6 free templates for the artist you are actually hiring: graphic, makeup, tattoo, game/3D, illustrator, and a general version, with the licensing, 1099, and IP notes generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
Artist is one of the broadest job titles you can post. A graphic artist at an agency, a makeup artist in a salon, a tattoo artist in a studio, and a 3D artist at a game studio share a word and almost nothing else: different skills, different licensing, different pay structures, and different questions about who owns the work. A generic artist template forces you to delete most of it and guess at the rest, which is why the job description that actually works starts by naming the artist you are hiring.
At FirstHR, we build templates for the small studios, salons, shops, and agencies that do most of this hiring, where the owner writes the posting. The six templates below are split by type: general, graphic or commercial, makeup, tattoo, game or 3D, and illustrator. Each is ready to use, with the licensing, classification, and IP details generic libraries skip. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion.
TL;DR
Artist is an umbrella term, not one job. Pick the template by the artist you are actually hiring: graphic, makeup, tattoo, game/3D, illustrator, or a general version. The things competitors skip and these include: a portfolio request (the real qualification), state licensing for makeup and tattoo roles, a deliberate W-2 vs 1099 decision (commission and booth rent are common), and an IP-assignment line so you own the work. BLS reports a median of $56,260 for craft and fine artists and $61,300 for graphic designers (May 2024). Download six templates as DOCX.
What an Artist Job Description Covers
Because artist spans so many roles, a good job description does two things a generic one cannot: it names the specific kind of artist, and it adds the details that matter for creative hiring. Every version still shares a core: a business summary, a job summary, responsibilities, qualifications led by a portfolio, compensation, and how to apply.
What separates a strong artist posting from a thin one is the handling of the things that differ by type, the portfolio request, the licensing for makeup and tattoo roles, the W-2 versus 1099 decision, and the IP assignment, none of which generic templates address. For scoping the role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Artist Are You Hiring?
This is the question that determines everything else. The same word covers roles with different skills, licensing, pay structures, and tools. Use this guide to identify the artist you actually need, then jump to the matching template.
Graphic / commercial artist
Who hires: Marketing agency, in-house creative, print shop
Hire this if: You need ads, packaging, social, and production-ready files.
Makeup artist
Who hires: Salon, beauty studio, PMU / cosmetic-tattoo studio
Hire this if: You need client-facing makeup services; licensing applies.
Tattoo artist
Who hires: Tattoo studio
Hire this if: You need custom tattooing; state licensing and 1099 splits are common.
Game / 2D / 3D / concept artist
Who hires: Indie game studio
Hire this if: You need game assets to an art direction and pipeline.
Illustrator / digital artist
Who hires: Products, publishing, marketing
Hire this if: You need original illustration in a consistent style.
Each of the six templates below is built for one of these. The general version catches anything that does not fit cleanly or a role you will customize heavily. The other five start from the right responsibilities, qualifications, and pay structure for that specific kind of artist.
General / Small Business
Catch-all base
The universal baseline for any business hiring an artist: concept to finished work, portfolio-led, with the IP and classification fields filled in. The base to adapt when none of the specific versions fit.
Graphic / Commercial
Agency / print shop
For a marketing agency, in-house creative team, or print shop: digital and print production work to brand guidelines and deadlines. The recurring commercial creative hire.
Makeup Artist
Salon / beauty / PMU
For a salon, beauty studio, or PMU studio: client-facing makeup services with licensing and sanitation built in, plus the commission and W-2 vs 1099 note these roles need.
Tattoo Artist
Tattoo studio
For a tattoo shop: custom tattooing with state licensing, safety standards, and the commission split or booth rent and 1099 reality that defines studio hiring.
Game / 2D / 3D / Concept
Indie studio
For an indie game studio: concept, 2D, or 3D assets to the art direction and pipeline, with the IP-assignment line a studio needs. Pairs with a game designer hire.
Illustrator / Digital
Products / publishing
For products, publishing, or marketing: original illustration to brief in a consistent style, with the digital tools and IP terms spelled out.
Pick the Artist, Then the Template
Agency or print production: Graphic / Commercial. Salon or PMU studio: Makeup. Tattoo shop: Tattoo. Indie game studio: Game / 2D / 3D / Concept. Products or publishing: Illustrator. Anything else, or a role you will customize: General. Whichever you pick, ask for a portfolio, handle licensing and classification, and put the IP terms in writing, since that is what generic artist templates miss.
6 Free Artist Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: business overview, job summary, key responsibilities, qualifications with a portfolio request, compensation, and how to apply, with an EEO statement. The makeup and tattoo versions add licensing and classification notes.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General, graphic, makeup, tattoo, game/3D, and illustrator. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: General / Small Business Artist
The universal baseline: concept to finished work, portfolio-led, with the IP and classification fields filled in. Use this when the role does not fit a specific type, or as the base to adapt.
Compensation: $_____ ([range or hourly]; specify W-2 or 1099)
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[Two or three sentences about your studio, shop, or business: what you make,
your style or market, and why an artist would want to create work with you.]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring an Artist to create original work for [our clients /
our products / our studio]. You will take briefs from concept to finished
piece, collaborate with the team, and produce work that fits our style and
quality bar. This is a hands-on creative role for someone with a strong
portfolio and reliable craft.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Create original artwork to brief, on style and on deadline
•Take projects from concept and sketches to finished work
•Collaborate with [clients / the creative team / the owner]
•Incorporate feedback and revise to final approval
•Maintain quality, consistency, and brand or studio style
•Manage your own files, assets, and project organization
•Keep up with tools, techniques, and trends in the medium
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•A portfolio that shows the style and skill the role needs
•Proficiency in [the relevant tools or medium]
•Ability to work to a brief, take feedback, and hit deadlines
•[Experience level: entry, mid, or senior]
•Strong communication and self-management
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ ([range / hourly]; state W-2 or 1099)
Note: artwork created in this role is [work made for hire / assigned to the
company]; confirm the IP terms in the offer.
To apply, send your resume and portfolio to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Graphic / Commercial Artist
For a marketing agency, in-house creative team, or print shop: digital and print production work to brand guidelines and deadlines. The recurring commercial creative hire.
For a salon, beauty studio, or PMU studio: client-facing makeup services with licensing and sanitation built in, plus the commission and W-2 vs 1099 note these roles need.
Makeup Artist Job Description (Salon / Studio)
MAKEUP ARTIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Business: __ ([salon / beauty studio / PMU studio])
For a tattoo shop: custom tattooing with state licensing, safety standards, and the commission split or booth rent and 1099 reality that defines studio hiring.
For an indie game studio: concept, 2D, or 3D assets to the art direction and pipeline, with the IP-assignment line a studio needs. Pairs with a video game designer hire.
Game / 2D / 3D / Concept Artist Job Description
GAME / 2D / 3D / CONCEPT ARTIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Studio: __ ([indie game studio])
Location: __ ([City, State] / remote)
Reports to: Art Director / Lead / Owner
Employment type: [Full-time / Contract]
Compensation: $_____ ([range]; W-2 or 1099)
JOB SUMMARY
[Studio Name] is hiring a [2D / 3D / Concept] Artist to create game art for
[our title / our projects]. You will produce [concept art / characters /
environments / assets] that fit the art direction and pipeline, collaborate
with design and development, and deliver to milestones. This role suits a game
artist with a strong portfolio in [the relevant style].
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Create [concept art / 2D / 3D] assets to the art direction
•Model, texture, or illustrate to the studio pipeline and style
•Collaborate with designers, animators, and developers
•Iterate on feedback from the art director and team
•Optimize and deliver assets to engine and milestone specs
•Maintain files, naming, and version control
•Keep current with tools, engines, and game-art techniques
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Portfolio of game art in [2D / 3D / concept] and your style
•Proficiency in [Photoshop / Blender / Maya / ZBrush / the engine]
•Understanding of game-art pipelines and constraints
•Ability to work to art direction and milestones
•[Experience level and any engine or genre experience]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ ([range]; W-2 or 1099)
Note: confirm that game art is work made for hire or assigned to the studio.
To apply, send your resume and portfolio to __.
[Studio Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 6: Illustrator / Digital Artist
For products, publishing, or marketing: original illustration to brief in a consistent style, with the digital tools and IP terms spelled out.
Compensation: $_____ ([range / per project]; W-2 or 1099)
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring an Illustrator / Digital Artist to create original
illustrations for [products / publications / marketing / clients]. You will
develop concepts, illustrate to brief, and deliver polished digital artwork in
our style. This role suits an illustrator with a distinctive portfolio and
strong digital craft.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Create original illustrations to brief and style
•Develop concepts, sketches, and final digital artwork
•Collaborate with [editors / designers / clients]
•Revise to feedback and deliver final files to spec
•Maintain a consistent style across a project or product line
•Manage files, formats, and delivery
•Keep current with illustration tools and trends
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Portfolio of illustration or digital art in [your style]
•Proficiency in [Procreate / Illustrator / Photoshop / the tools]
•Ability to illustrate to brief and hit deadlines
•Strong concept and composition skills
•[Experience level for the role]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ ([range / per project]; W-2 or 1099)
Note: confirm that illustrations are work made for hire or assigned to the
company.
To apply, send your resume and portfolio to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Licensing, 1099, and IP
These four considerations apply across artist roles and are exactly what generic templates leave out. Handle them before you post, and your job description attracts the right artist and avoids a licensing gap, a misclassification, or an ownership dispute.
Always ask for a portfolio
For any artist role, the portfolio is the qualification. A resume tells you where someone worked; the portfolio tells you whether they can do the specific work you need, in the style you need it. Make a portfolio link a required part of the application, and review for fit to your style and quality bar before anything else. Be specific about what you want to see: a makeup artist's bridal versus editorial work, a game artist's 2D versus 3D, a graphic artist's print versus digital. The portfolio screens faster and more honestly than any list of credentials.
Check the license where the role requires one
Some artist roles are licensed and some are not, and the difference matters legally. Makeup artists typically need a cosmetology or esthetician license depending on the state and the services, and permanent makeup adds bloodborne-pathogen and permit requirements. Tattoo artists need a state tattoo license or permit, often with a completed apprenticeship and bloodborne-pathogen certification. Graphic, game, and illustration roles are generally not licensed. Name the specific license your state and services require in the posting, and verify it before hiring. This is general information, not legal advice.
Decide W-2 versus 1099 deliberately
This is the trap in artist hiring, especially in salons and tattoo studios where commission, booth rent, and 1099 arrangements are the norm. Whether an artist is a W-2 employee or a 1099 independent contractor depends on the actual working relationship, including how much control you have over their schedule, methods, and tools, not on what is convenient or customary in the trade. Misclassifying a worker who is really an employee as a 1099 contractor can create real tax and wage-law exposure. Decide based on the real relationship, and if the role is a genuine employee role, classify it as W-2. This is general information, not legal advice.
Put the IP assignment in writing
When you hire an artist to create work for your business, you want to own or have clear rights to that work, and that does not happen automatically. Under copyright law, the person who creates a work generally owns it unless there is a written agreement assigning the rights or qualifying it as a work made for hire. For commercial, game, and illustration roles especially, the offer or contract should state plainly that artwork created in the role is assigned to the company or is work made for hire. Spell out the IP terms in writing before the first project. This is general information, not legal advice.
The Three Easy-to-Miss Decisions
Generic artist templates skip the three things that carry real weight: licensing (makeup and tattoo roles are often licensed at the state level, with sanitation rules), classification (commission and booth rent are common, but W-2 vs 1099 depends on the real relationship, not the custom), and IP (you do not own the artwork unless the offer assigns it or makes it work made for hire). Decide all three deliberately before posting. This is general information, not legal advice.
Common Duties and Skills
While the specifics differ by type, most artist roles share a core set of duties and skills. A strong job description picks the responsibilities that match the role rather than listing every possible task.
Area
What it looks like
Create to brief
Produce original work on style, on spec, and on deadline
Concept to final
Take projects from sketch or concept to finished piece
Collaborate
Work with clients, the team, or an art director on feedback
Revise
Incorporate feedback and iterate to final approval
Portfolio
A body of work that proves the style and skill you need
Tools
Proficiency in the medium or software the role requires
Keep the posting neutral and inclusive, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
Artist Pay
Artist pay varies widely by type and by how the role is structured, since many creative roles run on commission, booth rent, or per-project rather than salary. Use government data as a baseline for the specific role, then set the structure your business uses.
Federal Benchmarks (BLS, May 2024)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $56,260 for craft and fine artists (lowest 10 percent under $29,120, highest 10 percent over $133,220), $61,300 for graphic designers, and $111,040 for art directors, in May 2024 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Pay varies widely within each role.
Many artist roles, especially makeup and tattoo, are paid by commission, booth rent, or per project rather than a straight salary, so total earnings depend on client volume and the split. When you write the posting, state the pay structure plainly, benchmark to the specific role and your local market, and include a good-faith range where your state requires it. National compensation surveys can help you set a competitive rate for the specific kind of artist.
Hiring for a Small Studio or Agency
The businesses that hire artists at the five-to-fifty-employee scale, small agencies, salons, PMU and tattoo studios, indie game studios, and print shops, rarely have an HR team. The owner or creative lead writes the posting, reviews portfolios, and onboards the hire. Here is how to write the posting and handle the hire for that reality.
There is no single artist role, so generic templates miss
The biggest mistake in hiring an artist is treating artist as one job. A makeup artist in a salon, a graphic artist at an agency, a tattoo artist in a studio, and a 3D artist at a game studio share a word and almost nothing else: different skills, different licensing, different pay structures, different IP concerns. A generic artist template forces you to delete most of it and guess at the rest. The templates here are split by the artist you are actually hiring, so you start from the right responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation structure instead of editing a one-size template down to your role.
Licensing and classification are easy to get wrong, and costly
For salon and studio roles especially, two decisions carry real legal weight and generic templates ignore both. First, licensing: makeup and tattoo roles are often licensed at the state level, with sanitation and bloodborne-pathogen requirements, and the posting should name what your state and services require. Second, classification: commission, booth rent, and 1099 are common in these trades, but whether an artist is genuinely a 1099 contractor or really a W-2 employee depends on the working relationship, not the custom. Getting either wrong is expensive. The templates flag both so you decide deliberately before you post.
Who owns the artwork is a question you have to answer up front
When you hire someone to create art for your business, you usually assume you own what they make. Copyright law does not work that way by default: the creator generally owns the work unless a written agreement assigns it or makes it work made for hire. For a commercial, game, or illustration hire, that gap matters, since you are paying for work you intend to use and resell. The fix is simple but has to be deliberate: state the IP terms in the offer or contract before the first project, so ownership is settled in writing rather than assumed.
After the portfolio review, hiring an artist is ordinary people operations
Once you have picked the artist whose portfolio fits, the rest is the same hiring and onboarding work as any role, with a creative twist: an offer letter that states pay, classification, and IP terms, a signed agreement, the new hire paperwork, and onboarding into your tools, files, and style. FirstHR fits this people side for an owner-led studio or agency: e-signature for the offer and IP-assignment agreement, document management for the signed offer and license records, training modules for tools and style onboarding, and task workflows for a first-project ramp. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a portfolio or creative-asset tool, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with those providers. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once you have picked the artist whose portfolio fits, the same details, pay, classification, and IP, flow into the offer and the onboarding. A clean, repeatable process pays off every time you hire creative talent.
Send the offer with IP and pay terms
Spell out pay, W-2 or 1099 classification, and the IP-assignment or work-made-for-hire terms in the offer, and have the artist sign. An offer letter makes this clean.
Collect paperwork and license records
Complete the standard new hire paperwork, confirm the classification, and store any required license or certification records with the signed offer.
Onboard into tools and style
Set up the artist on your tools, files, and pipeline, share your style guide and brand standards, and assign a clear first project.
Ramp on a first project
Give the artist a defined first project with feedback checkpoints, so they learn your bar and process quickly and you see their work in your context.
Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the pay, classification, and IP terms, alongside the usual new hire paperwork. FirstHR connects the offer, the IP-assignment agreement, paperwork, e-signatures, training, and onboarding workflow in one place so an owner-led studio or agency can manage the full process, from signed terms to a productive first project, from one system. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a portfolio or creative-asset tool, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
Artist is an umbrella term; name the specific type (graphic, makeup, tattoo, game, illustrator) before you write the posting.
Use the template that matches the role; the six versions start from the right skills, licensing, and pay structure.
Always request a portfolio; it is the real qualification for any creative role and screens faster than a resume.
Name the license your state and services require for makeup and tattoo roles, and verify it before hiring.
Decide W-2 vs 1099 deliberately; commission and booth rent are common but do not by themselves make a role 1099.
Put the IP terms in writing; you do not own the artwork unless the offer assigns it or makes it work made for hire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an artist do?
It depends entirely on the type of artist, which is why artist is really an umbrella term rather than one job. A graphic or commercial artist creates visual content for marketing, branding, and print. A makeup artist provides makeup services to clients in a salon or studio. A tattoo artist designs and applies custom tattoos. A game artist creates concept art, characters, environments, or 3D assets for games. An illustrator creates original illustrations for products, publishing, or marketing. What they share is creating original work to a brief or a client's needs, working from concept to finished piece, collaborating and taking feedback, and maintaining a consistent quality and style. When you hire, the first step is naming which kind of artist you actually need, because the skills, licensing, pay structure, and tools differ sharply between them.
How do I write an artist job description?
Start by naming the specific type of artist you are hiring, since graphic, makeup, tattoo, game, and illustration roles need different skills, qualifications, and pay structures. Once you have the type, include a short business summary, a job summary that defines the role and medium, responsibilities specific to that artist, and the qualifications that matter, led by a portfolio request, since the portfolio is the real qualification for any creative role. Then add what generic templates skip: the license your state and services require for makeup and tattoo roles, a deliberate W-2 versus 1099 decision, the pay structure, an IP-assignment or work-made-for-hire line, an equal opportunity statement, and clear apply instructions that ask for a portfolio link. Pick the matching template below and fill in the brackets rather than starting from a blank page.
Should I ask artists for a portfolio?
Yes, always. For any artist role, the portfolio is the single most important screen, more telling than a resume or a list of credentials. A resume shows where someone has worked; a portfolio shows whether they can do the specific work you need, in the style you need it. Make a portfolio link a required part of the application, and be specific about what you want to see, since the relevant work differs by role: a makeup artist's bridal versus editorial looks, a graphic artist's print versus digital production, a game artist's 2D versus 3D assets, an illustrator's range and consistency. Review portfolios for fit to your style and quality bar before you weigh anything else, because it screens candidates faster and more honestly than interviews alone.
Do makeup artists and tattoo artists need a license?
Often yes, and the requirement depends on your state and the specific services. Makeup artists typically need a cosmetology or esthetician license in many states, and permanent makeup, which is a form of cosmetic tattooing, usually adds a permit and bloodborne-pathogen certification. Tattoo artists generally need a state tattoo license or permit, often after a completed apprenticeship, plus bloodborne-pathogen certification, and studios are subject to health-department regulations. By contrast, graphic, game, and illustration roles are generally not licensed. Because the rules vary significantly by state and by service, name the specific license and certifications your jurisdiction requires directly in the job posting, and verify them before hiring. Confirm the current requirements with your state board or health department. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can an artist be a 1099 contractor?
Sometimes, but it depends on the actual working relationship, not on what is customary in the trade or convenient for the business. Salon, PMU, and tattoo studio roles are frequently structured as commission, booth rent, or 1099, and that makes misclassification a common risk. Whether an artist is a W-2 employee or a 1099 independent contractor turns on factors like how much control you have over their schedule, methods, and tools, who provides equipment and space, and how integral the role is to your business. Labeling a role 1099 to avoid taxes and wage obligations when the relationship is really employment can create significant tax and wage-law exposure. Decide based on the real relationship, and if it is genuinely an employee role, classify it as W-2. Confirm classification with an employment professional. This is general information, not legal advice.
Who owns the artwork an artist creates for my business?
Not automatically you, which surprises many business owners. Under copyright law, the person who creates a work generally owns the copyright unless there is a written agreement that assigns the rights to you or qualifies the work as a work made for hire. Simply paying an artist does not transfer ownership by itself. For commercial, game, and illustration roles, where you intend to use, modify, and resell the work, this matters a great deal. The fix is to state the IP terms plainly in the offer letter or contract: that artwork created in the role is assigned to the company or is work made for hire. Settle ownership in writing before the first project rather than assuming it. For employees versus independent contractors the rules differ, so confirm the right language with a professional. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much do artists make?
Pay varies widely by the type of artist and the structure of the role. As federal benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2024: craft and fine artists had a median annual wage of $56,260, graphic designers $61,300, and art directors $111,040, with significant spread within each. Many artist roles, especially in salons and tattoo studios, are paid by commission, booth rent, or per project rather than a straight salary, so total earnings depend heavily on client volume and the split. For your posting, benchmark to the specific role and your local market using government data and national compensation surveys, state the pay structure clearly, whether salary, hourly, commission, or per project, and include a good-faith range where your state requires it. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between an artist and a graphic designer?
The terms overlap but point to different work and different SERPs and occupations. Graphic designer is the far more common job title for commercial visual work: creating layouts, branding, and marketing materials, usually with design software, and it is a large, well-defined occupation. Artist, especially graphic artist or commercial artist, is often used for production and illustration work, but it is a broader umbrella that also covers fine artists, makeup artists, tattoo artists, and game artists, who do entirely different jobs. If you need someone to design ads, packaging, and brand collateral, you are most likely hiring a graphic designer; if you need original illustration, makeup, tattoo, or game art, you are hiring a specific kind of artist. Name the role by the work you actually need, since that determines the skills, tools, and candidates you attract. This is general information, not legal advice.
