilities and realisations
Research sculpture trendsand disruption,
in order to keep up with current researches and design evolutions
Select artistic materials to create artworks based on strength,
colour, texture, balance, weight, size, and other characteristics that
should guarantee the feasibility of the artistic creation regarding the
expected shape, colour, etc. – even thought
the result might vary from it. Artistic materials such as paint, ink,
water colours, charcoal, oil, or computer software can be used as much
as garbage, living products (fruits, etc) and any kind of material
depending on the creative project.
Monitor art scene developments, artistic
events, trends, and other developments. Read recent art publications in
order to develop ideas and to keep in touch with relevant art world
activities.
Study a variety of artistic techniques and learn how to apply them
in concrete artistic projects.
Design objects to be crafted by sketching,
drawing or designing
sketches and drawings from memory, live models, manufactured products or
reference materials in the process of crafting and sculpting.
Study artworks including styles,
techniques, colours, textures, and materials used in works of art.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You need a high level of artistic skill to work as a
Painter (Visual Arts). Formal qualifications might be useful but aren't
essential. VET (Vocational Education and Training) and university are both
common study pathways for Painters (Visual Arts).
A Sculptor conceives and
develops a concept or design for a sculpture or installation project.
A sculptor's media may include: marble,
sandstone, chisels, clay, wax & bronze for casting a sculpture, wood, steel
and many other found materials.
Sculpting (or modelling) is an ancient artform that dates back to stone-age
times. Modern sculpting can involve complicated procedures that involve a
complex knowledge of materials.
ANZSCO ID: 211413
Alternative names:Installation Artist, clay sculptress, stone
sculptress, wood sculptress, sculpting artist, clay sculptor, metal
sculptress, ice sculptor, sculptress, welded steel sculptor, ice sculptress,
marble sculptress, marble sculptor, wood sculptor, metal sculptor, stone
sculptor, welded steel sculptress
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To become sculptor, you would need:
a high level of creativity
a good appreciation of colour and shape
determination and commitment
self-motivation
willingness to work alone
business skills to promote and market your work.
Duties and Tasks
Conceives and develops ideas, designs and
styles for sculptures.
Sketches designs of proposed sculptures,
and makes wax and plaster models.
Devises forms from metal using welding and
metalworking equipment, and from stone using masonry tools.
Carves and forms materials to desired
shape using hand and power tools.
Tools and Technologies
Sculptor or installation artists may sketch
designs and then decide on the material, techniques and the space where the
sculpture or installation is to be exhibited. They often make models using
wax or plaster and then carve, model or assemble materials to the desired form
using hand or power tools. They may also fire clay objects in kilns and
prepare moulds for casting sculptures in metal.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You need a high level of artistic skill to work as a
Painter (Visual Arts). Formal qualifications might be useful but aren't
essential. VET (Vocational Education and Training) and university are both
common study pathways for Painters (Visual Arts).
Potters or Ceramic Artists conceive and create
functional or artistic articles by moulding clay, glass and other fusible
materials using hand-building and wheel techniques.
In addition, are the potter's
wheel for throwing pieces and the kiln for drying.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You need a high level of skill
in your artistic medium to work as a Potter or Ceramic Artist. Formal
qualifications might be useful but aren't essential. VET (Vocational
Education and Training) and university are both common study pathways for
Potters and Ceramic Artists.
Did You Know?
When young and poor, Pablo Picasso one of the world's most
famous artists, kept warm by burning his own paintings!
It was lucky, then, that he produced 13,500 paintings,
100,000 prints and engravings, 34,000 book illustrations and 300 works of sculpture and
ceramics
Arts Administrators or Managers plan, organise,
direct, control, coordinate and promote artistic and cultural policies,
programs, projects and services and make sure they are
successful. In a senior arts administration role, you may also manage
artistic and cultural venues such as theatres and art galleries.
ANZSCO ID: 139911
Specialisations: Art Gallery Director, Community Arts
Centre Manager, Cultural Centre Manager.
As an arts administrator you
could work for many different types of organisations, including:
theatres or art galleries
museums
music festivals or concert
venues
opera houses or dance
companies
community and disability
arts
regional arts board or local
authorities.
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To become an arts administrator, you would need:
a general interest in the arts, or a particular branch such as
theatre, dance or sculpture
administration and computer skills
good written and spoken communication skills
the ability to organise and prioritise work
problem solving skills
good time-management skills
able to relate to people of diverse backgrounds
good organisational and management skills
able to handle finances
able to work under pressure and to deadlines
able to work varying hours
appreciation of the role of the arts in the community
Selects the director and technical personnel and, in consultation
with the director, auditions and selects cast.
Establishes operating budgets and production schedules.
Determines treatment and scope of production or display.
Supervises production and suggests or approves change in script or
presentation
booking venues and artists
working with all types of local arts bodies
negotiating sponsorship and funding deals
coordinating publicity and ticket sales
writing for promotional publications or websites
marketing activities through social media
organising security and catering
managing budgets and keeping records
carrying out general administration
seek sponsorship and funding from federal, state, territory and
local governments as well as community and industry organisations
prepare and submit funding applications
negotiate with artists and performers regarding contracts
coordinate arts programmes
coordinate sound and lighting, stage management and security, box
office sales, distribution and sale of
publications, public relations and catering
take part in the commissioning and purchasing of works of art
organise and promote exhibitions and events
help to develop and implement the organisation's strategic plans and
marketing strategies
manage the organisation's human and financial resources, including
budget preparation
provide an appropriate working environment for employees
liaise with the media
provide education services to the public
make recommendations on cultural grants
ensure compliance with corporate and legal requirements
provide support in policy development and report to the board of
directors
In small galleries and arts centres you could be
involved in the day-to-day running of the centre. In larger organisations,
such as arts boards, you may specialise in one area, for example marketing,
public relations or education.
Support Know My Name: a
message from Nick Mitzevich, Director of the National Gallery of Australia https://youtu.be/OcBCkTjnLJ4
Education and training/entrance requirements
Either extensive experience or a bachelor degree in
arts is needed to work as an Arts Administrator or Manager. Many Arts
Administrators and Managers complete postgraduate studies.
Employment Opportunities
Arts administrators may work for national performing
arts companies, local councils, regional community arts centres, museums,
galleries, orchestras and entrepreneurial organisations such as concert and
theatrical promoters. They also work for government departments and funding
organisations such as the Australia Council for the Arts. Some are
self-employed, while others work in partnerships.
Opportunities will vary depending on the level of activity in the arts and
media industries in regional and metropolitan centres. The long-term job
prospects for arts administrators are affected by the level of government
funding and corporate sponsorship.