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Artist/illustrator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Michalis Andronikou PhD,
Benjamin Ivey
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical artist/illustrator skills. We ranked the top skills for artist/illustrators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.6% of artist/illustrator resumes contained adobe photoshop as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an artist/illustrator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 artist/illustrator skills for your resume and career

1. Adobe Photoshop

Here's how artist/illustrators use adobe photoshop:
  • Scanned pictures and retouched when necessary using Adobe PhotoShop.
  • Scanned and cropped photos utilizing Adobe PhotoShop.

2. Concept Art

Here's how artist/illustrators use concept art:
  • Create finished illustrations of characters, concept art, vector designs and children books for various Clients.
  • Posed 3D monster models and cameras to use as reference and to accelerate concept art development.

3. Web Pages

Here's how artist/illustrators use web pages:
  • Illustrated and animated web pages for children's web site.
  • Created web pages and animated advertising banners; produced marketing graphics for multiple advertising campaigns.

4. Graphic Design

Graphic design is the art of making visual content to communicate messages. Designers apply different page layout methods and visual hierarchy by using letters and pictures to meet the need of end-users. Most companies use graphic design to sell their product or services and to convey complicated information by using infographics.

Here's how artist/illustrators use graphic design:
  • Provided graphic design, industrial and interior design solutions for private and commercial clients.
  • Experience in graphic design as well as human anatomy.

5. Photography

Here's how artist/illustrators use photography:
  • Produced high-end retouching, and digital manipulation of gallery and unit photography for Turner's entertainment networks and media divisions.
  • Developed and implemented photography training material and multimedia checklists used for print and video production as well as field photography.

6. Layout Design

Here's how artist/illustrators use layout design:
  • Developed and designed backgrounds for animated music video -Worked alongside layout designers, in a collaborative environment
  • Gathered requirements and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to discuss and determine layout design.

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7. Editorial Illustrations

Here's how artist/illustrators use editorial illustrations:
  • Illustrated a comic series and editorial illustrations for Rookie Mag

8. Fine Arts

Here's how artist/illustrators use fine arts:
  • Involved in the construction and fine arts business for many years through employment, ownership and family.
  • Toured and sold art at fine arts shows all over Michigan.

9. Portfolio

Here's how artist/illustrators use portfolio:
  • Commissioned work can be found on my portfolio.
  • Create and maintain web portfolio and website offering numerous artistic services.

10. Video Games

Video Games are a form of entertainment where the player interacts with a virtual space. The subject and strategies for video games vary depending on the kind of game. For example, some video games require the player to solve a puzzle in addition to exploring the virtual world, while others encourage combat strategies.

Here's how artist/illustrators use video games:
  • Created illustrations for new video game start up company and contributed to the concept and storyline.

11. Character Design

Character design involves creating an entire style, concept, and artwork of a character from scratch. It requires an in-depth study of the character's personality to develop a virtual understanding of its physical features. Character design is a very complicated process and demands a lot of creative energy.

Here's how artist/illustrators use character design:
  • Worked for Twin Fire on their game Folklore Afflictions as the character designer, and object designer.
  • Lead Illustrator, Animation Director, and Character Designer.

12. Promotional Materials

Promotional material is any document or article - written, printed, graphic, electronic, audio, or video presentation, distributed or made available in whole or in part on behalf of a product, cause, idea, person, or business for promotion, advertisement, announcement or direction. Promotional materials are used to make a business stand out from its competitors and to engage the target audience.

Here's how artist/illustrators use promotional materials:
  • Edited and optimized illustrations from overseas vendors for use on hang tags and other packaging and promotional materials using Illustrator and InDesign
  • Designed and produced all new company forms and stationery and assisted with promotional materials, requiring in-depth understanding of company procedures.

13. Sketch

Here's how artist/illustrators use sketch:
  • Developed original illustrations from sketch concept to finished Flash art.
  • Commissioned for character illustrations starting from sketch to finished product.

14. PowerPoint

Here's how artist/illustrators use powerpoint:
  • Designed and produced promotion, educational, and informational material and content, multimedia content and interface for PowerPoint briefs.
  • Designed and prepared presentation packets for proposals, including PowerPoint presentations for pitching to potential high-value clients.

15. Art Direction

Art direction is an essential job in the activities related to theatre, advertising, fashion, publishing as well the film industry. All of these fields have a direct or indirect connection with art and therefore require direction and supervision regarding this very aspect of the job. The art director is responsible for how a product turns out visually..

Here's how artist/illustrators use art direction:
  • Developed new styles, techniques and art direction for gift product.
  • Provided art direction for a widely distributed intelligence circular entitled NAVSTIR, involving cover design, photo-editing, cartooning and typography.
top-skills

What skills help Artist/Illustrators find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What artist/illustrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Michalis Andronikou PhDMichalis Andronikou PhD LinkedIn profile

Lecturer, Website

You may be able to combine different jobs that support and promote one another. If you are a performing artist and a teacher, your students could be a supportive audience and they can learn a lot from your performances.

What type of skills will young artist/illustrators need?

Benjamin IveyBenjamin Ivey LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor and Graphic Design Program Coordinator - Art, Mississippi College

Employers want to know that you are a good problem solver. New software, social media platforms, and computers are always coming down the pipe, so younger generations are expected to understand those needs and trends. If you are the kind of employee who can suggest better/faster/cheaper ways of working, then you are a golden investment for any company.

What soft skills should all artist/illustrators possess?

Diana Boyd

Faculty, Highline College

-Collaboration/Teamwork

-Interpersonal

-Reliability

-Ethical behavior

-Self-starter

List of artist/illustrator skills to add to your resume

Artist/illustrator skills

The most important skills for an artist/illustrator resume and required skills for an artist/illustrator to have include:

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Concept Art
  • Web Pages
  • Graphic Design
  • Photography
  • Layout Design
  • Editorial Illustrations
  • Fine Arts
  • Portfolio
  • Video Games
  • Character Design
  • Promotional Materials
  • Sketch
  • PowerPoint
  • Art Direction
  • Artwork
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • CAD
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • Comics
  • T-Shirts
  • Art Shows
  • Mac
  • Embroidery
  • Business Cards
  • Style Guides
  • Logo Design
  • User Interface
  • Photo Shoots
  • Digital Art

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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