Artist Resume Templates and Examples for 2024

Artist Resume Template Example

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Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, or illustrator, your artist resume should reflect your creative potential. It needs to show employers the depth of your skills and the impact of your work. This guide will provide expert tips to paint a picture of your journey that sets you apart within the competitive art industry.

How To Write an Artist Resume

You can overcome the intimidation of a blank page by using a basic template as your initial sketch. When selecting a template, be sure your artist resume includes the following sections:

Contact information

At the top of your resume, list your full name, phone number, email address, and links to your online professional profile and portfolio. Providing a link to your portfolio is especially vital for you as an artist. It allows employers to get a comprehensive view of your work, increasing your chances of landing an interview or potential networking opportunities and job referrals.

Profile

The profile is a brief section at the beginning of your resume that provides a quick look at your artistic identity. It should include essential information about your creative background, years of experience, and what sets your work apart. Customize your profile to match the specific opportunity you’re applying for, focusing on skills and experiences relevant to the role.

Key skills

The key skills section of your resume will vary depending on your area of expertise and what the job opportunity requires. For example, animators and potters will have very different skill sets, but the goal remains the same — your skills should align with the job’s demands. Ultimately, what you include on your skills list should be determined by the needs of potential employers.

Common hard and soft skills for artists

Resume writer’s tip: Use descriptive action verbs

To optimize your resume and make it easier for the reader to envision your past work, use action verbs. The best place to use these dynamic words is within the professional experience section of your artist resume. Start each bullet point with one of these verbs to put your resume in an active voice. These verbs will make your writing more powerful and engaging:

Professional experience

This section of your resume is like a curated exhibition of your creative journey, showcasing your artistic accomplishments and growth. Detail your work history with previous employers. Describe the artistic skills you utilized and how you contributed to projects. Use numbers when you can to illustrate the value and scope of your work.

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

Quantifying your past experience helps to bring your achievements to life, making them more vivid and compelling. It transforms abstract notions of creativity into concrete evidence of your skills and contributions. Whether it’s the number of pieces created, clients served, or projects completed, numbers show that your work is backed by real results.

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

As job growth is projected to remain about average for the field, competition will continue to be stiff. A well-tailored resume to accompany your portfolio will be key to landing your dream job. Adjusting your artist resume for each application is like customizing your artwork for a specific audience — it ensures your qualifications and experiences align perfectly with the position.

Start by thoroughly reading the job posting to identify the key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities required for the role. Then, match up your own abilities with the job requirements, adapting your resume to each position you apply for. For example, if the role emphasizes digital illustration and software proficiencies, be sure to include those items specifically.

What if you don’t have experience?

Writing a resume without any professional art experience can feel as daunting as staring at a blank canvas, but don’t worry. You’ll just need to take a different approach. As an artist, your work speaks for itself, and providing a link to an online portfolio will be vital during the hiring process. Employers need to see what you can do outside of words on a page.

The content of your resume should consist of a strong list of technical and interpersonal skills and experiences that align with the job. When describing your hands-on work, get creative. Include any volunteer, school, or passion projects related to the position. Remember to highlight times you’ve collaborated with others to show you can work creatively on a team.

Education and certifications

When listing your education, start with your highest diploma or degree first. You can also include relevant coursework to highlight specific art techniques you’ve studied. If you’ve received certifications relevant to the field, include those as well. Keeping up with the latest technology and practices can help you stand out from other applicants.

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Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

A resume should be a forward-looking value proposition that showcases your most relevant accomplishments for a target role — not a rear view summary of your previous roles and responsibilities.