Artistic Skills For Your Resume (With Examples)

There are many types of artistic skills that you can include on your resume to show your qualifications for a variety of different roles. You should also make sure you have a portfolio filled out with relevant examples of your artistic work.

As an artist, you might find it difficult to express your artistic skills fully on your resume. Luckily, in this article we will go over what artistic skills are, and cover artistic skills examples.

Key Takeaways:

• Many artistic skills overlap when writing your resume, so it is important to add them in.

• Being artistic with a company can help you think outside of the box and give you something different and stand out from other companies.

• Being artistic means that you are just expressing your thoughts in a different way.

What are artistic skills?

• Artistic skills include abilities that enable you to operate in the fine-arts world. Fine art usually refers to works of art that are developed for aesthetics purposes. But the larger field of art and design may require abilities that enable you to create decorative or applied-art works.

• Applied art refers to the decoration and design of practical items so that they can be beautiful to look at. Decorative arts, on the other hand, are artworks that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. These two branches of art sometimes overlap.

If you would like to pursue an art education like a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, then you need to know what’s required of you. And it helps to be aware of the artistic skills you need to have.

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Types of artistic skills

Artistic skills come in many forms. As an undergraduate in a fine arts university, you are likely to obtain interdisciplinary visual arts and design education at some point. That will enable you to undertake a variety of art courses before you decide on what to specialize in later. These courses will help you develop the artistic skills that you need to create professional works of art.

The artistic skills below will help you fulfill the art requirements based on your preferred disciplines in the field of art:

1. Drawing skills. Drawing is a visual art form that involves the marking of surfaces using two-dimensional surfaces to create images. Some of the instruments that you can use to draw include:

   • Pencil

   • Charcoal

   • Pen

   • Chalk

   • Crayons

   Drawing can be done on a wide variety of surfaces like:

   • Paper

   • Walls

   • Wood

   • Canvas

   • Leather

   • Blackboard

   • Whiteboard

   And in this era of technological advances, drawing now includes the use of a computer or tablet to create digital images on a screen. You need graphics software to create these drawings. Instruments used in digital drawings include:

   • Mouse

   • Stylus

   • Finger on a touchpad or touchscreen device

   Freehand drawings that are incomplete and done quickly are known as sketches. They act as a record for referencing purposes for the visual artist. They can demonstrate ideas visually or be used as outlines for more refined artworks later on.

   You need to include your drawing skills in your resume if you want to snag a job in the fine arts sector. You can do this by showing your academic credentials from a school of art and design and submitting samples of your drawings.

   Also, remember to include a list of the graphics software you are familiar with like CorelDRAW.

2. Painting skills. Painting is the process of applying color, paint, or other mediums onto flat surfaces. The common method of applying these mediums is by the use of a paintbrush. But knives, trowels, and sponges can be used too. An airbrush can also be used to spray the medium onto the selected surface.

   Some of the surfaces that you can use to paint on include:

   • Walls

   • Paper

   • Pottery

   • Canvas

   • Concrete

   • Metal

   Painting has a very long history. Some of the world’s oldest cave paintings are over 35,400 years old.

   Throughout history, there have been different artistic movements that have influenced the creation of famous paintings around the world. Examples include:

   • “Still Life with Chair Caning” by Pablo Picasso is from the Cubism art movement

   • “The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh is from the Post-Impressionism art movement

   • “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo Da-Vinci is from the Renaissance art movement

   • “The Scream” by Edvard Munch is from the Expressionism art movement

   Deciding what art movement to follow while you are painting can help you establish authority in your chosen niche market.

   Contemporary-art is always a good place to start. If you have such works of art, you can include them in your portfolio when applying for a job. Having samples to show off may make you stand out more than your fine arts degree.

3. Sculpting skills. A sculpture usually refers to a three-dimensional work of art. Some are created purely for aesthetic reasons while others have functional value as well. Sculptures can be made through the following methods:

   • Carving

   • Modeling

   • Assembling

   • Casting

   You can create a sculpture using a variety of materials. These include ceramics, wood, and metal. You can also use plastic and stone.

   The creation of ceramics tends to fall under sculpting. Many archeological artifacts are ceramic. Clay is usually one of the most common materials used for ceramic art.

   The creation of installation art is also a form of sculpting. This kind of art is usually assembled for a specific site for a specified period. Art installations are common in museums and art galleries. They can be put in both exterior and interior spaces.

4. Printmaking skills. Printmaking refers to the artistic process of transferring an image or pattern from a matrix to a secondary surface. These surfaces include:

   • Fabric

   • Paper

   • Parchment

   • Plastic

   • Metal

   • Ceramics

   • Wood

   Stencil printing is a common form of printmaking. It is used for labeling and in the creation of graffiti art. However, it is a woodcut, a relief printing technique, which is considered one of the earliest printmaking forms.

   If you are skilled at etching, lithography, screen-printing, etc., you need to highlight those printmaking skills in your resume. For example, you could highlight how you helped your previous employers create and print t-shirt designs for their customers.

   Also, if you have created street art using any printmaking techniques, you would do well to include those in your portfolio.

5. Music composition skills. Musical composition falls under the performing arts category. It is the process of creating a work of music that is either vocal or instrumental.

   One can use images, words, or even computer programs to compose music. But a key component of musical composition is the ability to evoke emotions and make the sounds pleasing to the ear.

   If you have music composition skills, you could work in various industries. You could do the following:

   • Venture into the world of academics and become a professor that teaches music composition

   • Become a musical director that oversees music production for opera productions or musical theaters

   • Compose music for movies or video games

   • Work for a music recording company

   • Work for radio or television networks

6. Dancing skills. Dancing also falls under the performing arts category. It involves the movement of the human body in a rhythmic manner. It is usually done while accompanying some form of music.

   Not only does dancing have an aesthetic value, but it also has a symbolic value. And it is present in some form in all human cultures.

   Different types of dances exist. Some of them include:

   • Ballet dance

   • Ballroom dance

   • Contemporary dance

   • Tap dance

   You should specify the kind of dances you are familiar with or trained in, within your resume. Depending on your expertise, you could get a job as a:

   • Dance school instructor

   • Dance choreographer for music celebrities or in a musical theater

   • Dance judge in dancing shows

   • Dance photographer

   • Dance medicine specialist

7. Acting skills. Acting is the enactment of a story by adopting a character, and can be an important expression of artist’s skill. Acting can be done in multiple mediums that include radio, film, television, and theater. Sometimes it’s combined with dance or music. It is also a form of performing arts.

   Having a Bachelor in Performing Arts is a good thing. But that alone would not convince a hiring manager looking at your resume to hire you.

   You also need to include the roles that you played in the past and which mediums you played them in. You may also have to submit a video sample of yourself as you assume a character that has been advertised in the job description.

8. Writing skills. Writing is the ability to communicate using symbols and text. Within the artistic world, writing can be used to evoke emotions, pass information, entertain, and for aesthetic purposes.

   As a creative, your writing skills will come in handy. You will need them to create different forms of artwork. Your writing skills will be helpful in:

   • Poetry creation. Poetry is a work of literature that is rhythmic and meant to stimulate the intellect while evoking deeper meanings and emotions. Because poetry is meant to be performed for an audience, it falls under the category of performance arts.

     Many of William Shakespeare’s works are poetical works. And they have been performed as films, theatrical works, etc. Your ability to write poetry can get you jobs within the associated industries.

   • Scriptwriting. Scriptwriting is the art of writing stories that are meant to be expressed on mass media such as radio, TV, theater, video games, and films. You must write down each character’s words and actions. You will also need to write down how each scene is supposed to be set.

     Scripts can be based on original stories. But they can also be adapted from poetry, comic books, novels, and short stories.

     Having this specialized skill set can enable you to work in:

     • The movie industry

     • Acting theaters

     • The television industry

     • The radio industry

     • Acting schools as a drama teacher or screenwriting professor

   • Calligraphy. Calligraphy is a visual art form that uses decorative writing to create words that are not only beautiful to look at, but also emotionally evocative.

     These works can be done with brushes, pens, quills, as well as other writing instruments. You can do them on a variety of surfaces that include paper, walls, wood, and fabric.

     The ability to create beautiful writing is an excellent skill set to have. You can be employed as a:

     • Graphic designer

     • Painter

     • Book illustrators

     • Calligraphy instructor

     • Calligraphy designer for corporate packaging businesses

9. Filmmaking skills. Filmmaking refers to the process of making a moving picture. It falls under the visual arts category. It involves:

   • Coming up with the idea

   • Writing the story

   • Casting the characters who will play each role

   • Shooting the film

   • Editing

   • Screening the film

   The entire filmmaking team should have a common artistic vision. Otherwise, it would be difficult to make the story successfully come to life.

   Animation also falls under the filmmaking category. But it involves the manipulation of drawn images so that they can appear as if they are moving.

   To get jobs in the film industry you should include all the associated skills and technologies you are familiar with in your resume. These may include:

   • Fashion design

   • Animation

   • Storyboard writing

   • Musical composition

   • Acting

   The movie and TV industry in the U.S. is worth $33.8 billion. Your artistic skills can help you get a foot in the door even if you are not an actor or actress.

10. Photography skills. Photography is the art of taking and processing photographs. It also falls under the visual arts category. As an artistic skill, photography involves:

    • Finding or creating optimal lighting for photographs

    • Choosing subjects to photograph

    • Composing shots

    • Understanding the mechanics of cameras

    • Photo editing

    Photography might seem like a simple hobby for some, but artists know that a lot of detail, patience, and luck goes into every perfect shot. This skill is also incredibly diverse, with the three basic types of photography being:

    • Nature Photography. Covering anything from Landscape, Wildlife, Macro, Underwater, Astro, and Aerial photography this type specializes the wild outdoors. Often, photographers of this type have to have incredible patience and impressive zoom to obtain their shots.

    • People Photography. From portraits, weddings, sports, commercials, and more this type of photography focuses on people. This type of photography can be very versatile and high-paying, especially in the advertising industry or for a small business seeking clients.

    • Man-Made Photography. This type of photography is all about products, food, buildings and more. It’s an especially lucrative skill for anyone looking to get into advertising and marketing, and highly satisfying for any food-lovers out there.

How to add artistic skills to your resume

A list of artistic skills can help you craft the perfect artist’s resume. For more tips on how to formulate art skills for your resume, consider these insightful tips:

1. Make a list. You will want to make a list of all of your relevant skills and add years of experience. This will also include any of the successful projects you have done.

2. Include any internships. This can be added in the work experience section. You will want to also add any services performed and the outcomes of your projects and what skills you used.

3. Add a skills section. This will include any hard or soft skills that you have used while in your internships, education or jobs.

Aristic skills for resume FAQs

1. Can I still put artistic skills on my resume if I don’t have artistic education?

   Yes, you can still put artistic skills on your resume if you don’t have artistic education. If you have used artistic skills professionally in any form (such as selling designs on Etsy, etc.), you should include this on your resume.

2. What should my artistic portfolio include?

   Your artistic portfolio should include a wide variety of your work. Your portfolio should showcase your full range as an artist to show potential employers your full capabilities.

   When applying for a position, read the job listing carefully to determine what the employer is looking for, and try to tailor your portfolio samples to it.

3. Do performance skills count as artistic skills?

   Yes, performance skills count as artistic skills. Performance skills can be valuable in a wide variety of applications, even for non-art-related roles. You should include these skills on your resume, especially if you have received any formal training in them.

4. What are types of artistic skills?

   Types of artistic skills include drawing, painting, writing, and music skills. Other types include filmmaking and performance skills. Each of these categories also has a variety of different sub-skills and specializations.

Final thoughts

As a creative, you need some artistic skills to get employed in your preferred line of work. So, work on those skills that you need the most and highlight them in your resume. Also, include portfolio samples.

And don’t forget to define yourself as an artist that is adaptable, creative, and good at forming relationships and leading others. Every little skill helps.

References

1. Columbia University Center for Career Education – The Artist Resume and CV

Author

Roger Raber

Roger Raber has been a content writer at Zippia for over a year and has authored several hundred articles. Having retired after 28 years of teaching writing and research at both the high school and college levels, Roger enjoys providing career details that help inform people who are curious about a new job or career. Roger holds a BA in English from Cleveland State University and a MA from Marygrove college.