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Career Description

Create or reproduce hand-made objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery and needlecraft.

What Job Titles Craft Artists Might Have

• Artist
• Designer
• Furniture Maker
• Glass Artist

What Craft Artists Do

• Create functional or decorative objects by hand, using a variety of methods and materials.
• Cut, shape, fit, join, mold, or otherwise process materials, using hand tools, power tools, or machinery.
• Apply finishes to objects being crafted.
• Develop concepts or creative ideas for craft objects.
• Select materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability and other characteristics.
• Advertise products and work, using media such as internet advertising and brochures.
• Set specifications for materials, dimensions, and finishes.
• Plan and attend craft shows to market products.
• Create prototypes or models of objects to be crafted.
• Confer with customers to assess customer needs or obtain feedback.
• Fabricate patterns or templates to guide craft production.
• Develop product packaging, display, and pricing strategies.
• Research craft trends, venues, and customer buying patterns to inspire designs and marketing strategies.
• Sketch or draw objects to be crafted.

What Craft Artists Should Be Good At

• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

What Craft Artists Should Be Interested In

• Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

What Craft Artists Need to Learn

• Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
• Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.