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What does a visual artist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.

Visual artists are the type of artists that engage their audience through their eyes. This type of artist expresses their feelings in different ways. They can use any material to make their feelings known. Sometimes, they express their feelings using carved wood, digital imagery, and installations from objects they find randomly. They may use water vapor or bee pollen to let the world see their feelings, thoughts, and ideals. They can also choose to work independently or work with studios that produce cartoons, develop games, and have a fixed schedule to work on a project.

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Visual artist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real visual artist resumes:

  • Edit video, write copy for television, radio, and web-base commercials while managing the scheduling of all studio employees.
  • Design creative materials, including advertisements, media kits, logo and promotional materials for several collaborative projects.
  • Model, texture and integrate 3D mesh FX with 3DSMax
  • Modele and shade 3D facial replacements and simulate smoke effects in Maya.
  • Design texture sheets and unique materials and shaders for particles and mesh FX.
  • Used Maya and Photoshop to create matte paintings and landscape environment using modeling and camera projection techniques.
  • Streamline the VFX art request process to avoid some requests getting lose or undelivered in time for release.
  • Collaborate cross departmentally to develop VFX with proprietary software.
  • Work under time-sensitive deadlines to develop two-minute stories for animation.
  • Construct digital sets with different environments and backgrounds for rendering and animation.
  • Collaborate with clients to develop creative solutions for a diverse portfolio of communications and marketing projects.
  • Edit and create graphics for the boxers opening video and create the main title sequence http: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=ZARk6e6O5w4
  • Develop music-arts curriculum, and partner as teaching artist-in-residence at public schools throughout the NYC.
  • Create fine art paintings & murals as part of a collective for corporate clients in NYC and all over the USA/world.
  • Collaborate with clients to develop creative solutions for a diverse portfolio of communications and marketing projects.

Visual artist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of Visual Artists are proficient in Animation, Maya, and Visual Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Artistic talent, Communication skills, and Computer skills.

We break down the percentage of Visual Artists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Animation, 15%

    Constructed digital sets with different environments and backgrounds for rendering and animation.

  • Maya, 11%

    Generated motion graphics, matte extractions, and 3d animations for live action educational games utilizing Maya and After Effects.

  • Visual Development, 9%

    Freelance Visual Development Artist on LEGO 2 - involved with creating concept art, environment and character designs.

  • Visual Effects, 7%

    Use of expression codes to drive 3D Geometry and particle for visual effects during mobile games development.

  • VFX, 6%

    Streamlined the VFX art request process to avoid some requests getting lost or undelivered in time for release.

  • Motion Graphics, 5%

    Created motion graphics on several marketing videos for multiple Fortune 100 companies.

"animation," "maya," and "visual development" are among the most common skills that visual artists use at work. You can find even more visual artist responsibilities below, including:

Artistic talent. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a visual artist to have is artistic talent. Their role and responsibilities require that "animators and artists should have artistic ability and a good understanding of color, texture, and light." Visual artists often use artistic talent in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "recruit and maintain contact with talent for community annual fine arts festival. "

Computer skills. visual artists are also known for computer skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to visual artist responsibilities, because "many special effects artists and animators use computer programs or write programming code to do most of their work." A visual artist resume example shows how computer skills is used in the workplace: "created computer generated, 3 dimensional visual effects for feature film. "

Time-management skills. visual artist responsibilities often require "time-management skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "the workdays required by most studio and game design companies can be long, particularly when there are tight deadlines." This resume example shows what visual artists do with time-management skills on a typical day: "worked under time-sensitive deadlines to develop two-minute stories for animation. "

Creativity. A commonly-found skill in visual artist job descriptions, "creativity" is essential to what visual artists do. Visual artist responsibilities rely on this skill because "artists and animators must be able to think creatively to develop original ideas and make them come to life." You can also see how visual artist duties rely on creativity in this resume example: "install window displays, interior displays, and signage to reflect changes in inventory or promotion. '"

See the full list of visual artist skills

The three companies that hire the most visual artists are:

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Compare different visual artists

Visual artist vs. 3d modeler

A 3D modeler is responsible for designing project models by utilizing various software applications and computer tools to represent high-quality digital content that would help the team and clients visualize the object. 3D modelers work closely with the design team to evaluate ideas and identify its feasibility scope on an enhanced digital view, giving them the ability to adjust and revise structures as needed. A 3D modeler must have excellent technical and critical-thinking skills to understand the clients' specifications and recommend solutions through graphics analysis.

We looked at the average visual artist salary and compared it with the wages of a 3d modeler. Generally speaking, 3d modelers are paid $5,927 lower than visual artists per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both visual artist and 3d modeler positions are skilled in animation, vfx, and photography.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, visual artist responsibilities require skills like "maya," "visual development," "visual effects," and "motion graphics." Meanwhile a typical 3d modeler has skills in areas such as "visualization," "texture," "uv," and "auto cad." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

On average, 3d modelers reach similar levels of education than visual artists. 3d modelers are 2.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Visual artist vs. 3d animator

A 3D animator specializes in designing and developing 3D animation materials, adhering to the program or project's needs. They typically work together with a team of animators and producers in studios or offices. Most of the time, their responsibilities involve performing extensive research, creating drafts and storyboards, consulting with team members and editors, and performing revisions as needed. Furthermore, as a 3D animator, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.

3d animator positions earn lower pay than visual artist roles. They earn a $8,277 lower salary than visual artists per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both visual artists and 3d animators have skills such as "animation," "vfx," and "motion graphics. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, visual artist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "maya," "visual development," "visual effects," and "photography." Meanwhile, a 3d animator has duties that require skills in areas such as "storyboards," "visualization," "motion capture," and "game engine." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Average education levels between the two professions vary. 3d animators tend to reach similar levels of education than visual artists. In fact, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for visual artists in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.

Department Chair Visual and Performing Arts, Professor of Music and Humanities, College of Central Florida

Technology is constantly evolving and changing the way we experience the arts, generally for the better. I anticipate great strides in the fields of digital media and digital music. Technology affords us the opportunity to connect with a larger, more global audience on the one hand, and also kindle in a younger generation an interest in the arts.

Visual artist vs. Character animator

A character animator specializes in developing life-like character designs for film, television, advertisements, and video games using special animation software. Their job usually entails understanding project requirements, conducting research, developing drafts and models, adding different effects to enhance designs, presenting designs to lead animators, and performing revisions when necessary. They are also responsible for adhering to deadlines and budgets, producing reports, and solving issues and concerns. Moreover, a character animator usually works in a team setting, which requires an open and transparent line of communication for a successful workflow.

An average character animator eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of visual artists. The difference in salaries amounts to character animators earning a $9,747 lower average salary than visual artists.visual artists and character animators both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "animation," "maya," and "vfx," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a visual artist is likely to be skilled in "visual development," "visual effects," "photography," and "visual concepts," while a typical character animator is skilled in "character animation," "motion capture," "aaa," and "demo reel."

Most character animators achieve a similar degree level compared to visual artists. For example, they're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Visual artist vs. Animator

The animators are specialized artists who conceptualized ideas from their creative minds with technology applications. Animators cater to different specialties depending on their expertise. They used multiple techniques and tools to create a digital masterpiece. An animator is required to have an excellent time and project management skills to meet deadlines. They should also be detail-oriented and technology savvy to keep up with the latest trend in the digital market. Animators are required to have regular communication with the respective department for the updates or adjustments as needed.

Animators average a lower salary than the annual salary of visual artists. The difference is about $5,020 per year.While both visual artists and animators complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like animation, vfx, and motion graphics, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between visual artists and animators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a visual artist might have more use for skills like "maya," "visual development," "visual effects," and "photography." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of animators require skills like "motion capture," "storyboards," "aaa," and "game engine. "

In general, animators hold similar degree levels compared to visual artists. Animators are 1.5% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of visual artist

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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