Career as a Commercial Artist – Exclusive

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The process of creating a story
[source] The process of creating a story

Are you someone who can create artwork that can tell a story? Do you tend to find patterns in commercial product designs? You can now make a career out of your creativity and observational skill!

Become a commercial artist and bring the idea of a product to life through your visual imagery. In the age of digital advancement and multimedia, commercial art is expected to extend its reach to multiple fields. 

The article will speak about a career as a commercial artist, the job roles, salary, skills required, career outlook, and the qualifications required to become a commercial artist. 

What does a Commercial Artist do?

Commercial artists provide artwork or designs for brochures, packaging, product displays, adverts, and other marketing and commercial materials. They help create the product’s visual identity, which helps advertise the product and boost its sales.

The nature of the job demands the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Create images that correspond to the provided text to enhance it.
  • Meets with a client or manager to discuss a project proposal in general
  • Draft multiple times till the final output is approved.
  • Collaborate with writers to create and develop projects
  • Employ techniques like painting, drawing, or computer-aided design
An illustration from the New Yorker
[source] An illustration from the New Yorker

Job Roles for Commercial Artists

  • Illustrator:
    Illustrators frequently work in the entertainment or digital arts sectors. They could create graphics, scenery, and other imagery for video game businesses, television and film studios, or both. Publishing houses or literary organizations employ illustrators who create illustrations to accompany the prose in books or catalogues.
  • Art directors:
    Art directors generally take care of the creative aspect of advertising campaigns by consulting closely with clients and members of the art department to ascertain their needs and objectives for upcoming digital ads.
  • Graphic Artist/designer:
    A graphic designer often produces graphics to advance a company’s brand for an advertising agency, graphic design company, or the marketing division of an organization.
An example of commercial photography
[sourceAn example of commercial photography
  • Photographers:
    Commercial photography focuses on a specific product or service. A commercial photographer creates photos that promote the goods or services of their clients. They could operate independently or as a group.
  • Multimedia designer:
    A multimedia designer is a professional who creates animated graphics and other multimedia content for digital commercials, movies, websites, or television studios. They are skilled in graphic design and animation. They work together with graphic designers and software programmers to create cutting-edge digital graphics, text animations, and video designs for diverse businesses.

Career path for Commercial Artists

A candidate willing to have a career as commercial artists should start early on by pursuing certificate courses to upskill their artistic side. Additionally, while in school and later a candidate can qualify for the art exams and gain certifications.

Want to gain visual design skills aligned to commercial art? Check out the Clever Harvey JuniorMBA course on Design and Branding.

Path I:

  • Minimum of 55% in 10 + 2 or equivalent degree (any stream)
  • Diploma in commercial arts/graphic design
  • Graduation in Fine Arts/Commercial Arts/ Graphic/Visual Art/ Advertising

Path II:

  • Minimum of 55% in 10 + 2 or equivalent degree (any stream)
  • Graduation in Fine Arts/Commercial Arts/ Graphic/Visual Art/ Advertising
  • Internship for 6- 8 months
  • Postgraduation diploma in  Fine Arts/Commercial Arts/ Graphic/Visual Art or related field. 

Postgraduation in commercial art can be pursued after either pathway. Building a portfolio is very important to your growth as a commercial artist. They will highlight your skills and areas of expertise. 

Salary in different stages of a career as a Commercial Artist

Based on the section, here is a table indicating the estimated average annual income of a career as a commercial artist and others:

Role Graphic DesignerArt DirectorIllustration DesignerMultimedia DesignerCommercial PhotographersCommercial artist
Avg. Salary p.a3 LPA7.2 LPA3.6 LPA4.2 LPA5.2 LPA4.9 LPA

Skills Required to become a Commercial Artist

Technical Skills

  • Layout & Graphic design:
    To have a career as a commercial artist one must be well versed in Photoshop, Adobe Suite, Illustrator & InDesign. The layout requires advanced visual abilities in the depth of field, composition, point of view, size, colour, form, and proportion.
  • Photography & Photoshop:
    A few of the photoshop skills one should have are- Photo editing, high-end retouching, Vector tracing, typography, Color theory, etc. 
  • Technical illustrations & 3D modelling:
    Technical illustrations are a breakdown of complex materials or concepts and can be used for educating or informing the masses. 3D Model software is used for various entertainment and media houses. Thus, it is important to be familiar with this software and its techniques. 
  • Artistic skills:
    We have emphasized through the article the importance of creativity and artistic ability to have a career as a commercial artist. You should have excellent drawing or digital drawing skills. 
  • Marketing skills:
    Commercial artists present content from an aesthetic angle to increase product sales or awareness. Therefore one should have a basic understanding of marketing or consumer behaviour. 

Interpersonal skills

  • Communication skills:
    Communicating with clients, stakeholders, and team members requires one to have efficient communication skills in a career as a commercial artist.
  • Adaptability:
    As a commercial artist, you might be working on multiple projects simultaneously, which requires adaptability to deadlines, client demands, etc. 
  • Critical thinking:
    Your artwork needs to reach the targeted audience and bring about a positive response to the product. Thus critical thinking will aid in the process of connecting with the audience and meeting the client’s needs. 
  • Collaboration:
    Each project will demand you to work with a different set of people. Collaborating with them, and acquiring feedback is a part of your career as a commercial artist. 
  • Attention to detail:
    From the choice of colour to the medium of art, every aspect of your artwork needs to be well thought out in your artworks.

Is Commercial Art a good career option?

Commercial Artists have high autonomy over their working hours. Many commercial artists work on a project basis and thus the growth and pay scale differs through industries, roles, specialization, location, etc. 

With the growth in electronic media, career opportunities are expected to increase for commercial artists. A career as a commercial artist is expected to gain higher pay by the hour in the job market. Though a high level of professionalism and discipline needs to be maintained by the artists. 

An average of 3% to 14% growth is expected in the field by 2030. Some of the higher paying roles for commercial artists are art director, graphic designer, and illustrator. Irrespective of the role, it is one of the highly satisfying jobs for creative or artistic individuals. 

Type of industries Hiring Commercial Artists 

 Commercial art in Magazines
[source Commercial art in Magazines

Commercial artists in different industries serve different purposes. From designing products to electronic layouts for publications, commercial artists add to the aesthetic senses required by their clients or market. 

These are a few of the industries where one can have a career as a commercial artist:

  • Advertising agency
  • Publication and Magazines
  • Entertainment Industry
  • Corporations & Businesses
  • Movie Studios
  • Graphic Design Firms
  • Art Galleries

Top Recruiters for Commercial Artists in India 

A commercial artist may be required for animation, website, or multimedia projects by different industries. One can also apply to these companies during their graduation for internships and practical experience in the field. 

  • Wipro
  • Sprinklr
  • IBM
  • Amazon
  • Tata Consultancy services
  • CureFit
  • Puma
  • CIEL
  • Ola
  • Landor & Fitch

Courses to upskill as a Commercial Artist

Online certificate programs usually include practical assignments. These courses are skill-based and are expected to last three months. Few of these courses strongly emphasize learning specific design tools and can help build a career as a commercial artist.

Name of the courseDuration
Visualisation: Visual Representations of Data and Information8 hours
Fundamentals of Digital Image and Video Processing1-3 months
Applied Multimedia Technology by Notre Dame University4 months
Certificate course in Digital Graphics3-4 months
2-D Design and Composition by Palomar College12 months

Clever Harvey also offers JuniorMBA in Design&Branding programs that will help develop crucial creative skills and provide industry exposure.

Qualifications to become a Commercial Artist

Commercial artists produce designs or artwork more for aesthetic reasons than for practical ones. A commercial artist uses manual or digital tools to create several versions, much like any other artist. From a young age, cultivate your creative talents in areas like painting, drawing, computer graphics, etc.

Degrees in India

It would be wise to select the arts stream for this job based on the skill requirements of the field. One needs a minimum of 55% in Grade 10 + 2 or equivalent from a recognized board and university to enrol in undergraduate and graduate programs. Certificates demonstrating your talent for art and graphic design would be advantageous.

UG degree

A candidate would also have to clear the entrance exam to enrol in the undergraduate program. The UG courses are designed to get students familiar with advertising art and ideas, graphic design, poster design, printmaking, design 3D, etc. A few of the courses you can try:

  • Bachelors in Fine Arts: Commercial Art
  • Bachelors in Fine Arts
  • Bachelor in Graphic Design
  • Bachelors in Advertising
  • Bachelor of Visual Arts

PG 

The eligibility criteria to apply for postgraduate courses in commercial art is – a minimum of 55% in graduation with specialization in visual arts, graphic design, fine arts, advertising, or related field. Accordingly, one will have to clear the entrance exam and interview round for selected universities.

The papers taught during these courses are- Graphic Designing and photography, commercial designing, Web designing, animation, etc. all of which are crucial to a career as a commercial artist. Here are a few postgraduation courses one can opt for:

Name of the courseDuration 
Master of Fine Arts: Painting & Commercial Art2 years
Post Graduate Diploma in Commercial Art1 year
MA in Arts and Aesthetics2 years
MA in Curatorial Practices2 years

Degrees Abroad

The eligibility criteria, top undergraduate courses, and colleges abroad are shared in the blog- How to become a Commercial Artist. One can pursue their bachelors in Visual Art Major, Illustration, Visual Arts, Graphic Designing, Advertising, etc. 

To apply for a postgraduate degree in Commercial Art, one needs to meet the following criteria-

  1. The candidate must have a bachelor’s in arts or fine arts from a recognized university. 
  2. A minimum of 60% or Grade B or equivalent in the bachelor’s program.
  3. TOEFL score of 90/120 or higher.
  4. IELTS score of 6.5 or higher. 

Please note, that the language proficiency eligibility course differs from one university to another. Kindly visit the official college website for exact score requirements.

Here are a few postgraduate courses you can pursue to become a commercial artist:

Name of the courseDuration
Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts 2-3 years
MFA in Visualization2 years
MFA Information Design and Data Visualization2 years

References for Commercial Artist

Books to read on Commercial Art

  • Vintage Commercial Art and Design by Charles Jay Strong, Frank H. Atkinson, and L. S. Strong
  • Commercial Art Techniques: A Practical Self-instruction Course and Reference Handbook by S. Ralph Maurello
  • Pen and Mouse: Commercial Art and Digital Illustration by Angus Hyland 
  • Art and Graphic Design by Benoit Buquet
  • Commercial Art by Guy F Cahoon
  • Heath Robinson Commercial Art: A Compendium of His Advertising Work by Geoffrey C. Beare
  • Fifty Years of Illustration by Caroline Roberts and Lawrence Zeegen
  • How Design Makes Us Think: And Feel and Do Things by Sean Adams

Commercial Artists you can follow:

  • En Iwamura
  • Zaria Forman
  • Nicholas Wilton
  • Lisa Congdon
  • Phillippe Halaburda
  • Jen Stark 
  • Erik Minter
  • Gary Komarin
  • Elizabeth Chapman
  • Noemi Ibarz

That is all the information on a career as a commercial artist. One should try this career if they are artistically inclined and can create a design for aesthetic commercial purposes. 

FAQs about the Career as a Commercial Artist

What does a commercial artist do?

Commercial artists provide artwork or designs for brochures, packaging, product displays, adverts, and other marketing and commercial materials. They help create the product’s visual identity, which helps advertise the product and boost its sales.

Where do commercial artists work?

Commercial artists in different industries serve different purposes. From designing products to electronic layouts for publications, commercial artists add to the aesthetic senses required by their clients or market. 
These are a few of the industries where commercial artists are hired:
Advertising agency
Publication and Magazines
Entertainment Industry
Corporations & Businesses
Movie Studios
Graphic Design Firms
Art Galleries

What are the job roles of a commercial artist?

Ans: Graphic Designer
Art Director
Illustrator
Multimedia Designer
Commercial Photographers
Commercial artist

Why should I become a commercial artist?

Ans: With the growth in electronic media, career opportunities are expected to increase for commercial artists. A career as a commercial artist is expected to gain higher pay by the hour in the job market. Though a high level of professionalism and discipline needs to be maintained by the artists. 
An average of 3% to 14% growth is expected in the field by 2030. Some of the higher paying roles for commercial artists are art director, graphic designer, and illustrator. Irrespective of the role, it is one of the highly satisfying jobs for creative or artistic individuals. 

What are the eligibility criteria to apply for a postgraduate degree in commercial art abroad?

Ans: To apply for a postgraduate degree in Commercial Art, one needs to meet the following criteria-
The candidate must have a bachelor’s in arts or fine arts from a recognized university. 
A minimum of 60% or Grade B or equivalent in the bachelor’s program.
TOEFL score of 90/120 or higher.
IELTS score of 6.5 or higher. 
Please note, that the language proficiency eligibility course differs from one university to another. Kindly visit the official college website for exact score requirements.

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Want to tell a story from your artwork? Become a Commercial Artist Read the article to learn more about a career as a commercial artist.
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