Skills
Fine Artist Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in fine artists, and how to build and show them.
What skills do fine artists need?
Fine Artists need technical skills such as art technique, composition, and color theory, plus people skills like creativity and persistence. They also use tools such as Paints and brushes and Sculpting tools.
Technical (hard) skills
- Art technique
- Composition
- Color theory
- Digital tools
- Grant writing
- Pricing
People (soft) skills
- Creativity
- Persistence
- Self-discipline
- Networking
Tools, equipment and technology
- Paints and brushes
- Sculpting tools
- Drawing tablets
- Procreate or Photoshop
- Cameras
- Online portfolios
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how fine artists put their skills to work:
- How to build a strong art portfolio
- How to apply for a public art commission
- How to approach a gallery
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Art technique” and “Composition.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “creativity,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as BFA or MFA near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our fine artist glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Fine Artist training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.