Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
The short answer
This job is expected to meaningfully change. AI can already assist with or automate many of its tasks. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to shrink over the next decade, with about 173 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second most exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. That doesn't mean the job goes away—it means more of its tasks are the kind AI can help with.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with about a third of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second most exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
The score comes from the real, day-to-day tasks of this job—not a guess about the job as a whole. Below are the tasks that matter most in this job, split by whether AI can help with them.
AI can help with or automate about 79% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Set up exhibitions of artwork for display or sale.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Render drawings, illustrations, and sketches of buildings, manufactured products, or models, working from sketches, blueprints, memory, models, or reference materials.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Tasks AI can't do much of
Model substances such as clay or wax, using fingers and small hand tools to form objects.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Create sculptures, statues, and other three-dimensional artwork by using abrasives and tools to shape, carve, and fabricate materials such as clay, stone, wood, or metal.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Frame and mat artwork for display or sale.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Cut, bend, laminate, arrange, and fasten individual or mixed raw and manufactured materials and products to form works of art.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Apply solvents and cleaning agents to clean surfaces of paintings, and to remove accretions, discolorations, and deteriorated varnish.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Commercial and Industrial Designers
Very similar work+14% pay148 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 14% more—$92,152 vs your $81,075 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Originality
- Visualization
- Fluency of Ideas
New skills to build
- Engineering and Technology
- Mechanical
- Physics
- Technology Design
- Deductive Reasoning
Interior Designers
Very similar workslightly less pay527 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$77,698 vs your $81,075 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Originality
- Fluency of Ideas
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Coordination
Fashion Designers
Very similar work+25% pay574 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 25% more—$101,400 vs your $81,075 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Originality
- Fluency of Ideas
- Near Vision
- Visualization
New skills to build
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Instructing
- Coordination
- Persuasion
- Negotiation
Graphic Designers
Very similar workslightly less pay1,436 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$79,510 vs your $81,075 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Originality
- Fluency of Ideas
- English Language
New skills to build
- Fine Arts
- Sales and Marketing
- Instructing
- Communications and Media
- Negotiation
Special Effects Artists and Animators
Very similar work+23% pay307 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 23% more—$99,474 vs your $81,075 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Computers and Electronics
- Design
- English Language
- Visualization
- Visual Color Discrimination
New skills to build
- Engineering and Technology
- Written Comprehension
- Instructing
- Sales and Marketing
- Communications and Media
Art Directors
Similar work+74% pay1,124 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 74% more—$141,160 vs your $81,075 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more of experience.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Originality
- Fluency of Ideas
- English Language
New skills to build
- Instructing
- Coordination
- Fine Arts
- Persuasion
- Management of Personnel Resources
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Somewhat similar work+28% pay93 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 28% more—$103,543 vs your $81,075 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Visualization
- English Language
- Originality
- Production and Processing
New skills to build
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Instructing
- Mathematics
- Number Facility
- Information Ordering