Commercial Artists Description OES Code: 340350 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. See "Skills & Requirement" below, for more additonal titles included in theis description. CA Wages/hour median range New, no experience: $8.56 minimum – $11.99 New, experienced: $11.72 $6.90 – $19.18 3 yrs+ experience: $15.00 $6.90 – $25.00 Annual Salaries (1997) Nationwide averages: All levels of experience: $14,000 - $47,000 Top Animators in California's entertainment or multimedia industries earn $100,000 or more per year. Salaries vary widely in this occupation. Experience, talent, education, and the size and location of the firm are all factors influencing the salaries offered to the Commercial Artist. Local Wages • CCOIS Survey • OES 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 Employment 1996 18,930 Projected Employment 2006 27,940 Growth Rate 1996-2006 47.6% Openings due to Separations 4,840 Employment Trends by California County Self-employment as a freelance artist is common in the commercial art industry, especially for the experienced worker with a network of contacts. Competition is stiff for both the entrant and the seasoned artist in the current job market. 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.

Click arrow at bottom left of image to begin. Requires QuickTime Education and Training Formal training programs may range from two to four years of academic or vocational art education. It is important to select a school where students train under the direction of professional, working artists. Artists must learn styles, techniques, and types of media that allow them to translate ideas into finished art projects. 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 Note: The references below (and/or on other parts of this page) will link to pages on the internet outside the Career Video system. California Occupational Guide: Commercial Artists #4 Related Occupation: Fashion Designers #185, Interior Designers #189 Training: California State Training Inventory © State of California EDD/LMID, US Department of Labor Unless indicated otherwise, wage data is based on Statewide aggregated CCOIS survey responses between 1995 and 1997. Questions or Comments? Contact us.