What You Need to Know About Becoming a Commercial Artist

Commercial artists create artwork to sell ideas, products, services and to make something attractive. They draw for magazines, catalogs, books, brochures, billboards, displays, television, the internet, newspapers and also packaging.

Commercial artists can work alone or with a team. A team would also have illustrators, an art director and graphic designers. The art director would supervise over all of them. Depending on the type of artwork that needs to be done, and who the employer is, the work environment is different at times. Commercial artists do, however work in bright, clean spaces such as art studios, office buildings or printing plants. The materials that a commercial artist uses will give off odors, from inks, paints and glues.

Scientific illustrators work in laboratories or operating rooms. Artists have to spend a lot of time sitting at a computer, or work table, or perhaps standing. Commercial artists who have a regular job work 35 to 40 hours a week. Sometimes they have to work overtime. Those who freelance, their hours might be long, but flexible. Who ever employs them pays for all the materials that they need. Some commercial artists belong to clubs or organizations. Those who are part of the medical field might be a member of the Association of Medical Illustrators(AMI). They have to pay fees.

Someone wanting to be a commercial artist should be able to create new ideas, handle criticism, be able to speak and get ideas across and understand what is being said. They also have to be able to distinguish between shading and shapes, use small materials quickly and with accuracy, and solve mathematical types of problems. People who hire commercial artists want someone from a 4-year art school that is trained in commercial types of skills.

The education the commercial artist needs is a High School Diploma, Associate Degree or a bachelor's degree. Courses that you can take to prepare for this career are of course, art, math, computers, photography, video, and graphic arts. The salary for a commercial artist depends on where they live, type of art they want to do, their skills and education.

Commercial Artists' earnings depend on skill, education, type of artwork, geographic area, and the employer. The earnings of a free-lance Commercial Artist may vary according to the artist's individual fees and reputation, as well as the nature and amount of artwork sold. Commercial artists in the Great Lakes area make $31,800 per year. Commercial artists have paid holidays and vacations, health and accident insurance, sick leave and pensions. Artists who work for the government get the same benefits. Only some firms give artists stock or savings plans. To move ahead in this field, the person has to be very creative and have an extensive education. You can open your own studio, and if you are able to manage others, can become an art director.