Artist Resume Example
Starting a career as an artist gives you the chance to gain experience in creating original artwork and exhibiting in galleries. To succeed in your applications for artist roles, you'll need a resume that reflects your relevant skills and experience. In this article, we'll showcase resume tips and examples that can help you create a professional artist resume that catches the eye of hiring managers.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the tools you need to craft an artist resume that positions you strongly against other candidates. You'll learn how to show employers you've got the relevant qualities, skills and experience for the job, all presented in a format that employers prefer to see. The article also includes tips for formatting your resume according to your experience and strengths. Continue reading for useful resume tips from Jobseeker's career experts on how to create a resume for creative roles.
Core sections to include in an artist resume
A successful artist resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections.
The order you present these sections can vary according to your career stage, but it's still essential to include each of the following:
Resume Header and Personal Information
A artist resume header contains your name and contact information. Add your first and last name, your phone number and your email address. Include your address or location, but avoid adding any other personal information. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can add the URL to your header so the hiring manager can get a better understanding of your work history and experience. Be aware of the amount of space your resume header takes up. You don't want your contact details to take space away from the main content of your resume, so keep this section as brief as possible.
Use an email address that's professional and appropriate for professional communication. Typically this would be an email address based on your first and last name, or your initials. If necessary, you could include your profession or another unique identifier. Avoid using old email addresses that could be considered unprofessional or inappropriate. Additionally, always check your contact details before sending your resume to ensure they're up-to-date.
Ronald Baker
ronald.baker@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
linkedin․com/in/ronald–baker123
Resume Summary
Next, write a short paragraph to introduce yourself. You could also call this section 'resume summary' or 'personal profile'. In two or three sentences, explain your professional background, achievements and key skills. If you choose to write a resume summary, this focuses on your career experience to date. On the other hand, a resume objective addresses your future plans and career ambitions. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for artist roles.
Alternatively, focus on introducing your career ambitions, and why this role is a good fit, both for you and the organization.
A great resume summary should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for artist roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description and provide evidence to support them. It should also introduce your personality and unique qualities to the reader, to help them start to form an opinion about you as a candidate. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for artist jobs below.
Innovative and versatile Visual Artist with a proven track record of creating compelling visual content across various mediums. Experienced in conceptualizing and executing projects that engage and inspire audiences. Adept at collaborating with diverse teams and adapting to dynamic creative environments. Proficient in traditional and digital art techniques, with a strong background in visual storytelling and design
Visual artist with experience in creating various types of visual work. Have worked on projects that aim to engage people. Worked with different teams and adjusted to changing creative settings. Know how to use both traditional and digital art methods, with some background in storytelling and design
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your artist resume summary
Work Experience
Your resume work experience section is the chance to show your relevant previous jobs and career achievements as an artist. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
Add some bullet points under each job entry, explaining your achievements in the role, so the reader can see how you contributed towards success for the company. Provide evidence of your impact and make sure each point addresses a requirement listed in the job description.
A good resume work experience section includes your most relevant previous jobs and highlights your key achievements in each role. To make the best possible impression on hiring managers, make sure each entry in your work experience section references skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you added value to each role with quantifiable evidence and outcomes. There are some examples of strong resume work experience sections below.
Visual Artist, January 2022 - Present
ArtsyVista Studios, Memphis
- Exhibited solo at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2022, showcasing a collection of mixed media installations
- Published in ArtForum Magazine, 2021, with a featured article and cover story highlighting innovative digital art techniques
- Awarded the International Contemporary Art Prize, 2020, for outstanding contributions to abstract painting and multimedia projects
Visual Artist, January 2022 - Present
ArtsyVista Studios, Memphis
- Worked on various art projects
- Participated in numerous exhibitions
- Recognized for artistic contributions
The example above can give you some idea of what not to include in your resume work experience section. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Personal Portfolio or Work Samples
Any examples of your work as an artist will help the hiring manager to assess your suitability for artist jobs. If you have a portfolio or personal website, include a link to it here.
Online portfolios tend to be most relevant for creative roles, but you could provide details of any previous successful projects or work published online. Add a link to your portfolio or include separate links to your previous projects in this section. Conversely, you might work in a non-creative sector but still have work published online that's worth showcasing. Include links to that work in this section.
Education
Under education, add details of any degrees or professional qualifications relevant to artist roles.
Opportunities as an artist and similar roles in the sector usually require a specialist degree. If you have a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, be sure to mention this in your resume. You might also want to list any qualifications that highlight your vector illustration software or digital painting software.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. Include bullet points to show any specialist modules you studied, awards or exceptional grades and achievements that can set you apart from other candidates. These will all contribute to creating a positive impression on employers.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), 2017 - 2020
University of Georgia, Athens
Hard and Soft Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for artist jobs. These could be photo editing software, collaborative team player or various other relevant skills. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for artist positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
Showcasing hard skills on your artist resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, an extensive list of hard skills helps to make a compelling case for your artist job applications, as they show employers your understanding of the artist role. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
For an effective resume hard skills section, focus on the technical skills that are most essential in the job description, and that match your specific expertise. Some examples of the best hard skills for an artist resume are listed below.
- Digital painting software
- 3D modeling tools
- Graphic design software
How to list soft skills on your artist resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for an artist job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. Indeed, without soft skills, you may struggle to adapt to artist roles or meet the standards expected of you. So make sure you include several key soft skills on your resume. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for an artist resume.
- Creative problem solving
- Strong work ethic
- Effective time management
Expert Tip:
Tailor your creative resume to emphasize your expertise in specialized techniques, such as 3D printing for sculpture or digital animation for film. (1) Include a portfolio link with detailed examples that demonstrate your process and the finished product. (2)
Certifications and Training
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional artist certifications, licenses or qualifications. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as an artist. Therefore, make sure you list the dates of your certifications and licenses so employers can see they're up-to-date and valid.
Below you can find several examples of certifications for an artist resume:
- Adobe Certified Expert, 2022
- Autodesk Certified Professional, 2022
- Certified Visual Artist, 2022
Optional Sections
In addition to the core sections of an artist resume, there are several optional sections you could include to enhance your chances. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world artist experience. Don't include hobbies and interests in your resume unless they showcase a specific interest or aspect of your personality. You'll want them to add something to your application that you can't add elsewhere.
Voluntary Work
This section can be valuable for an artist resume, if you've done any voluntary work that showcases your relevant skills. Add your volunteer job title or role, the name of the organization, its location and the dates you were involved.
References
Although it's rare to include references on an artist resume, some employers may ask for it. Don't add references unless they're specifically mentioned by the employer in the job advert. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
References are available upon request.
Best words to use in an artist resume
Action words can help illustrate to the hiring manager the difference you made in each of your previous jobs. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Create
- Design
- Illustrate
- Conceptualize
- Develop
- Compose
- Execute
- Portray
- Craft
- Visualize
If you want to create a resume that stands out from the crowd, use Jobseeker's expert-designed resume templates. You can also find cover letter templates that work to get you noticed by employers.
Example resume for artist applications
The artist resume example below incorporates all the information from above into a full-designed resume template, so you can see how a final resume will look:
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
•
ronald.baker@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/ronald–baker123
Experienced Visual Arts Specialist with a strong background in creating and curating engaging visual content. Proficient in various artistic techniques and mediums, with a keen eye for detail and a passion for innovation. Adept at collaborating with teams to deliver visually compelling projects that meet client objectives and elevate brand presence.
Visual Arts Specialist
2020
-2022
Canvas Creations Studio (Lincoln)
- Led the design of a public mural project, increasing community engagement by 40%
- Curated an international art exhibition, attracting over 10,000 visitors and receiving critical acclaim
- Developed and implemented a visual arts curriculum, improving student performance and creativity by 30%
Digital painting software
3D modeling tools
Graphic design software
Creative problem solving
Strong work ethic
Effective time management
Adobe Certified Expert
Autodesk Certified Professional
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for an artist resume
- List your relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent job.
- Add your relevant education details, including any high grades such as your GPA or degree result.
- Tailor your resume to make it as relevant as possible to the role you're applying for. Consult the job description and adapt your resume to reflect the required skills and experience.
- Choose a resume format that's clear, professional and makes your resume as readable as possible. Pay particular attention to the font, line spacing, heading and margins to make your document as easy-to-read as possible for employers.
- Make a strong first impression with a concise, impactful artist resume summary that showcases your key qualities.
- Don't use an unprofessional email address. Instead, opt for a simple email address based on your name.
- Don't exaggerate, lie or hide details about yourself as these can all undermine your chances of success with artist applications.
- Don't use elaborate formatting or layouts. These can make your artist resume less readable and harder for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan.
- Don't clutter your artist resume with too much information. Keep everything focused on showcasing your relevant skills and achievements.
- Don't add hobbies and outside interests unless they help you prove a skill required for the role.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to streamline their hiring process. They can store and process data, including applications and applicant data, quickly and efficiently. One of the jobs ATS applications are increasingly responsible for is initial candidate screening. The systems can quickly scan and rank resumes based on how closely they match the job description. When drafting your artist resume, there are a few guidelines to follow to give you the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage and progressing with your application.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Choose a resume structure that matches the traditional, reverse-chronological layout or alternatively, the functional resume structure. This should make your resume more readable for ATS applications.
- Include keywords throughout your resume that align with the job description. ATS software tends to compare your resume to the job description for points of similarity, so careful, considered use of keywords should help your chances of success.
- Use clear headings that break your resume up into readable, scannable sections that match the standard content employers expect from a resume.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Keep your resume as concise as possible, to make it easier to read, and for ATS software to scan.
For help crafting a winning resume, read our in-depth career blog and review our resume examples for inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions about an artist resume
Under most circumstances, it's not advisable to include a personal photo to your resume. Resume photos can help to create a visually appealing document, but they can also introduce selection biases, whether intentional or not.
The only time it's acceptable and recommended to add a photo to your resume header is when a creative role requires a certain level of personal presentation. This might be for meeting clients, appearing on camera, acting, modelling or making public appearances.
After writing your artist resume, you'll want to write an accompanying cover letter that helps your application stand out.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
A full, formal cover letter follows a traditional letter-writing structure and format. Add your header, the recipient's address an use professional greetings and sign-offs. In your first paragraph, introduce yourself and confirm the role you're applying for, along with your reasons for applying. Next, outline your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to the artist job description. Finish by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and adding a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to contact you for further information.
Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates were created by experts to help you make a strong impression with your applications. Follow the simple steps to create a winning cover letter today.
Writing an artist resume with no experience needn't be a daunting task. There are still plenty of ways to impress hiring managers with your resume. Opt for a skill-based resume format instead of a traditional layout. This places your skills and education in a more prominent position on your resume. Make the most of additional sections such as hobbies and interests, volunteer work, certifications and internships. These can help you showcase skills that you've developed outside traditional work settings.
It's important to carefully consider which font to use for your resume, as it can impact the look and feel of your application. Choose a clear, readable serif or sans serif font that gives your resume a professional look and feel. Opt for a font size between 10 and 12 for maximum readability. For jobs in the creative sector, sans serif fonts can often be more suitable as they evoke a contemporary, dynamic style. As such, it's worth considering a sans serif font for your artist resume.
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. For roles where you're lacking experience, such as graduate jobs or career changes, you could use a functional or skills-based resume format. This places your skills and education above your work experience. On the other hand, if you're experienced in your industry or applying for senior positions, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format is usually best. This places most emphasis on your work experience.
Key takeaways for your artist resume
If you want to catch the eye of employers and recruiters, you need a professional resume that showcases your best skills and career achievements. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. A stylish, professional cover letter can make all the difference to your job prospects. See Jobseeker's cover letter examples, written by careers experts, to help you craft an eye-catching application.
Sources:
(1) Careers for creative people, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/creative-careers.htm
(2) Occupational Outlook Handbook, Craft and Fine Arts, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/craft-and-fine-artists.htm
