Artists create visual and three-dimensional forms using painting,
drawing, printmaking, carving, sculpting, photography, modelling,
film-making, music, acting, dancing, video and computers to communicate an
impression or idea.
Artists conceive and create visual representations to investigate, respond
to or communicate an impression or idea.
An artist may be concerned with the production of two-dimensional or
three-dimensional forms, employing a number of methods such as painting,
drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture and ceramics to realise their
ideas. They may also use film, digital technology and performance techniques
and forms.
ANZSCO ID: 211411
Specialisation:
Performance
artist: A performance artist uses their own or other people's physical attributes to
create a performance. They use their body as the site and material of their
art practice. Through action and spectacle performance and live art, artists
may explore ideas of process, experience and production. The performance may
be scripted or unscripted and can include audience participation.
The performance is occasionally enhanced by the use of props or visual aids
to enhance the artistic impact.
Alternative names:
Art Practitioner, Visual Artist, Painter,
Sculptor,
Knowledge, skills and attributes
artistic ability
good hand-eye coordination
creativity
self-discipline
promotional skills
knowledge of business/management skills, if self-employed.
Creating two-dimensional or three-dimensional forms to realise and
explore ideas.
Generating artwork based on commissions or briefs by clients, or the
artist’s own creative desires.
Participating in applying for grants and residencies, exhibiting and
selling work at galleries, stores, festivals and museums.
An Artist may be a person who
creates works in a number of mediums, such as painting, drawing, sculpture,
photography, textiles, glasswork or pottery.Artists are creative
individuals, and depending on the field that they work in, they may produce
different types of artwork using various mediums.
Working conditions
Artists may concentrate on a specific area of work or may use a combination
of these techniques. They work in studios and may share rented space with
other artists.
Education and training/entrance requirements
Formal qualifications are not required to work as an Artist in Australia.
However, many aspiring artists wish to gain qualifications in visual arts,
fine arts or design.
Develop a body of work. You can then work as an artist or undertake formal
qualifications in visual arts, fine arts, creative arts or design. This may
be a course such as a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) or a Bachelor of Fine
Arts. Entry to these courses usually requires the successful completion of
secondary school, an interview and/or submission of a folio of work.
There are a number of areas of specialisation for artists including
painting (fine/visual arts), performance, printmaking, photography and
sculpture.
Did You Know?
Jo Bain
hails from a long line of taxidermists and from a very early age he knew
he wanted a career in taxidermy too.
At
fifteen he joined the South Australian Museum where he's still employed
to this day.
He's
worked on everything from blue whales to tiny spiders and 500 million
year old fossils. In this feature we meet Jo in his basement workshop
and he explains his passion for preserving dead creatures in a way that
shows their natural power and beauty.
For
him, taxidermy isn't just the craft of stuffing things; it's an art-form
which he calls 'sculpture with skin'. Jo shows us what he has in his
acid bath and takes us into his walk-in freezer to see what's on the
shelves. He also tells us some stories about the first taxidermist at
the museum, George Beazley, a troubled man who left secret messages
inside some of the animals he preserved.
(Source:
ABC: RN: Earshot, 2015)
A painter (fine/visual arts) conceives and develops ideas for paintings,
drawings, designs or installations. Painters select a medium such as oil,
watercolour, pencil, pastel, acrylic or ink and prepare surfaces such as
canvas, paper or board to produce designs or illustrations for publications.
Painters mix or apply colours using appropriate techniques while taking into
account the relationships of line, colour, design and form. Painters may run
workshops and oversee community arts projects.
Artists become renowned for their individual
techniques and in some cases have created dynamic artistic movements based
on their original style. Pablo Picasso is remembered for his cubism, and
Salvador Dali began the surrealist movement.
ANZSCO ID: 211411
Alternative names:
Art Practitioner, Visual Artist,
Knowledge, skills and attributes
artistic ability
good hand-eye coordination
creativity
self-discipline
promotional skills
knowledge of business/management skills, if self-employed.
Duties and Tasks
Conceives and develops ideas, designs and
styles for paintings and drawings.
Arranges objects, positions models, and
selects landscapes and other visual forms according to chosen subject
matter.
Selects artistic media, method and
materials.
Applies media to surfaces using
appropriate techniques
Maintain portfolios of artistic work to show styles, interests,
abilities and realisations
Research sculpture trendsand disruption,
in order to keep up with current researches and design evolutions
Select artistic materials to create artworks based on strength,
colour, texture, balance, weight, size, and other characteristics that
should guarantee the feasibility of the artistic creation regarding the
expected shape, colour, etc. – even thought
the result might vary from it. Artistic materials such as paint, ink,
water colours, charcoal, oil, or computer software can be used as much
as garbage, living products (fruits, etc) and any kind of material
depending on the creative project.
Monitor art scene developments, artistic
events, trends, and other developments. Read recent art publications in
order to develop ideas and to keep in touch with relevant art world
activities.
Study a variety of artistic techniques and learn how to apply them
in concrete artistic projects.
Design objects to be crafted by sketching,
drawing or designing
sketches and drawings from memory, live models, manufactured products or
reference materials in the process of crafting and sculpting.
Study artworks including styles,
techniques, colours, textures, and materials used in works of art.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You need a high level of artistic skill to work as a
Painter (Visual Arts). Formal qualifications might be useful but aren't
essential. VET (Vocational Education and Training) and university are both
common study pathways for Painters (Visual Arts).
A Sculptor conceives and
develops a concept or design for a sculpture or installation project.
A sculptor's media may include: marble,
sandstone, chisels, clay, wax & bronze for casting a sculpture, wood, steel
and many other found materials.
Sculpting (or modelling) is an ancient artform that dates back to stone-age
times. Modern sculpting can involve complicated procedures that involve a
complex knowledge of materials.
ANZSCO ID: 211413
Alternative names:Installation Artist, clay sculptress, stone
sculptress, wood sculptress, sculpting artist, clay sculptor, metal
sculptress, ice sculptor, sculptress, welded steel sculptor, ice sculptress,
marble sculptress, marble sculptor, wood sculptor, metal sculptor, stone
sculptor, welded steel sculptress
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To become sculptor, you would need:
a high level of creativity
a good appreciation of colour and shape
determination and commitment
self-motivation
willingness to work alone
business skills to promote and market your work.
Duties and Tasks
Conceives and develops ideas, designs and
styles for sculptures.
Sketches designs of proposed sculptures,
and makes wax and plaster models.
Devises forms from metal using welding and
metalworking equipment, and from stone using masonry tools.
Carves and forms materials to desired
shape using hand and power tools.
Tools and Technologies
Sculptor or installation artists may sketch
designs and then decide on the material, techniques and the space where the
sculpture or installation is to be exhibited. They often make models using
wax or plaster and then carve, model or assemble materials to the desired form
using hand or power tools. They may also fire clay objects in kilns and
prepare moulds for casting sculptures in metal.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You need a high level of artistic skill to work as a
Painter (Visual Arts). Formal qualifications might be useful but aren't
essential. VET (Vocational Education and Training) and university are both
common study pathways for Painters (Visual Arts).
Potters or Ceramic Artists conceive and create
functional or artistic articles by moulding clay, glass and other fusible
materials using hand-building and wheel techniques.
In addition, are the potter's
wheel for throwing pieces and the kiln for drying.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You need a high level of skill
in your artistic medium to work as a Potter or Ceramic Artist. Formal
qualifications might be useful but aren't essential. VET (Vocational
Education and Training) and university are both common study pathways for
Potters and Ceramic Artists.
Did You Know?
When young and poor, Pablo Picasso one of the world's most
famous artists, kept warm by burning his own paintings!
It was lucky, then, that he produced 13,500 paintings,
100,000 prints and engravings, 34,000 book illustrations and 300 works of sculpture and
ceramics
Arts Administrators or Managers plan, organise,
direct, control, coordinate and promote artistic and cultural policies,
programs, projects and services and make sure they are
successful. In a senior arts administration role, you may also manage
artistic and cultural venues such as theatres and art galleries.
ANZSCO ID: 139911
Specialisations: Art Gallery Director, Community Arts
Centre Manager, Cultural Centre Manager.
As an arts administrator you
could work for many different types of organisations, including:
theatres or art galleries
museums
music festivals or concert
venues
opera houses or dance
companies
community and disability
arts
regional arts board or local
authorities.
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To become an arts administrator, you would need:
a general interest in the arts, or a particular branch such as
theatre, dance or sculpture
administration and computer skills
good written and spoken communication skills
the ability to organise and prioritise work
problem solving skills
good time-management skills
able to relate to people of diverse backgrounds
good organisational and management skills
able to handle finances
able to work under pressure and to deadlines
able to work varying hours
appreciation of the role of the arts in the community
Selects the director and technical personnel and, in consultation
with the director, auditions and selects cast.
Establishes operating budgets and production schedules.
Determines treatment and scope of production or display.
Supervises production and suggests or approves change in script or
presentation
booking venues and artists
working with all types of local arts bodies
negotiating sponsorship and funding deals
coordinating publicity and ticket sales
writing for promotional publications or websites
marketing activities through social media
organising security and catering
managing budgets and keeping records
carrying out general administration
seek sponsorship and funding from federal, state, territory and
local governments as well as community and industry organisations
prepare and submit funding applications
negotiate with artists and performers regarding contracts
coordinate arts programmes
coordinate sound and lighting, stage management and security, box
office sales, distribution and sale of
publications, public relations and catering
take part in the commissioning and purchasing of works of art
organise and promote exhibitions and events
help to develop and implement the organisation's strategic plans and
marketing strategies
manage the organisation's human and financial resources, including
budget preparation
provide an appropriate working environment for employees
liaise with the media
provide education services to the public
make recommendations on cultural grants
ensure compliance with corporate and legal requirements
provide support in policy development and report to the board of
directors
In small galleries and arts centres you could be
involved in the day-to-day running of the centre. In larger organisations,
such as arts boards, you may specialise in one area, for example marketing,
public relations or education.
Support Know My Name: a
message from Nick Mitzevich, Director of the National Gallery of Australia https://youtu.be/OcBCkTjnLJ4
Education and training/entrance requirements
Either extensive experience or a bachelor degree in
arts is needed to work as an Arts Administrator or Manager. Many Arts
Administrators and Managers complete postgraduate studies.
Employment Opportunities
Arts administrators may work for national performing
arts companies, local councils, regional community arts centres, museums,
galleries, orchestras and entrepreneurial organisations such as concert and
theatrical promoters. They also work for government departments and funding
organisations such as the Australia Council for the Arts. Some are
self-employed, while others work in partnerships.
Opportunities will vary depending on the level of activity in the arts and
media industries in regional and metropolitan centres. The long-term job
prospects for arts administrators are affected by the level of government
funding and corporate sponsorship.
Courtroom artists create visual records of courtroom proceedings,
particularly when cameras are not allowed [which is the
case in Australia]. Their primary duty is to document the events and
key figures of trials, such as judges, defendants, witnesses, and lawyers,
for media consumption and public viewing. This involves quickly capturing
moments on paper, often working under pressure with limited time to complete
each sketch.
A courtroom sketch artist is someone who draws pictures of what happens
in a courtroom during trials and legal events. They do this because cameras
are not allowed in courtrooms. The sketches help people see what’s going on,
and they’re often used by the media.
Courtroom artists need a blend of artistic skills, quick thinking, and a
keen eye for detail to capture the essence of court proceedings. They must
be able to draw quickly and accurately while also maintaining a sense of
artistic flair.
Becoming a courtroom sketch artist requires a unique knowledge of the
legal system combined with artistic talent. This can be a rewarding career
for creative people who can create detailed drawings to share with the media
and courts for important record keeping.
Drawing Skills: courtroom artists must be
proficient in drawing, able to create likenesses quickly and accurately.
This includes understanding anatomy for realistic depictions and
mastering various drawing techniques.
Artistic Principles & Tools: a working
knowledge of artistic principles like composition and colour
theory is essential. Understanding different mediums and tools allows
for expressing emotions and capturing the nuances of the courtroom
setting.
Quick Sketching: the ability to draw
quickly and accurately under pressure is crucial. This requires
efficient sketching techniques and the ability to memorize details for
later refinement.
Attention to Detail: courtroom artists
must be observant, paying attention to both the individuals and the
details of the courtroom environment, ensuring their sketches accurately
reflect the scene.
Communication: while primarily visual,
courtroom artists may need to communicate with legal professionals or
media outlets, so strong interpersonal skills can be helpful.
Time Management: meeting deadlines and
managing time effectively are important, as artists may need to create
multiple sketches during a trial.
Anatomy Knowledge: a solid understanding
of human anatomy allows for more accurate and realistic representations.
Computer Skills: many artists now use
digital mediums for sketching, so computer proficiency is increasingly
important.
Business Skills: self-employed artists may
need business skills like marketing and client management.
Observational Skills: the ability to
observe and quickly identify key details and emotions is crucial.
Creativity: courtroom artists need a
certain level of creativity to make their sketches visually compelling
and engaging.
Patience: courtroom proceedings can be
lengthy, requiring artists to be patient and observant throughout.
Professionalism: maintaining a
professional demeanour and following legal protocol is important.
Emotional Intelligence: understanding the
emotional nuances of a trial and conveying them through their artwork is
an important skill.
Courtroom sketch artists are valuable experts for courts and the media to
communicate with throughout a court proceeding. While any member of the
public can sit in the gallery during a trial, courts in Australia typically
rules against allowing photographs or recordings, with very few exceptions.
Courtroom sketch artists can gain access to the courtroom when cameras
can't and use their skill set to create engaging illustrations that
demonstrate the emotions and events throughout the trial. They can then
share their work with news media outlets to support their written reports of
the proceedings. They also share them with lawyers or the courts to
accompany official documentation and records.
These sketch artists typically create very simple outlines so they can
work quickly, and fill the images in later with colour and more detail. As
sketch artists may attend trials for serious crimes, the ability to maintain
composure, work objectively, and maintain confidentiality is beneficial. For
example, jury members' identities are to remain anonymous before, during,
and after proceedings.
Attending court proceedings: Courtroom artists attend trials,
hearings, and other legal events to observe and document the
proceedings.
Capturing key moments:They focus on
capturing significant events, facial expressions, and the overall
atmosphere of the courtroom.
Creating sketches:Artists use various
drawing techniques, including pencils, ink, or digital tools, to create
detailed sketches of the courtroom and its occupants.
Working quickly and efficiently:Courtroom
artists must work swiftly, often capturing a sketch within minutes of a
significant event.
Collaborating with media outlets:They
often work with news organizations to provide visual content for
television, newspapers, and other media.
Providing a visual record:Their work
serves as a visual record of court proceedings, allowing the public and
media to see events that might otherwise be unseen.
Humanizing the legal process:Courtroom
sketches can help to make the legal system more accessible and
understandable to the public by depicting the human drama and emotions
involved.
Working conditions
Courtroom sketch artists work in a fast-paced, and sometimes tense
environment. You may spend several hours per day watching court proceedings
and may attend complex or high-profile trials that last several weeks. This
means the work hours can vary significantly in this role, and the volume of
work may change.
With no photography allowed in the Australian
courtroom, the only image the public has seen of, for
example Patterson [Mushroom poisoning 2025 - Erin
Patterson's mushroom murder trial in regional Victoria is being followed by
millions around the world] on trial, is a
hand-drawn illustration produced by a courtroom sketch artist.
The role may also involve travel, whether to other
States and Territories or internationally,
to cover important trials that gain media attention.
As a freelancer, you can determine whether you want to work locally or
pursue sketching opportunities in other regions. While you may spend several
hours in the courtroom drawing, you may also work in a studio or another
location to add more detail to the basic sketches you created on-site.
You may also visit law offices and media organizations to share your work
and discuss upcoming trials. This career provides a dynamic work environment
with opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and personal fulfillment
and is suitable for people who enjoy being artistic and working under
pressure.
Tools and technologies
These days, Courtroom Artists use iPads with a styles
to create their drawings. In the past, they used pencils including colour
pencils to capture their images.
Education and training/entrance requirements
While formal education in art or a related field can provide valuable
skills and knowledge, it is not a strict requirement for becoming a
courtroom sketch artist. Instead, practical experience and a strong
portfolio of work are often more influential in securing assignments and
developing a career in this niche field.
To become a courtroom sketch artist, you’ll need the ability to draw
quickly and accurately, a keen eye for detail, and a knack for capturing
important moments during trials through your artwork. It’s like being a live
reporter using your drawings!
While not required, a TAFE diploma or university degree can make you a
more competitive job candidate. A Bachelor of Fine Arts or college diploma
related to illustration, graphic design or visual arts can be valuable as
these programs help you develop technical skills related to drawing and
composition that you can apply to courtroom sketches.
Employment Opportunities
At the moment, Australian courts only allow Courtroom
Artists to capture the court scene. All cameras are banned in Australia
within the courts.
Artist Veronica O’Leary is perhaps best known – outside her
exhibition work – for producing 182 courtroom sketches of the
high-profile criminal trial of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain over
the death of their daughter Azaria.
The disappearance of baby Azaria from Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock) on
17 August 1980 is one of the most
infamous
events in contemporary Australian history. Capturing it O’Leary
says it was exciting but often stressful.
There has been a renewed interest in courtroom drawings in the
recent month, as images by US artist Jane Rosenberg, illustrating
Donald Trump’s arraignment in a Manhattan courthouse, have
circulated social media, with her images making the front cover of
the 17 April edition of The New Yorker – the first time a courtroom
sketch has been used in such a way by the weekly magazine.
So what does it take to be a court illustrator?
O’Leary had been living in Darwin at the time, when she was
appointed Court Artist for the ABC during the Chamberlain trial.
They used her drawings in their television coverage of the case each
night. Sometimes up to 15 of these would be flashed into the script.
Later on, her suite of drawings from the trial were purchased by the
National Museum of Australia, in 2011.
In 2012, O’Leary returned to her role as courtroom artist,
travelling to Darwin for the fourth Coronial Inquest into the death
of Azaria Chamberlain.
Court Artist Veronica O’Leary captures
Lindy Chamberlain being cross-examined.
Image: Supplied courtesy the artist.[to Arts Hub]
While this was a defining moment for O’Leary, she is also known as
an arts educator, and her studio practice of landscape and still
life paintings, for which is a regular prize finalist. She speaks
with ArtsHub about that amazing career opportunity.
How would you describe what you do to your ‘non arts’ friends?
What I do is paint and draw as a practising visual artist, working
across different mediums from watercolour, to ink, acrylic, oil
paint and lino prints. Currently, I am painting small- and
large-format paintings based on the table scape and food as art – a
series inspired by COVID lockdown and inspired by the Dutch still
life painters of the 16th and 17th centuries, like Clara Peeters, a
very successful woman painter of vanitas table settings and natura
morte.
What qualifications do you need for this job?
You do not necessarily need qualifications to be a practising visual
artist, but dedication, commitment, perseverance and a lot of time
doing the work is essential. Initially, I trained at the Victorian
College of the Arts Melbourne, where I majored in painting and
printmaking.
I completed my BA in Visual Arts at Darwin Community College in
painting. I then completed a Master’s Degree in Visual and
Performing Arts at Charles Sturt University, majoring in painting.
How did you get your start in this career [as a Court Artist]?
I got my start in the job as a court artist in Darwin after I had
graduated and was working as a lecturer in Creative Arts at Darwin
Community College. I had never been a court artist, and it wasn’t
until the ABC called for expressions of interest to be the ABC Court
Artist for the Lindy Chamberlain trial in the Darwin Supreme Court,
in 1983, that I started my career in this field of visual art
practice.
Basically, you had to submit a portfolio of drawings of people in
situ, drawn from life and on the spot. The job was to draw the
participants of the court room and capture significant moments in
the courtroom drama for a nightly ABC television audience.
The artist was to be in the courtroom all day drawing sketches for
the news. I submitted my drawing portfolio to the ABC in Sydney and
was awarded the job for the duration of the trial, which lasted for
three months. This began the journey of a lifetime.
Daunting, and at times terrifying, knowing that the work was to be
on national television each night and would have to be a good
representation of the major players in the drama, significant
witnesses and the jury. You had to work quickly, be inventive about
picking key moments and the drawings had to be dramatic enough to
capture audience attention and be true to the chronology of the
case.
How collaborative is this job?
This job required collaboration with the TV journalists, who would
have a particular pitch for each day’s events in the duration of the
trial. The court drawings selected for that day would have to
corroborate with the particular headline banner for that night’s
news. This often meant doing 20 or so courtroom sketches for the
day, from which the appropriate selection could be made. This could
prove a tricky guessing game dependent on the particular dramatic
turns in the theatre of the court drama.
You had to cover a lot of bases and watch, and read the playout of
what was being argued in court. The essence was speed, confidence in
capturing the moment, and a belief in your own ability to draw
people in situ. People were moving about and you had to quickly
catch their mood and likeness.
Court Artist Veronica O’Leary captures
Lindy Chamberlain during trial.
Image: Supplied courtesy the artist.[To Arts Hub]
What’s an average week like?
An average week was all day in court until the session finished each
day, usually about 10am to 4.30pm daily. This was a complicated
process from Darwin. Because I was working for ABC television news,
the broadcast had to be done with the news front person with the
chosen daily drawings. The time difference between the NT and NSW
meant that this broadcast had to be filmed from Darwin Court at 4pm
to make the cut for the national 7.30 ABC news.
A problem sometimes arose if the court was still in session when the
broadcast was sent to Sydney. If there happened to be a significant
turn in the course of the day’s trial it may not have been captured
by the artist, or the journalist. So that could mean a quick dash
back into court for a particular drawing. This did often cause some
panicked moments.
What’s the most common misconception about being a court
Illustrator?
I was working for television as a court artist, so the brief was
significantly different from the traditional court illustrator,
doing highly articulated drawings of the courtroom with the lawyers,
judge and jury represented in their respective places within the
detailed architecture of the courtroom.
I was employed as an artist to give a rendition of the drama of the
courtroom moments, so the focus was on the faces and posture of key
players – the Chamberlains, the jury, the lawyers, the judge and,
importantly, key witnesses. The courtroom sketches sought to be
dramatic, show movement and capture the drama for a nightly TV
audience. As no photographers were allowed in court, the drawings
had to be close to life and identify the key participants in this
complicated trial.
How competitive is this job?
For me the job was based on the submission of a portfolio of
drawings and, like all arts jobs, highly contested.
In an interview for your job, what skills or qualities would you be
looking for?
This job requires a sureness of drawing skills based on the
knowledge that court drawing demands that the rendered likeness be
true to life and identifiable. It demands speed of drawing, a good
eye for relevant and pertinent detail, and an eye for compelling
composition. It means understanding the courtroom drama and choosing
the salient moments to draw for news reportage.
What’s changing in your professional area today?
I think that today some courtrooms do allow news photographers in,
so the courtroom artist is not always needed. In those cases where
there are no photographers present, the court artist is a very
essential recorder of the courtroom facts. There is, of course, a
revived interest in the art of the court artist in major trials like
that of Donald Trump. The court artist can capture personality in a
way the camera cannot.
What’s the most interesting thing that’s happened to you in this
job?
The Chamberlain trial was one of the most publicised trials in
Australian legal history, and Lindy Chamberlain became something of
an enigma in Australia. The nation was divided about her guilt or
innocence. It was a television spectacular, and viewers followed the
saga nightly via media news, then a movie and several books.
The world of court drawing for television was exciting, challenging,
often stressful, but artistically inspiring. I was invited some 30
years later to be the court artist in the Darwin Supreme Court for
the Coronial Inquest, which finally exonerated Lindy and granted her
pardon. This was an exciting opportunity to reconnect with ABC
journalists and see Lindy finally be declared innocent of the death
of her daughter Azaria
Read: So you want my arts job: Scribe
Subsequently this led to a meeting with Lindy in Sydney, where I was
able to talk with her and paint her portrait. It was a marvellous
meeting and talk with a truly remarkable and strong woman.
What about gender balance in your industry?
There have always been a number of women court artists. When I was
doing the initial court drawings there were at least two other women
in the court room drawing.
What’s the weirdest thing that has happened to you ‘on the job’?
It was on my first day on the job. I was placed in a room with
hundreds of journalists and told to draw from the television screen.
This was impossible. The flickering pixelated image on a screen made
it an impossibility to draw from. What a panic! Thankfully, this was
revoked, and we were allowed as artists into the courtroom.
The other weird thing was drawing the inside of the Chamberlain car.
For a morning, the journalists and court artists had to crawl inside
the car and gather images for the news broadcasts.