Painter or Printmaker

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Painters (5136.1) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Painters, Sculptors and Other Visual Artists (F036) 
• 2011 NOC: Painters, sculptors and other visual artists (5136) 
• 2016 NOC: Painters, sculptors and other visual artists (5136) 

Contemporary 2-dimensional art can range in size from a postage stamp to a whole wall. Painters and printmakers generally produce 1 or a limited number of copies of each piece of work.

Painters use brushes, palette knives and specialized tools to artistically apply colour to a variety of surface grounds (for example, canvas, wood, metal, paper, paper-pulp board). In general, painters may:

• Paint with a variety of media, such as watercolours, acrylics, oils, tempera, gouache or encaustic
• Create preparatory drawings for the paintings using a variety of media, such as charcoal, chalk, graphite, coloured pencils, inks or pastels
• Glue or laminate various materials to a surface to create an image (for example, collage or decoupage)
• Specialize in particular types of media or mixed media

Printmakers prepare surfaces, which they then use to print a limited number of the same image onto other materials (for example, paper or fabric). They may use a variety of manual or chemical methods to carve, etch, expose, apply or emboss the original images and transfer them to other surfaces. Many of these transfer techniques result in a mirror image of the original. These may include:

• Intaglio - Images on metal plates (produced by etching or engraving, for example) are transferred via a specialized press
• Relief - Images from linocuts, wood cuts, wood engraving, stone prints and clay prints are transferred by press or hand rubbing
• Lithography - Very heavy flat stones or metal plates are used as a printing surface and images are transferred via a specialized lithographic printing press
• Stencil - Stencil prints involve dabbing or brushing ink or paint through cut stencils. Silkscreening is a type of stencil print that uses screens, a work support and hand-held squeegees
• Monotype - Single images are hand-applied onto a printing surface and transferred using a press or by hand rubbing
• Electronic or digital - Images from computer programs, photocopying, or computer printing)

Objective (realistic) painters may:

• Travel to observe and paint specific subjects on location (such as people, landscapes, buildings, wildlife)
• Work from photographs
• Work with models, still life, animals or flowers
• Work from memory

Non-objective (abstract) painters create their own subjects and designs.

Many painters and printmakers are constantly learning new techniques and experimenting with different materials and media. They need to keep up to date with what is going on in the art world by reading, attending exhibits at art galleries and residency programs, and talking to other artists.

Working conditions, such as hours of work, vary considerably for painters and printmakers. Printmaking and moving large paintings can be physically demanding. Some techniques involve working with hazardous pigments, chemicals or solvents.

Studios may be clean, spacious and well ventilated, or they may have less-than-ideal working conditions. Many painters or printmakers work at home, while others rent space in artist-run centres, warehouses or storefronts in low-rent districts.

Few painters or printmakers can support themselves from sales commissions on their art work alone. Many also work full time or part time in related occupations, such as illustrator, designer, art teacher, gallery assistant, framer or arts administrator. For more information see the Illustrator, Graphic Designer and Art Instructor occupational profiles.

Painters and printmakers may display their art in:

• Galleries and museums
• Restaurants and clubs
• Office buildings and public spaces
• Parks, exhibit grounds and international expositions

They also may market their work electronically through television or the internet.

Artists’ works may be published as fine art poster prints. Publishers may pay a royalty per print sold or simply purchase the copyright for the work.

Emerging artists often join art clubs for support, networking and exhibition opportunities. They may enter art competitions or festivals, or arrange their own shows in homes or artist-run centres.

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Canada Council for the Arts offer grants to promising artists to enable them to study and work for a few months or a year at a time. The Foundation buys the art of emerging and established artists with the intent of maintaining a diverse cross-section of Alberta art and the Canada Council purchases work for the Art Bank.

Painters and printmakers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 5136: Painters, sculptors and other visual artists. In Alberta, 76% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Information, Culture and Recreation [pdf]
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services [pdf]

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• Trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation

In Alberta, the 5136: Painters, sculptors and other visual artists occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.7% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 57 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Alberta Foundation for the Arts website: www.affta.ab.ca

Alberta Society of Artists website: www.albertasocietyofartists.com

Calgary Sketch Club website: www.calgarysketchclub.com

Canada Council for the Arts website: canadacouncil.ca

Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des Artistes Canadiens (CARFAC) website: www.carfac.ca

CARFAC Alberta website: www.carfacalberta.com

Federation of Canadian Artists website: artists.ca

Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists (SNAP) website: snapartists.com

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.