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How to Become An Artist

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What is a Artist

An artist brings ideas to life through painting, drawing, sculpture, and multimedia. This career is about more than creating beautiful work. It is about sharing stories and feelings through art. Artists often work on their own or team up with other creatives on projects big and small.

Day to day, artists conceive ideas, pick materials, and create visual pieces. They sketch designs, try different techniques, and refine their work to match their vision. Showing work at exhibitions is a big and exciting part of the job.

Teamwork is a real part of an artist’s world. They often work alongside graphic designers, curators, and art directors. Building strong connections in the arts community can open doors to commissions, residencies, and new projects.

A career as an artist is built on passion and a love of creating. It gives you the chance to express yourself while adding to Australia’s cultural life. With hard work and a clear style, you can inspire others and leave a real mark.

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Career Outlook for Artist

A career as an artist offers a mix of creativity and expression. Around 2,800 Australians work as visual arts painters, with many more across related arts roles (YourCareer, 2024). The median age of visual arts professionals is 50, and women make up 66% of the workforce.

Most artists do not work full-time. Only 42% work full-time, and full-time workers average 45 hours per week (YourCareer, 2024). Many combine their art practice with teaching, arts admin, or freelance work. Creative Australia’s Artists at Work report (2024) found average total gross income for professional artists of around $54,500. Creative income alone averaged $23,200 per year.

The industry outlook is stable. Demand for artists is expected to hold steady (YourCareer, 2024). Growing public interest in culture and the creative economy supports this. New platforms and digital tools open fresh ways for artists to reach audiences and earn income. With skill, resilience, and a personal style, a lasting career in the arts is within reach.

On this Article

Introduction

Average Salaries

Resources

Steps to Become an Artist

Step 1: Build Your Foundational Skills

Start by exploring art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. Take short courses or classes at a community arts centre or local TAFE. Find the medium that suits you best. Read about art history and study the work of Australian and international artists. This builds your creative vocabulary and shapes your style early on.

Step 2: Complete a Certificate IV in Visual Arts (CUA40920)

Enrol in the Certificate IV in Visual Arts (CUA40920) at a TAFE or registered training organisation. This qualification takes around 12 months full-time. It covers drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture, and gives you hands-on practice with materials and techniques. It is a solid starting point for a career in the visual arts. Confirm the current code at training.gov.au before you enrol.

Step 3: Complete a Diploma or Degree in Visual Arts

For deeper skills, enrol in the Diploma of Visual Arts (CUA50920) at a TAFE or RTO. This takes 1 to 2 years full-time. Or study a Bachelor of Fine Arts at a university, which takes 3 years full-time. Both paths cover studio practice, art theory, and professional skills. A degree opens doors to roles in galleries, arts education, and curatorial work.

Step 4: Build a Strong Portfolio

Your portfolio is your most important tool as an artist. It shows your skills, your range, and your personal style. Include your best work across different mediums and keep it updated as you grow. A strong portfolio gets you into exhibitions, wins commissions, and helps you find paid work.

Step 5: Gain Experience in the Arts

Enter open calls for exhibitions, apply for artist residencies, or take on freelance work to build your experience. Volunteering at galleries or arts organisations helps you learn how the industry works and grow your network. Many artists take part-time roles in arts admin or teaching while building their practice.

Step 6: Join a Professional Body and Keep Growing

Join the National Association for Visual Arts (NAVA) to access advocacy, resources, and a national network of artists. Membership gives you access to professional development, legal guidance, and industry news. Keep seeking feedback, trying new techniques, and showing your work publicly to build your profile over time.

What does an Artist do?

An artist’s day is a mix of creative thinking and hands-on work. It starts with planning ideas for a new piece. This could be a painting, sculpture, or digital work. They sketch designs, pick materials, and try different techniques to bring their vision to life. Many spend time arranging objects or posing models to get the right composition. Others mix glazes for pottery, carve stone, or weld metal into sculptural forms. Working with clients and other creatives is also part of the job. Artists keep their workspace running and meet deadlines, all while pursuing what they love.

Tasks

Artists are creative professionals who share stories and feelings through visual mediums. They work with paint, clay, stone, metal, and digital tools. Every day brings new challenges and new chances to create something meaningful.

  • Conceiving and developing ideas: artists brainstorm and plan concepts, themes, and styles for each project.
  • Arranging objects and selecting settings: they position models and choose landscapes or environments to build the right composition.
  • Choosing artistic media: artists pick the tools and materials that best suit their vision.
  • Applying media to surfaces: they use various techniques to apply their chosen materials and get the effect they are after.
  • Moulding and shaping clay: ceramic artists create pieces using wheel-throwing, hand-building, and moulding techniques.
  • Mixing and applying glazes: a key step for ceramic artists that adds colour and texture before firing.
  • Sketching designs for sculptures: artists create detailed sketches and small-scale models, often in wax or plaster, before the final piece.
  • Using metalworking and masonry tools: artists weld and carve metal or stone to bring their designs to life.
  • Carving and forming materials: they shape materials to their final form using hand and power tools.

Skills for Success

Being an artist takes a unique mix of creative flair and hands-on skill. You need to conceive original ideas and bring them to life using techniques like painting, sculpting, or digital design. A sharp eye for detail helps you capture the essence of your subject.

Communication and networking skills matter too. You will often work with clients and other creatives, and getting your work seen takes effort and confidence. Building resilience is key. The arts can be competitive. Artists who develop a clear personal style can carve out their own space.

Skills & Attributes

  • Creativity and original thinking
  • Technical skill across artistic mediums
  • Colour theory and visual composition
  • Attention to detail
  • Strong visual perception
  • Time management and self-discipline
  • Verbal and written communication
  • Adaptability and problem-solving
  • Collaboration and teamwork
  • Marketing and self-promotion
  • Knowledge of art history and theory
  • Networking and relationship building
  • Portfolio development and curation
  • Willingness to accept feedback and criticism

Average Salaries

The average salary for an artist in employed roles is around 2,000 a year (SEEK, 2025). Pay can range from about 5,000 to 10,000, depending on experience and role type. Many self-employed artists earn less from art alone. Creative Australia’s Artists at Work report (2024) found an average gross income of around 4,500 from all sources.

min $55 K

max $110 K

av $72 K

About the author

Laura Atkinson - Course Finder Groups
Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.