How to Find Jobs for Artists

Finding Artist Work with the Internet

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May 21, 2007 Alina Bradford

Article on finding work as an artist. Sell your skills, paintings, illustration work and more. Find out how to make an artist resume, portfolio, and search websites.

Making money from art is hard. It really is. Especially so if you’re not taking full advantage of the resources out there.

The easiest way to make money with your art is to take full advantage of the internet. There are sites to find jobs, places to set up portfolios, and sites to show off your resume. Here is all you need to know to keep from being a starving artist.

Resume

The first thing you should do when looking for work is to create a simple, straight forward resume that can be emailed, downloaded, printed, and posted on websites.

To make this possible, you need to stay within one, 12 point font, single spaced page. Don’t use any HTML coding, different colored font, or cutesy pictures. (To get ideas, look at the author’s resume, below.)

Keep it simple.

List your art work history, any art organizations you are affiliated with, schooling, and/or a link to your online portfolio. Also include your email address and phone number. Feel free to leave off your address. Leave that for a need-to-know bases.

Portfolio

Having an online portfolio is crucial when looking for a job online. There are many great sites where you can set up one for free.

  • Photobucket.com

This is a site where you can upload photos, videos, and images for free. You can also make slideshows and remixes of your work, link it to social network profiles, auction sites, web sites and blogs, or send them by email, IM, or mobile phone.

  • All Creative Portfolios.com

This site offers free electronic online portfolio that can be emailed. Portfolio thumbnails of your art are sent within the email, which makes for easy viewing.

To learn about more ways to promote your art through portfolios please see:

How to Promote Your Paintings

and

MySpace for Artists: How MySpace Can be a Valuable Tool for Your Art

Job Sites

There are a lot of great job boards out there for artists. Some of them require you to bid for work, others let you email potential employers.

Most jobs are freelance, but sometimes you can find full-time work from boards.

The best way to learn about job boards is to just bookmark them and use them every day. Don’t pay for the "exclusive professional packages". You don’t need them. The basics are all you really need.

Here are some really good art job boards:

  • All Graphic Design.com
  • Concept Art.org Job Boards
  • All Freelance Work.com
  • Guru.com
  • Project4Hire.com
  • Get a Freelancer.com
  • Variety Careers

If you use all the information above on a regular basis, soon you will be getting checks for your art.

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The copyright of the article How to Find Jobs for Artists in Painting/Drawing is owned by Alina Bradford. Permission to republish How to Find Jobs for Artists in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
An Artist Resume, Alina Sandor An Artist Resume
   
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Comments

May 24, 2007 10:32 AM
Alina Bradford :
Do you think making money off of art is selling out?
Nov 10, 2007 5:08 AM
Jenn Greenleaf :
Hi Alina!

I don't think it's selling out at all. To me, that would be like if a writer felt like a sell-out if they sold their writing. That's just my opinion, though. :) It does amaze me, however, that cartoonists and some other illustrators can doodle something and get paid big bucks for it . . . little talent, little effort, big living. (Most of what's on Nick Jr. are good examples of what I mean.)

Thanks for sparking some thought on this topic! :)
Jan 19, 2009 9:41 AM
Guest :
thank you
Nov 3, 2009 9:15 PM
Guest :
There is only one art style that if sold, is selling out. Graffiti. Graffiti was only made to express and rebel. It was never made to be a source of income. Thats why the dude that does OBEY clothing had his shit all thrown up on in New York.
4 Comments
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