CTE Career Catalog - Sketch Artist

Sketch Artist

Job Desription

Responsible for drawing outlines and profiles of individuals to be used for identification in a crime. Victims typically participate in sketch artist's composites and help identify prominent features so that sketches accurately portray alleged perpetrators. Their sketches are used by law enforcement agencies to help identify suspects, by the news media to show courtroom scenes, and by individual customers for their own enjoyment.

Salary average: Sketch Artist is $53,279 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $50,019 per year

Occupational Outlook

About 5,500 openings for craft and fine artists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Links to Learn More About This Career:

Educational Requirements:

Bachelor's degree
Forensic art training courses (recommended)
No specific type of education
Human anatomy is also recommended to understand the facial features and structures of the face

University of Louisville

Address: Louisville, KY 40292,

Belknap Campus

Website: https://louisville.edu/

Information on the Major: https://catalog.louisville.edu/undergraduate/courses/art/

Morehead State University

Address: 150 University Blvd., Box 1887

Morehead, KY 40351

Website: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/

Information on the Major: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/academics/programs/art-ba

Harvard University

Address: Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Website: https://duke.edu/

Information on the Major: Art/drawing info

Soft Skills, Characteristics, and/or Abilities Need For This Career:

Drawing Skills
Drawing quickly
Knowledge of medians
Creativity
Attention to detail

Software Knowledge Needed For This Career:

Different materials (Pencil, oil pastels, paints, etc.) mostly pencil
Paper

Pros and Cons to Choosing This Career

Pros (Positives to this Career)

Little education is required
Rewarding Work
Ability to use Creativity

Cons (Negatives to this Career)

TIme-sensitive work
Aren’t in high demand anymore
Work in difficult situations

Typical Working Conditions For This Career:

Working conditions are not always ideal, forensic artists (Sketch Artist) can be called to a crime scene any time of the day or night and in all sorts of weather conditions, whenever the need arises.