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A visual artist creates and designs a work of art using plastic forms. The word comes from the Greek and initially refers to anything that can be modelled.
What is a Visual Artist?
A visual artist creates and designs works of art using visual and plastic forms. The term comes from the Greek and originally referred to anything that can be shaped or modelled. It covers a wide range of media, including sculpture, ceramics, painting, drawing, engraving, and digital art.
What does a visual artist do?
The work of a visual artist is to create visual works of art to sculpt, paint, or engrave according to artistic inspiration. For many, it is less a job than a vocation.
The field is vast, but the process usually involves several stages:
- Gathering information before creating the work, through documentary research, iconography, and reference study
- Determining the technical constraints linked to the characteristics of the materials, exhibition conditions, and safety standards
- Producing sketches, rough drafts, and overall drawings of the work
- Producing the final work and applying the finishing touches
The work may be done in a studio, at home, on a client’s premises — for a private individual, company, or public authority — or in public spaces.
What art forms does visual art include?
Visual art covers a broad range of “plastic” media, meaning materials that can be shaped or worked. These include:
- Sculpture
- Ceramics
- Painting
- Drawing
- Engraving
- Digital art
The medium changes from one artist to the next, but the objective stays the same: to create, and where possible, to make that art known to an audience.
Skills and qualities of a visual artist
A visual artist needs a strong imagination, a genuine passion for art and creation, perseverance, and a strong personality.
The work requires real talent, a mastery of the different techniques of the plastic arts, and a keen understanding of shapes, materials, supports, colours, and space. A good command of classical, modern, and contemporary art techniques is essential, since artists draw on this knowledge to develop their own visual language.
Beyond pure creativity, the role also calls for practical judgment. An artist has to understand the constraints of their materials, the conditions in which a work will be shown, and the technical limits of what they are trying to create.
Training to become a visual artist
With basic training at baccalaureate level, it is possible to enter a fine arts or applied arts school to acquire the knowledge and techniques of design.
Structured art education helps develop both technical mastery and personal creative direction. ESMA supports and nurtures the talents of tomorrow, offering a number of art courses including the Prépa Design for students wishing to enter a school with over 25 years’ experience in teaching arts and crafts.
This kind of preparatory and foundational training gives aspiring artists the techniques, exposure, and creative grounding needed to move into more specialized study or professional practice.
Career and income
Sculpture, painting, engraving the media change, but the goal remains the same: to create and, ideally, to make your art known.
Visual artists generally make a living from selling their work, but they may also work on commission. Income can be made up of fees, royalties, and distribution rights for self-employed artists, or a fixed salary for those working in a salaried role.
It is worth being realistic about the profession. For every internationally recognised name like Jeff Koons, Peter Doig, or Damien Hirst, many visual artists work hard to make ends meet. A career in visual art takes faith in your own work, persistence, and a genuine dose of talent.
FAQ
What is a visual artist?
A visual artist is someone who creates works of art using visual and plastic forms such as sculpture, ceramics, painting, drawing, engraving, and digital art. The term comes from the Greek word for anything that can be shaped or modelled.
What does a visual artist do?
A visual artist creates works of art by sculpting, painting, drawing, or engraving. The process usually includes research, planning sketches, working within the constraints of the chosen materials, and producing the finished piece.
What is the difference between a visual artist and a fine artist?
The terms overlap. “Visual artist” is the broader term, covering all forms of art you experience visually, including digital media. “Fine artist” traditionally refers to classical disciplines such as painting, sculpture, and drawing.
What skills does a visual artist need?
A visual artist needs imagination, technical mastery of plastic arts techniques, and a strong understanding of form, colour, materials, and space, along with perseverance and a distinct personal style.
How much does a visual artist earn?
Income varies widely. Visual artists earn through selling their work, commissions, fees, royalties, and distribution rights, or a fixed salary in a salaried role. Earnings depend heavily on reputation, demand, and how well known the artist becomes.
How do you become a visual artist?
Most visual artists build their skills through art education. With baccalaureate-level training, you can enter a fine arts or applied arts school, often starting with a preparatory year before specializing.
