How to become a painter or visual artist
Express creative ideas through visual mediums including photography, sculpture, video, and installations.
What does a painter or visual artist do?
Artists put their own emotions into works, making art engaging for its audience. Traditional artists use mediums such as paints and canvas to create scenes or portraits. Visual artists prefer to use unusual mediums to share their stories. Artists call on their creativity, good hand-eye coordination, and a large amount of patience to create original pieces.
Duties and tasks
Capture and hold the attention of an audience through visual works.
Create unique, interesting, and appealing visual works.
May be commissioned to create specific pieces of art.
Work in fine detail for an extended period of time (some projects).
Industry bodies
Related jobs
Art teacher
Cartoonist
Decorator
Engraver
Painter
Photographer
Printmaker
Screen printer
Sculptor
Spray painter
Discover related courses
UndergraduateGRF-ART-DEG
Innovators, communicators and creators start here!
Develop critical thinking, writing, and research skills in demand across all industries. You can follow your passion with majors and electives that interest you. Develop connections through peer learning, networking, and work experience.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Available majors
- Creative Writing,
- History and Society,
- Journalism,
- Literature and Culture,
- Strategic Communication
Bachelor of Arts (Animation and Game Design)
UndergraduateCUR-AGD-DEG
Create a new world with game design or animation
Be drawn in by a field which combines project management, technical expertise and creative storytelling. Work in an exciting fast-evolving industry, perhaps as an animator, 3D artist, motion graphics designer, visual effects artist or educator.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Bachelor of Arts (Digital Experience and Interaction Design) (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-DDV-DEG
Craft your cultural career in design
Visualise an artistic journey through the past to see the present and find the future of art and design. Draw on techniques using paper and screen. Illustrate how creativity shapes society and culture. Get interactive with experience design.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DIP
Start with the subjects you’re passionate about
Follow your interests on this humanities pathway into university. Choices range from languages to history, politics, and philosophy. Pick up important skills like critical thinking and collaboration. Shape your future in the arts and social science.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Duration
- 1 year full time or part time equivalent
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Available majors
- Arts stream,
- Criminology stream,
- Global studies stream,
- Politics, philosophy and economics stream,
- Visual arts stream
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