Painters, Sculptors, and Other Visual Artists

(NOC 5136)

in All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Painters, sculptors, and other visual artists create original paintings, drawings, sculptures, engravings, and other artistic works. They are usually self-employed. This group also includes art instructors and teachers, who are usually employed by art schools. Art instructors teach their students how to develop their technical skills and express themselves artistically through drawing, sculpting, painting, and other means of visual expression.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 55 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

  • Estimate 840 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Annual Pay

$1,891

Minimum

$8,165

Median

$35,213

Maximum

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$21.00

Median

$40.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$945

Minimum

$11,712

Median

$60,447

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Painters, sculptors, and other visual artists create original paintings, drawings, sculptures, engravings, and other artistic works. They are usually self-employed. This group also includes art instructors and teachers, who are usually employed by art schools. Art instructors teach their students how to develop their technical skills and express themselves artistically through drawing, sculpting, painting, and other means of visual expression.

Job duties

Painters, sculptors, and other visual artists:

  • Painters create drawings, paintings and other artwork using oils, pastels, watercolours, charcoal, ink, and other media.
  • Sculptors create sculptures, statues, and other three-dimensional artwork by shaping, carving, and working with materials like clay, ice, paper, stone, wood, or metal.
  • Art instructors and teachers teach students the techniques and methods of drawing, painting, sculpting and other forms of artistic expression.

Sample job titles

  • art instructor
  • artist
  • lithographic artist
  • painter - visual arts
  • printmaker - visual arts
  • sculptor
  • silkscreen artist
  • video artist
  • watercolourist
  • wood sculptor

Skills

  • You should be dedicated, motivated, and willing to accept constructive criticism. Talent, creativity, and technical skills are essential. You must be comfortable working with others. Self- discipline and a good business sense are also helpful.

Job requirements

  • A college diploma in fine arts techniques may be required.
  • Art instructors and teachers may be required to have a university degree or college diploma in a field related to art.

Other considerations

  • Most people in these jobs are self-employed. Many work part-time, or full-time, but for only part of the year. Many factors can affect an individual's earnings in these jobs. Therefore, incomes will likely vary greatly throughout the year and from one year to the next. Many people find it necessary to work at other jobs to supplement their income. Art programs are offered at universities, colleges and private art schools. Creative ability and talent, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, and knowledge of the safe use of materials, tools, and equipment are required. Some painters, sculptors, and visual artists are employed as teachers.

By the numbers

Quick look

785

employed in 2016

53.5%

employed full-time

74.5%

self employed

62.4%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
37.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
53.5

median age

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

11,000

employed in 2016

53.3%

employed full-time

29.3%

self employed

55.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
44.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
38.2

median age

Where will I likely work?

51.3%

Halifax

$9,624 median annual income
19.2%

Southern

N/A
12.2%

Annapolis Valley

N/A
10.9%

North Shore

$6,000 median annual income
6.4%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

66.9%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

7.6%

Educational services

7.6%

Retail trade

3.4%

Manufacturing

3.4%

Information and cultural industries

What is the age of Employment?

23.0%

55-64

23.0%

65+

18.0%

35-44

15.0%

25-34

14.0%

45-54

8.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

29.7%

15-24

15.9%

35-44

15.7%

45-54

15.4%

25-34

14.9%

55-64

Top levels of education

29.9%

Bachelor

$6,000 median annual income
26.8%

High school

$8,436 median annual income
24.2%

College Diploma

$8,911 median annual income
8.3%

Master

$17,779 median annual income
4.5%

Less than high school

N/A

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

26.4%

Bachelor

$17,829 median annual income
24.9%

High school

$7,552 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$22,120 median annual income
13.7%

Less than high school

$2,922 median annual income
7.9%

Master

$36,173 median annual income

Education & training

Art

College or University Program

These programs focus on the introductory study and appreciation of the visual arts. These programs include courses in art, photography, and other visual communications media.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

NSCAD University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Ceramic Arts

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by producing art works out of clay and similar materials. They include courses in hand-built and wheel-thrown techniques, moulding, slips and glazes, trimming and decorating, firing and kiln operation, oxidation, mixed media, ceramic murals, and personal style development.

Institutions providing this program

NSCAD University

Halifax, NS

Design and Visual Communications

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general principles and techniques for effectively communicating ideas and information, and packaging products, in digital and other formats to business and consumer audiences and that prepare students in any of the applied art media.

Institutions providing this program

NSCAD University

Halifax, NS

Fine Arts

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to generally function as creative artists in the visual and plastic media. They include courses in the traditional fine arts media (drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, CAD/CAM) and/or modern media (ceramics, textiles, intermedia, photography, digital images), theory of art, colour theory, composition and perspective, anatomy, the techniques and procedures for maintaining equipment and managing a studio, and art portfolio marketing.

Institutions providing this program

NSCAD University

Halifax, NS

Metal and Jewellery Arts

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by fashioning art works from gems, other stones, and precious metals. They include courses in gemology; metalsmithing and finishing, stone cutting and polishing, metal and non-metal casting and moulding, electroforming, metal colouring, enamelling, photo etching, lapidary technique and art, design concepts, and personal style development.

Institutions providing this program

NSCAD University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS
Visual Arts Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS
Craft Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.