Creative Resume Examples and Templates
Artist Resume Examples and Templates for 2024
Last Updated:
June 28, 2024
Entry level
Midlevel
Senior level
Table of Contents
Artist Resume Examples and Templates (Downloadable)
- Entry level
- Midlevel
- Senior level
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.
Key takeaways:
- Highlight artistic skills: Include mentions of different mediums and styles that you specialize in whether it’s painting or sculpture, modern or classic.
- Describe past projects: Share how you’ve conceptualized, designed, and collaborated to create projects for past employers or clients, as well as any relevant feedback or results.
- Include important keywords: Look carefully at artist job postings to select keywords that correspond to your talents. This will help your resume pass through Applicant Tracking System (ATS) filters.
How To Write an Artist Resume Example
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
- Profile
- Key skills
- Professional experience
- Education and certifications
1. Share your 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.
Example
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
2. Create a profile by summarizing your artist qualifications
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.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Highly accomplished senior creative director with a demonstrable track record in leading creative projects and mentoring junior artists. Displays innovative leadership and advanced artistic skills acquired spanning over a decade with world-renowned companies such as Walt Disney, Adobe, DreamWorks Animation, and Warner Bros. Holds extensive academic qualifications in arts and design alongside certifications in professional artistry, underscoring commitment to continuous growth in the field.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A multi-talented artist with degrees from prestigious art and design institutions, bringing drawing skills, creativity, imagination, and a strong understanding of artistic concepts and techniques. Experience includes graphic design at Adobe Systems Incorporated as well as animation with DreamWorks, creating visual content and pre-production processes. Well-versed in equipment maintenance and workspace organization, ensuring a safe and effective work environment.
3. Create a powerful list of your artist 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.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Senior Creative Director, Walt Disney Company, Los Angeles, CA
February 2018 – present
- Increased ticket sales by 20% in Q4 2021 by conceptualizing, developing, and executing high-impact promotional campaigns for a variety of large-scale films
- Raised team productivity by 30% year over year (2019 to 2020) by mentoring a team of junior and intermediate artists, overseeing their project progression and imparting industry knowledge
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams, providing artistic direction and decision-making strategies that improved overall creative process efficiency by 40% over a six-month period
Lead Graphic Designer, Adobe Systems Incorporated, San Francisco, CA
July 2015 – January 2018
- Led a team of 15 graphic designers in the creation of visually stimulating content, resulting in an increase in customer engagement of 25% in six months
- Managed a comprehensive portfolio of client projects, demonstrating diversity and adaptability in design techniques and artistry
- Increased brand recognition by 35% in 2017 by effectively conceptualizing project vision and executing design strategies that met corporate branding guidelines
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Junior Graphic Designer, Adobe Systems Incorporated, San Jose, CA
June 2021 – present
- Assisting in the creation and implementation of graphic designs for various software applications, utilizing strong understanding of artistic concepts and techniques
- Participating in pre-production processes, including developing concept drafts and storyboards under the guidance of senior team members
- Maintaining and organizing design tools and software, ensuring a seamless work process for the team
Entry-Level Animator, DreamWorks Animation, Glendale, CA
May 2020 – June 2021
- Collaborated with the animation team to create animated sequences, contributing creatively using robust drawing skills and imaginative ideas
- Assisted in the initial stages of animation production by creating baseline sketches and layouts for various projects
- Managed workspace effectively by ensuring operational tools and equipment were in proper condition, maintaining an efficient production environment
Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience
Quantifying your past experience helps 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.
Do
- “Created over 150 unique 2D assets in 2022 for product user interface (UI).”
Don’t
- “Handled the creation of 2D assets throughout my employment to enhance product UI.”
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application
As job growth is projected to remain around the national 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. Highlight times you’ve collaborated with others to show you can work creatively on a team.
4. List any education and certifications relevant to artists
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application
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.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), May 2017
Woodbury University, Los Angeles, CA
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
Adobe Photoshop Certification, Adobe, 2016
5. List key skills and proficiencies for artists
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 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.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| 2D animation and 3D modeling | Adobe Creative Suite |
| Clay sculpting | Client relations |
| Collaboration | Communication |
| Detail-oriented | Digital painting |
| Flexibility | Initiative |
| Patience | Printmaking |
| Self-motivation | Storyboarding |
| Texturing | Time management |
| Typography | Vector illustration |
| Visual communication | Watercolor painting |
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:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Collaborated | Conceptualized |
| Created | Designed |
| Developed | Drafted |
| Illustrated | Interpreted |
| Modeled | Painted |
| Produced | Rendered |
| Sculpted | Sketched |
| Transformed | |
How To Pick the Best Artist Resume Template
When selecting a template, even though your artistic tendencies may lean toward a design-heavy resume, go with one that is simple and clean. Employers will get to see your creativity through your portfolio or website, while your resume can be more focused on your qualifications, skill sets, and what makes you a strong candidate.
Artist Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
A multi-talented artist with degrees from prestigious art and design institutions, bringing drawing skills, creativity, imagination, and a strong understanding of artistic concepts and techniques. Experience includes graphic design at Adobe Systems Incorporated as well as animation with DreamWorks, creating visual content and pre-production processes. Well-versed in equipment maintenance and workspace organization, ensuring a safe and effective work environment.
Key Skills
- Animation
- Design software proficiency
- Graphic design
- Painting and sculpture
- Storyboarding
Professional Experience
Junior Graphic Designer, Adobe Systems Incorporated, San Jose, CA
June 2021 – present
- Assisting in the creation and implementation of graphic designs for various software applications, utilizing a strong understanding of artistic concepts and techniques
- Participating in pre-production processes, including developing concept drafts and storyboards under the guidance of senior team members
- Maintaining and organizing design tools and software, ensuring a seamless work process for the team
Entry-Level Animator, DreamWorks Animation, Glendale, CA
May 2020 – June 2021
- Collaborated with the animation team to create sequences, using robust drawing skills and imaginative ideas
- Assisted in the initial stages of animation production by creating baseline sketches and layouts for various projects
- Managed workspace effectively by ensuring operational tools and equipment were in proper condition, maintaining an efficient production environment
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Art and Design
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn NY | 2019
Certifications
- Certified Professional Photographer (CPP), Professional Photographers of America (PPA), 2021
- Adobe Certified Expert (ACE), Adobe Systems Incorporated, 2020
- Artist Certificate, The National Association for Music Education, 2019
Frequently Asked Questions: Artist Resume Examples and Advice
How do you align your resume with an artist job description?
Working as an artist can encompass many different types of jobs so it’s important to tweak your resume for the specific roles you are targeting. See what each employer is looking for, the type of culture it is, and the skills needed. Then you can highlight your matching attributes.
For example, if you’re seeking a graphic design job for a marketing company and have experience designing logos and press kits, emphasize that.
What is the best artist resume format?
Reverse chronological format is the go-to format for artist resumes. This style ensures that your most recent and relevant experience is the first thing the reader sees. Even if you’re new to the field, you can emphasize your experience in other sectors or from student teaching internships and academic projects.
Expert advice:
Include a cover letter with your resume
Crafting a cover letter to accompany your resume allows you to share a few additional details with prospective employers. You can discuss why you’d be a good fit for the specific role you’re targeting.
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Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.
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