Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Commercial artist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

1 min read

Quoted experts

James Thurman,

James Thurman

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical commercial artist skills. We ranked the top skills for commercial artists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 32.0% of commercial artist resumes contained art projects as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a commercial artist needs to be successful in the workplace.

14 commercial artist skills for your resume and career

1. Art Projects

An art project is a project undertaken to create and display artwork. It can either be interactive or non-interactive.

Here's how commercial artists use art projects:

Designed and produced camera-ready packaging for new products, illustrations, posters, and other art projects as needed.
Administered sales, incoming/outgoing materials and all art projects.

2. Photography

Here's how commercial artists use photography:

Developed original and progressive projects with video, photography and graphic design for clients/agencies.
Produced high-end retouching, and digital manipulation of gallery and unit photography for Turner's entertainment networks and media divisions.

3. Adobe Photoshop

Here's how commercial artists use adobe photoshop:

Scanned pictures and retouched when necessary using Adobe PhotoShop.
Cover art created through Adobe PhotoShop.

4. Technical Illustrations

Here's how commercial artists use technical illustrations:

Created patented technical illustrations for aerospace and research and development department.

5. Customer Relations

Here's how commercial artists use customer relations:

Combined skills of business management and customer relations allowed for success of business.

6. Posters

Typically, a poster refers to a large printed notice or image that you put up on a board or wall in a public place to advertise or promote something.

Here's how commercial artists use posters:

Collaborated with Account Executives to produce marketing materials including advertisements, coupons, promotional items and posters for clients.
Designed and illustrated colorful posters as a promotional piece for specific and various educational series.

Choose from 10+ customizable commercial artist resume templates

Build a professional commercial artist resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your commercial artist resume.

7. Web Design

Here's how commercial artists use web design:

Work encompassed various phases and methods of graphic arts, web design, and desktop publishing.
Web design/illustration - conceptualized, designed and launched websites and digital collateral for an independent and accomplished jewelry designer.

8. 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 commercial artists use promotional materials:

Created promotional materials and direct-mail campaigns to promote artists and the agency.
Designed promotional materials, including stationary items, flyers, brochures and advertisements.

9. Typesetting

Here's how commercial artists use typesetting:

Job responsibility also included typesetting, coloring and custom logo production, and ensuring accuracy and quality of work.
Manipulated electronic data for a variety of devices including typesetting systems and multimedia systems.

10. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how commercial artists use windows:

Promoted various performances by painting advertisements on 12x16 foot windows on a monthly basis.
Helped organize and clean the store as well as designed logos and painted murals on the store windows and walls.

11. Business Cards

Here's how commercial artists use business cards:

Performed manual paste-up and color separation of business cards and letterhead.
Developed logos and designed business essentials such as letterheads and business cards.

12. CAD

Here's how commercial artists use cad:

Completed CAD illustrations and specifications for both Designers and Special Project developments sent to overseas for sample development.
Supervised CAD techs and reported directly with CAD management as well as design studio management and staff.

13. Fine Arts

Here's how commercial artists 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.

14. PowerPoint

Here's how commercial artists use powerpoint:

Designed and produced promotion, educational, and informational material and content, multimedia content and interface for PowerPoint briefs.
Provided excellent customer service by collaborating with customers to create documents in Word and PowerPoint.

What skills help Commercial Artists find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on commercial artist resumes?

James Thurman

Coordinator, Studio Art: Metalsmithing and Jewelry Program, Associate Professor, University of North Texas

In general, I think it's important to convey a strong sense of professionalism blended with a commitment to the visual arts (exhibitions, related employment experience). A developed personal aesthetic is essential and can be easily conveyed with well-designed materials (cover letter, CV, etc.). Specific to Metalsmithing & Jewelry, my experience in digital fabrication (3d printing, laser cutting, CNC machining, etc.) are in high demand and has been the primary avenue that our alumni have been recently employed.

What soft skills should all commercial artists possess?

James Thurman

Coordinator, Studio Art: Metalsmithing and Jewelry Program, Associate Professor, University of North Texas

Ability to work well with a team while being able to maintain independence. Creative problem-solving is valued and important to show evidence of. Being able to develop, express, and implement solutions that have gained the consensus of all stakeholders.

What hard/technical skills are most important for commercial artists?

James Thurman

Coordinator, Studio Art: Metalsmithing and Jewelry Program, Associate Professor, University of North Texas

Obviously, this is dependent on the position. For all related opportunities in the visual arts, a high degree of digital literacy is expected. As I mentioned, digital fabrication is increasingly a key skill for many professional opportunities in the visual arts: commission proposals, shop management, jewelry design, etc.

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

Carol Pelletier

Chair of Fine Arts and Professor of Art, Website

The Studio Arts is a great place for those individuals who want to enter creative fields while fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship, while Art Therapy utilizes the arts for healing.

Do you want to know more?

List of commercial artist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a commercial artist resume and required skills for a commercial artist to have include:

Art Projects
Photography
Adobe Photoshop
Technical Illustrations
Customer Relations

Posters
Web Design
Promotional Materials
Typesetting
Windows

Business Cards
CAD
Fine Arts
PowerPoint

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Zippia Careers
Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Industry
Commercial Artist
Commercial Artist Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs