Artists generate art to communicate ideas, thoughts, or feelings. They use a variety of methods—painting, sculpting, or illustration—and an collection of materials, including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, pencils, pen and ink, plaster, clay, and computers. Artists’ works may be realistic, stylized, or abstract and may portray objects, people, nature, or events.

Artists usually fall into one of four categories. Art directors prepare design concepts and presentation approaches for visual communications. Craft artists generate or reproduce handmade objects for sale or exhibition. Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, generate original artwork, using a variety of media and techniques. Multi-media artists and animators generate special effects, animation, or other visual images on film, on video, or with computers or additional electronic media. (Designers, including graphic designers, are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.)