Top 12 Artist Skills to Put on Your Resume

Crafting a compelling resume as an artist requires more than just listing your education and exhibitions; it involves showcasing a blend of technical abilities and soft skills that highlight your creativity and adaptability. This article delves into the top 12 artist skills you should feature on your resume to stand out to potential employers and clients in the competitive art world.

Artist Skills

1. Photoshop
2. Illustrator
3. InDesign
4. Procreate
5. After Effects
6. Maya
7. ZBrush
8. Blender
9. Unity
10. Unreal Engine
11. SketchUp
12. CorelDRAW

1. Photoshop

Photoshop is a digital imaging and graphics editing software widely used by artists for creating, enhancing, and manipulating images and artworks.

Why It's Important

Photoshop is crucial for artists as it provides powerful tools for creating, editing, and enhancing digital art, allowing for limitless creativity and precision in their work.

How to Improve Photoshop Skills

To improve your Photoshop skills as an artist, focus on mastering the following areas:

1. Learn Keyboard Shortcuts: Speed up your workflow by memorizing essential keyboard shortcuts. The more you use them, the more intuitive your work will become.

2. Master Layer Management: Understanding layers and groups is crucial for non-destructive editing and keeping your projects organized.

3. Experiment with Brushes: Explore and customize brushes. The Brush Settings panel is your playground for creating unique textures and effects.

4. Understand Color Theory: Utilize Photoshop’s color tools and libraries to make your artwork stand out. Adobe’s guide on color and adjustment is a great starting point.

5. Practice Non-Destructive Editing: Use adjustment layers, smart objects, and masking to make reversible edits. This non-destructive editing approach preserves your original images.

6. Stay Updated: Adobe often updates Photoshop with new tools and features. Keep an eye on the latest updates to stay ahead.

7. Join Communities and Tutorials: Engage with online communities on platforms like Behance and DeviantArt, and follow tutorials from trusted sources like Phlearn or Adobe’s tutorials to learn new techniques and stay inspired.

Incorporating these practices into your routine will significantly enhance your proficiency and creativity in Photoshop.

How to Display Photoshop Skills on Your Resume

2. Illustrator

Illustrator is a professional vector graphics software designed for creating illustrations, logos, icons, and complex designs with precision and scalability, widely used by artists and graphic designers.

Why It's Important

Illustrator is crucial for artists as it provides powerful tools for creating and manipulating vector graphics, allowing for precision and scalability in artwork without loss of quality, enabling artists to bring intricate designs and illustrations to life with efficiency and flexibility.

How to Improve Illustrator Skills

To enhance your skills in Adobe Illustrator as an artist, focus on the following concise strategies:

1. Master the Pen Tool: It's essential for creating precise vector shapes. Practice by tracing simple images. Pen Tool Tutorial.

2. Explore Blend Modes: Experiment with blend modes to add depth and texture to your artwork. Blend Modes Guide.

3. Utilize Layers Effectively: Organize your artwork using layers. This simplifies editing complex illustrations. Layers Tutorial.

4. Learn Bezier Curves: Understanding how to manipulate Bezier curves can significantly improve your drawing efficiency. Bezier Curves Tutorial.

5. Familiarize with Color Theory: Use Adobe Color to explore and apply effective color schemes. Adobe Color.

6. Practice with Templates: Start with templates to understand different styles and techniques. Templates Resource.

7. Stay Updated: Adobe regularly updates Illustrator with new features. Keep abreast of these updates. Adobe Illustrator Updates.

8. Join Online Communities: Engage with other Illustrator users in forums and on social media to share tips and get feedback. Adobe Forums.

By dedicating time to these areas, you'll significantly improve your Illustrator skills as an artist.

How to Display Illustrator Skills on Your Resume

3. InDesign

InDesign is a professional desktop publishing software by Adobe, used by artists and designers for creating and laying out publications, posters, and print media, offering precise control over typography, color, and layout.

Why It's Important

InDesign is crucial for artists as it enables the creation of professional layouts and designs for various media, such as posters, books, and digital publications, ensuring their artwork is presented in the most impactful and visually appealing way.

How to Improve InDesign Skills

To improve your proficiency in Adobe InDesign as an artist, focus on mastering the following areas:

1. Learn the Basics: Start with Adobe's official tutorials to understand the fundamentals.

2. Typography Mastery: Improve your typography skills, essential for layout design, by exploring resources at Typography.Guru.

3. Leverage Templates: Use templates from sites like Adobe Stock to learn from professional designs.

4. Understand Color Theory: Enhance your designs by mastering color theory with help from Color Matters.

5. Practice Layout Design: Focus on layout design principles, essential for artists, by studying resources from Canva’s Design School.

6. Explore Plug-ins: Expand InDesign's capabilities with plug-ins from Adobe Exchange for efficiency and creativity.

7. Join Online Communities: Engage with other designers on platforms like Behance and Dribbble to get feedback and inspiration.

By focusing on these areas and consistently practicing your skills, you'll be able to leverage InDesign more effectively in your artistic projects.

How to Display InDesign Skills on Your Resume

4. Procreate

Procreate is a digital painting app designed for artists, offering a wide range of tools and brushes for creating high-quality artwork on iPad.

Why It's Important

Procreate is important for artists because it offers a powerful and intuitive digital platform for creative expression, combining advanced drawing tools, customizable brushes, and a user-friendly interface, enabling artists to bring their visions to life with precision and ease, anywhere and anytime.

How to Improve Procreate Skills

To improve your experience and skills with Procreate as an artist, focus on the following concise strategies:

1. Master the Basics: Begin with understanding the core functionalities of Procreate. Familiarize yourself with the interface, basic tools, and gestures. Procreate's official handbook is an excellent starting point.
2. Use Custom Brushes: Enhance your artwork by exploring and integrating custom brushes. You can create your own or download brushes from other artists. Procreate's Brush Library offers a variety of options.
3. Follow Tutorials: Improve your skills by following along with tutorials. This can introduce new techniques and creative ideas. Procreate's official learning portal provides tutorials for all skill levels.
4. Experiment with Layers and Blending Modes: Learn how to effectively use layers and experiment with different blending modes for more dynamic and complex artwork. This comprehensive guide on layers and blending will be helpful.
5. Join the Community: Engage with the Procreate community for feedback, inspiration, and support. The Procreate Forums and social media platforms like Instagram or Twitter are great places to start.
6. Practice Regularly: Like any other skill, regular practice is key. Set aside dedicated time to draw with Procreate, experimenting with different styles and techniques.

By focusing on these areas, you'll be able to improve your Procreate skills and create more compelling digital art.

How to Display Procreate Skills on Your Resume

5. After Effects

After Effects is a digital visual effects and motion graphics software used by artists for creating complex animations and video post-production enhancements.

Why It's Important

After Effects is crucial for artists as it enables the creation and manipulation of motion graphics, visual effects, and animations, enhancing their storytelling and visual communication capabilities.

How to Improve After Effects Skills

To improve your After Effects skills as an artist, focus on the following concise strategies:

1. Master the Basics: Start with Adobe's official tutorials to build a strong foundation.

2. Learn Keyframe Animation: Understand the principles of animation and practice by creating simple animations. Adobe's guide on keyframe basics is essential.

3. Use Expressions: Dive into expressions to automate animations and achieve complex effects efficiently. The MotionScript guide is a great resource.

4. Work With 3D: Explore 3D layers and camera movement to add depth to your projects. Video Copilot's Element 3D tutorials can be very helpful.

5. Stay Organized: Keep your projects tidy with proper layer and composition management. This organization tutorial offers practical tips.

6. Incorporate Plugins: Enhance your workflow and creative options with plugins. Explore options like Trapcode Suite and Duik; Toolfarm provides a comprehensive plugin guide.

7. Join Communities: Engage with After Effects communities on platforms like the AfterEffects subreddit or Creative COW's After Effects forum for feedback, inspiration, and tips.

8. Practice Regularly: Like any skill, proficiency in After Effects comes with practice. Set yourself small projects or challenges to continuously improve.

By following these strategies and utilizing the provided resources, you'll be on your way to greatly improving your After Effects skills.

How to Display After Effects Skills on Your Resume

6. Maya

Maya is a professional 3D computer graphics software used by artists for creating animated films, visual effects, 3D models, and video games. It offers tools for modeling, simulation, rendering, and animation.

Why It's Important

Maya is crucial for artists because it offers powerful, comprehensive tools for 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, and rendering, enabling the creation of sophisticated digital art and professional-grade animations.

How to Improve Maya Skills

Improving your skills in Maya as an artist primarily involves practice, learning from professionals, and integrating feedback. Here are concise steps with external resources:

1. Master the Basics: Start with the fundamentals of modeling, texturing, lighting, and animation. Pluralsight's Maya tutorials offer a structured path.

2. Explore Advanced Techniques: Dive into more complex areas like dynamics, fluids, and advanced rigging. CG Spectrum provides in-depth courses.

3. Incorporate Feedback: Use platforms like ArtStation to showcase your work and receive critiques from professionals.

4. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key. Set yourself projects or challenges. Polycount is a great community for this.

5. Stay Updated: Maya receives regular updates; stay informed about new features and workflows. Autodesk's official blog is a valuable resource.

6. Learn from Tutorials: Websites like Lynda and Gnomon offer extensive tutorials on a range of topics.

7. Join Forums and Communities: Engage with communities such as CGTalk or the AREA by Autodesk, where you can ask questions and share knowledge.

Incorporating these resources into your learning routine can significantly enhance your Maya skills.

How to Display Maya Skills on Your Resume

7. ZBrush

ZBrush is a digital sculpting tool that combines 3D/2.5D modeling, texturing, and painting. It is widely used by artists for its ability to sculpt medium to high-frequency details that were traditionally painted in bump maps, enabling the creation of complex models and textures.

Why It's Important

ZBrush is important for artists because it offers powerful 3D sculpting and painting tools, allowing for the creation of highly detailed and realistic digital art, making it essential for character design, concept art, and special effects in games, movies, and animation.

How to Improve ZBrush Skills

To improve your ZBrush skills as an artist, focus on the following concise steps:

1. Master the Basics: Start with ZBrush’s fundamental tools and techniques. Understanding the core functionalities will set a solid foundation.

2. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Allocate time daily or weekly to practice your skills. Explore ZBrushCentral for inspiration and challenge yourself with new projects.

3. Follow Tutorials: Leverage free and paid tutorials to learn advanced techniques and workflows. Websites like Pixologic’s ZClassroom and ZBrush Guides offer a wealth of knowledge.

4. Use Reference Images: Always work with reference images to improve accuracy and realism in your creations. Websites like Pinterest or ArtStation can be great sources.

5. Experiment with Brushes and Tools: ZBrush offers a wide array of brushes and tools. Experimenting with them can unlock new artistic potentials. The official Pixologic website provides insights into various tools.

6. Join Online Communities: Engage with other ZBrush artists by joining forums and online communities. ZBrushCentral and Reddit’s ZBrush community are great places to start.

7. Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to seek constructive feedback from peers and professionals. It's a vital step towards improvement.

By following these steps and consistently practicing, you'll see significant improvements in your ZBrush skills.

How to Display ZBrush Skills on Your Resume

8. Blender

Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite that supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation, tailored for artists and designers.

Why It's Important

Blender is important for artists because it offers a comprehensive, free, open-source tool for 3D modeling, animation, and rendering, enabling creative expression and professional-grade production without financial barriers.

How to Improve Blender Skills

Improving your Blender skills as an artist largely involves practice, learning from various resources, and staying updated with the latest tools and features. Here are concise steps and resources to help you:

1. Master the Basics: Start with Blender's own tutorials to get a solid foundation.
2. Specialize in Your Interest Area: Focus on areas like modeling, texturing, or animation. Find specialized tutorials on platforms like CG Cookie or Blender Guru.
3. Join the Community: Engage with the Blender community on Blender Artists Forum for feedback, tips, and networking.
4. Practice Regularly: Challenge yourself with daily or weekly projects. Websites like ArtStation offer inspiration and challenges.
5. Stay Updated: Follow the official Blender blog to stay informed about new features and updates.
6. Learn from Professional Projects: Study and deconstruct blend files from Blender Cloud.

Consistent practice, combined with learning from a variety of high-quality resources, will significantly improve your Blender skills as an artist.

How to Display Blender Skills on Your Resume

9. Unity

Unity is a versatile game development platform that allows artists to create, animate, and render 2D and 3D environments, characters, and objects for video games, simulations, and interactive content.

Why It's Important

Unity is important for an artist as it allows for the creation of cohesive and harmonious compositions, enhancing the visual experience and emotional impact of their work.

How to Improve Unity Skills

Improving your skills in Unity as an artist involves focusing on mastering the tools and techniques that allow for the creation and integration of high-quality visual assets. Here are concise steps and resources for artists looking to enhance their Unity skills:

1. Learn the Basics: Start with Unity's own learning resources to understand the fundamentals of the engine.

2. Master Unity’s UI: Familiarize yourself with Unity’s user interface to navigate and utilize the engine efficiently.

3. Understand Asset Integration: Get comfortable importing various assets (textures, models, animations) and learn how to optimize them for game performance.

4. Explore Shader Development: Learn to create custom shaders for unique visual effects using resources like Shader Tutorials.

5. Experiment with Lighting: Improve the visual quality of your scenes by mastering Unity’s lighting system, including real-time and baked lighting techniques.

6. Understand Animation Tools: Dive into Unity’s animation system to bring characters and objects to life.

7. Practice Scene Composition: Learn about effective scene composition to enhance visual storytelling, using Unity’s Cinematic tools like Timeline and Cinemachine.

8. Stay Updated and Network: Follow Unity’s blog and participate in forums and communities like Unity Forum to stay updated on new features and get feedback.

9. Experiment and Create Personal Projects: Apply what you’ve learned in small, manageable projects. This hands-on experience is invaluable.

10. Seek Inspiration and Tutorials: Use platforms like YouTube for tutorials, and sites like ArtStation for inspiration.

By focusing on these areas and utilizing the linked resources, artists can significantly improve their proficiency and efficiency in Unity, leading to the creation of visually stunning and optimized game assets.

How to Display Unity Skills on Your Resume

10. Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine is a powerful and versatile game development platform used by artists and developers to create high-quality 3D and 2D games, simulations, and visualizations, featuring robust tools for rendering, animation, and visual effects.

Why It's Important

Unreal Engine is important for artists because it provides powerful visualization tools, real-time rendering capabilities, and an extensive asset library, enabling them to create highly detailed and immersive 3D environments and animations efficiently.

How to Improve Unreal Engine Skills

To improve your use of Unreal Engine as an artist, focus on enhancing your skills and integrating efficient workflows. Here are concise recommendations:

1. Master the Basics: Start with Unreal Engine's official tutorials to build a strong foundation.

2. Explore the Marketplace: Utilize assets from the Unreal Engine Marketplace to speed up your project development and learn from professional assets.

3. Leverage Quixel Megascans: Incorporate high-quality photorealistic materials and 3D objects from Quixel Megascans directly into your projects for realism.

4. Learn Blueprint Visual Scripting: Even as an artist, understanding Blueprints can empower you to bring interactivity into your scenes without deep coding knowledge.

5. Stay Updated: Follow the Unreal Engine Blog for the latest features, artist spotlights, and industry insights.

6. Join Communities: Engage with other artists and developers in forums such as the Unreal Engine Community or Reddit’s r/unrealengine to exchange knowledge and get feedback.

By focusing on these areas, you'll enhance your artistic capabilities within Unreal Engine, leading to higher quality work and more efficient project completions.

How to Display Unreal Engine Skills on Your Resume

11. SketchUp

SketchUp is a 3D modeling software used by artists for creating, visualizing, and modifying designs ranging from architectural structures to intricate sculptures with an intuitive interface and customizable features.

Why It's Important

SketchUp is important for artists as it offers an intuitive platform for quickly visualizing ideas, creating accurate 3D models, and exploring spatial relationships, enhancing their creativity and project planning.

How to Improve SketchUp Skills

To enhance SketchUp for an artist, focus on mastering keyboard shortcuts for efficiency, integrate it with rendering plugins like V-Ray for realistic visuals, and explore SketchUp's 3D Warehouse for a wide range of models. Consistently update your skills through SketchUp's official tutorials and community forums. Additionally, use Photoshop for post-processing to add a unique touch to your renders.

How to Display SketchUp Skills on Your Resume

12. CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW is a vector graphics editor and design software, widely used by artists for creating illustrations, layouts, and various graphic design projects with precision and flexibility.

Why It's Important

CorelDRAW is important for artists because it offers versatile vector graphics editing capabilities, allowing for precise, scalable designs and creative illustrations, enhancing both the efficiency and quality of their artwork.

How to Improve CorelDRAW Skills

To improve your experience and efficiency in CorelDRAW as an artist, consider the following concise tips:

1. Master Shortcuts: Learn and use CorelDRAW's keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow. Corel's official shortcut guide can help you start.

2. Customize Workspaces: Tailor your workspace to fit your artistic workflow. This workspace customization guide walks you through the process.

3. Use Templates: Leverage templates to kickstart your projects. Corel provides various templates for different needs.

4. Explore Plug-ins and Extensions: Enhance CorelDRAW's functionality with plug-ins and extensions. The CorelDRAW marketplace offers various tools to expand your creative capabilities.

5. Practice Non-Destructive Editing: Utilize layers and non-destructive effects to make reversible edits, preserving your original designs. This non-destructive editing guide explains how.

6. Stay Updated: Always use the latest version of CorelDRAW for the newest features and improvements. Check CorelDRAW's official updates page for the latest version.

7. Engage with the Community: Join CorelDRAW communities for tips, tutorials, and inspiration. The CorelDRAW Community is a great place to start.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly enhance your artistic workflow and output in CorelDRAW.

How to Display CorelDRAW Skills on Your Resume