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Scenic artist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

1 min read

Quoted experts

Paige Williams,

Paige Williams

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical scenic artist skills. We ranked the top skills for scenic artists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.4% of scenic artist resumes contained theater productions as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a scenic artist needs to be successful in the workplace.

12 scenic artist skills for your resume and career

1. Theater Productions

Here's how scenic artists use theater productions:

Organize and general upkeep of paint kitchen Aided in various painting of sets for upcoming theater productions
Performed carpentry, fabrication and painting jobs on artistic sets used in SCU's quarterly musical and theater productions.

2. Art Directors

Here's how scenic artists use art directors:

Worked directly with Art Directors and Production Designers in achieving fulfillment of their creative goals.

3. Scene Painting

Here's how scenic artists use scene painting:

Organize and schedule the scene painting and daily workflow.

4. Scene Shop

Here's how scenic artists use scene shop:

Performed Administrative duties when Scene Shop Manager was not available.
Supervised daily operations of the Scene Shop including scheduling, budgeting, procurement, and supervision of staff.

5. Faux Finishes

Here's how scenic artists use faux finishes:

Color mixing, color matching, faux finishes, drop painting, texture painting, keeping a clean and safe environment.
Painted various hand lettered signs and faux finishes for Harry Potter at Universal Studios

6. Fiberglass

Here's how scenic artists use fiberglass:

Cast new products from molds using several mediums (fiberglass, urethane).
Paint three dimensional concrete, fiberglass, urethanes and epoxy objects to achieve a natural appearance.

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7. Painting Techniques

Here's how scenic artists use painting techniques:

Developed painting techniques in consultation with art director of productivity production.
Execute different specialty painting techniques and maintain the finish on stock painted furniture; all in a very fast paced environment.

8. Summer Season

Here's how scenic artists use summer season:

Touched up on the scenery and props used in the 2015 summer season for Cincinnati Opera
Assisted scenic charge to develop treatments and touch-up for the summer seasons four repertory productions.

9. Sculpture

The sculpture is an art form in which solid or synthetic materials are molded into three-dimensional art objects. The figures may be incorporated in freestanding objects, in assistance on surfaces, or in conditions ranging from pictures to contexts that fascinate the viewer. Sculptures fall into four main categories: molded, cast, carved, or assembled.

Here's how scenic artists use sculpture:

Contracted/commissioned for film & theatre scenic work, graphic art, sculpture, oil paintings, primarily portraits and landscapes.
Developed new techniques for installation and sculpture processes through extensive research and detailed documentation.

10. Spray Guns

Here's how scenic artists use spray guns:

Painted surfaces using airbrush, brushes, and spray guns Screen Printer/Artwork designer, Action Art - Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.
Operated a scissor lift, spray booth, airless sprayer, spray guns, airbrushes, power and hand tools.

11. Adventure

Here's how scenic artists use adventure:

Major clientele included Disney, MGM, and Adventure Landings.
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure - props.

12. Trade Shows

Here's how scenic artists use trade shows:

Painted scenery for large trade shows: Ricoh, State Farm, Democratic National Convention.
Assisted owner with set up and break-down of booth at various bridal trade shows.

What skills help Scenic Artists find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on scenic artist resumes?

Paige Williams

Academic Dean, Art Academy of Cincinnati

The skills that stand out on artist resumes are skills that distinguish them from other applicants. Potential employers are looking for individuals whose resumes provide evidence of exploration, risk-taking, and the ability to adapt. These traits are evidenced through experiences with internships, study abroad, and other real-world experiences such as client-based projects, exhibitions, performances, and readings in public spaces. Art school is experiential. Students aren't just observing but doing while they are in school. The ability to learn and adapt to new technology is also important. Art students don't just learn but utilize technological skills with purpose in their own creative work.

What soft skills should all scenic artists possess?

Paige Williams

Academic Dean, Art Academy of Cincinnati

The World Economic Forum has identified the four most important skills that ALL students graduating from college in the 21st century will need to be successful. These are the same skills that artists, designers, and creative writers explore through 21st Century Art Education at the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC): Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication. 21st Century creatives will need to understand how to explore solutions to complex problems, think outside of the box, work with others, and effectively articulate their ideas. At the Art Academy of Cincinnati, our students in first-year experience engage in courses whose focus is communication, collaboration, ideation, research, and discovery from day one.

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

Paige Williams

Academic Dean, Art Academy of Cincinnati

Students entering the creative workplace need the visual, verbal, and written vocabulary to articulate their ideas and provide meaningful and constructive criticism. Students at the AAC learn criticism methods and engage in writing across the curriculum in every studio and academic course. A rigorous capstone experience requires that students write a ten-to-twelve-page thesis that thoroughly explains what they make (subject), how they make it (form), and why it matters (content). They then are required to present their ideas in a public forum.

Learning the latest technological advances and adapting as technology evolves is important for every student entering the workforce.

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

Todd Dellinger

Chair, Website

Adaptability to change - it's inescapable and has been forever in the arts - but change comes so swiftly and from so many directions now - particularly those changes brought about by technology and media/communications. Be ahead of the curve when it comes to what new uses of AI, what new applications for social media and how to manipulate those to your advantage, to your "business" of being an artist in this world. Entrepreneurial skills are vital in any business. You will need to be your own entrepreneur - exercising creative, innovative ways of using your talents and skills "outside the box" and applying these in parts of the industry and in other settings to expand your earning and learning potentia

Do you want to know more?

List of scenic artist skills to add to your resume

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

Theater Productions
Art Directors
Scene Painting
Scene Shop

Faux Finishes
Fiberglass
Painting Techniques
Summer Season

Sculpture
Spray Guns
Adventure
Trade Shows

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.

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Scenic Artist Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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