Career as a Sculptor

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Sculptor Career Profile

Do you want to work as a sculptor?

READ: This page helps you read about the career and the information you need to decide whether this is indeed the career you want to follow.

RESEARCH: Learn about the skills required and minimum subjects to enter this career, as well as the places where you can study further after school.

PREPARE: If you want to plan and prepare for your career, then join the OZT community! Members have access to tools while chatting with other students and experts from around the world. Prepare to be amazed!

CAREER MENTOR

UPDATED:

29 April 2024

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What is a sculptor?

A Sculptor is an individual that creates sculptures through various mediums, including metal, ceramics, concrete and even paper.

Alternative Names

Sculptors are often referred to by several alternative names, reflecting the diverse languages and cultural contexts in which their craft is practiced. Some of the known alternative names for a sculptor include:

Sculptor-artist:

Combining both the occupation and the broader term for someone involved in artistic creation.

Carver:

Specifically denotes a sculptor who works by cutting away material, such as wood or stone, to create a sculpture.

Modeller:

Refers to a sculptor who primarily works with malleable materials like clay or wax, shaping them into three-dimensional forms.

Statuary:

A more formal term, often used in contexts where the emphasis is on the creation of statues or sculptures for public spaces.

Stonecutter:

Primarily used for sculptors who specialize in working with stone, such as marble or granite.

Plasterer:

Historically, this term was used to describe sculptors who worked with plaster, often creating molds for casting sculptures.

Bronze caster:

Refers to sculptors who specialize in the technique of bronze casting, which involves creating sculptures using molten bronze poured into molds.

Ceramicist:

Specifically denotes sculptors who work with ceramics, such as clay, porcelain, or earthenware, to create sculptures.

These alternative names highlight the diverse skills, materials, and techniques employed by sculptors in their creative endeavors.

Famous Sculptors?

Donatello is the world's most famous sculptor, creator of the David statue

Types of Sculpture?

There are three methods for making sculpture: modelling, carving, and joining

What does a Sculptor do?

Categories:

Art & Design / Business

Focus:

Sculptors with a focus on animals may sculpt small or large figures of different animals that they observe or recall from memory or direct observation. They use a variety of artistic mediums, including metal, concrete and clay.

Daily Tasks:

Discuss brief with clients
Study animals, their anatomy and behaviour
Develop a frame of the proposed sculpture
Create the artwork around the frame
Arrange for transport of sculpture
Presentation to clients of work done
Create and add new work to a portfolio
Writing project proposals for galleries, artist residencies or competitions
Sourcing of materials and establishing business relationships with suppliers
Administration and filing

Where they work:

Environment –

Sculptors normally work indoors in a design studio or office setup. They do also spend some time in the outdoors, studying the animals they need to sculpt.

Places of Employment –

Most Sculptors work privately, under contract for various clients. They can also exhibit their work at museums, exhibition centers, galleries or even craft expos to sell directly to the public, or secure a commercial contract through zoos, amusement and theme parks.

Average Salary:

As most animal Sculptors are self employed, their income is based on selling their work and obtaining contracts. On average the income per year is around $45,000. This will differ from country to country.

Difficulties:

The most difficult part is always to get your work seen by future clients. For this a lot of artists need to be well versed in the setup and use of social media. Artists may work long hours and over weekends and holidays to finish work within tight deadlines. They may also need to travel long distances.

Future Growth and Possibilities:

The growth of animal related sculptures is slow (around 3% per year) with a lot of competition, although the market in digital (online) 3D rendered sculpting/drawing has definitely shown a very good growth.

3. Which Skills are required?

The skills required for a career as a sculptor can be divided into two very important groups. The first is the group containing life skills, which are the core skills that are necessary or desirable for full participation in everyday life. The second group is career skills, or the specific skills required to allow a person to enter and operate effectively within a specific career. Some or maybe even all of the life skills can assist in strengthening the career skills, and they might even be the same for specific careers.

Life Skills:

Self-awareness
Empathy
Critical thinking
Creative thinking
Decision making
Problem Solving
Effective communication
Interpersonal relationship

Career Skills:

Strong artistic skills
Basic business knowledge
Basic customer service skills
Good health and physical fitness
Strong computer literacy

Life Skills

40%

Career Skills

60%

4. Which Subjects must I have at School?

Art

Business Studies

Language

Art

Business Studies

Language

The subjects you choose at school are important as they lay the foundation for further studies at college or university. While still at school, it’s also important to learn more about the animals you will work with, as well as gain some experience.

OZT has a list of various tertiary institutions where you can study further, after school. Each of these institutions also have their own Group page on OZT where you will find the exact subjects they require of you to have passed in school. Keep these requirements in mind, and discuss it with your school, guidance counselor and parents to ensure that you are prepared!

5. What will I need to Study?

Minimum Requirements:

To become a Sculptor doesn’t require formal training, but many do go on to study a College Diploma, Bachelor’s or even Masters Degree in Fine Arts. Short Courses are essential to learn different techniques.

Focus:

A good background in art is essential, so be sure to perfect your skills by practicing daily. Focus is also needed on field study or observation to ensure that the distinct features of the animals are captured correctly.

Duration:

The duration of College and Bachelor’s Degrees can be up to 3 years. Short Courses are usually between a few weeks and a year.

Possible Career Preparation Paths:

If this is your dream career that you want to pursue, then it’s important to plan the way forward.

Why is planning important?

To ensure that you understand the requirements for your career, and that you are always prepared for the next step on the road towards your dream. A Preparation Path is like your road map to where you want to be.

Possible Paths:

CAREER PATH 1 High School + Experience while still in School + College Diploma + Short Courses

CAREER PATH 2 High School + Experience while still in School + University Degree

Possible Combined Career Paths:

It is possible to sometimes combine two or more related careers. This normally happens when you study and practice a specific main career, but the knowledge and experience gained also help you to have a paying hobby or secondary income career.

Possible Alternative(s):

COMBINATION PATH 1 Sculptor + Miniature Model Maker = Miniature Model Makers can also use their sculpting experience to create clay figurines, used in stop animation films

Stepping Stone Career:

Being a scientific illustrator can also be used as a stepping stone career. A stepping stone career is one which is used to help you get to another career, normally because the other career is too difficult to reach (sometimes due to things like high fees etc).

You can begin as an intern illustrator after basic short courses and expert guidance (maybe working under a mentor). The money made can then be used to pay for studies towards a promotion or another career, and the experience helps in gaining knowledge. One paying to help get to the other.

Some of the possible paths:

PROGRESS PATH 1 Working as a Sculptor -> while studying towards a Career as a Zoologist

Training and apprenticeship:

Even though it is important to study to get into some of the animal caregiver careers, most of the skills you will need will be acquired through on-the-job training. This means that you will learn how to perform some of the daily tasks by actually doing it a few times and learning the steps.

In some cases entry level positions (or junior positions) require training sessions even before you are allowed to actually perform your job duties. These sessions are offered by the place of employment, after you have successfully applied.

Apprenticeship is also possible where you need to learn skills from a more senior person or expert.

Join the Sculptor Group in STEP 8 to learn more and even interact with the educational institutions that will help you secure your dream career!

Average entry level of education across the career:

High School Certificate 0%

Diploma or Short Courses 0%

Degree or Higher Studies 0%

6. Licenses, Certificate, Registration and Professional Associations

Certain animal careers require some form of legal certification to prove that you can indeed do the work, and work with the necessary equipment.

Although not required by law, certifications may help workers establish their credentials and enhance their skills.

Learn more about requirements by joining OZT in STEP 8.

Professional Associations:

7. Where can I study further?

All of the above information will help you understand more about the Career, including the fact that there are different paths to take to reach it. But if you are almost done with High School (Grades 11 or 12), you also need to start thinking about further studies, and WHERE you will study.

See the List of Universities, Colleges and Online Training Academies who offer courses towards animal art and design.

8. Join the OZT community

Join us as a special member and learn more about becoming a sculptor.

Members of the Platform have special access to:

Info on the best places where you can study (colleges, universities and online)
Expertly designed advice to prepare you for the career, and links to places where you can gain valuable experience. For some career experience is necessary, otherwise you wont get the job!
Top notch info on each of the different species you will work with
Make friends around the world and share knowledge
Compete and win points, badges, games, prizes and certificates. Be the best of the best, while you learn and prepare!

If you have decided on being a Sculptor, please click on the JOIN GROUP button. members will be directed to the Group, while non-members will be assisted to register first.

If this career is NOT the career for you, then you may return to the MAIN CAREER menu.

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