Comic Book Artist Career Information

As a comic book artist, you are in charge of the illustrations in the comic book. There are many options under the umbrella of “comic book artist”. If you’re a Comic Book Penciller, you take the “script” — the words and dialogue — and turn it into pencil illustrations. If you’re a Comic Book Inker, you trace the Penciller’s drawings in ink, turning them into finished images that can be printed and mass-produced. Finally, if you’re a Comic Book Colorist, you apply color to those images using a two-step process: flatting, which involves blocking out what colors go where; and coloring, which requires filling in black and white images with the appropriate shades and hues. No matter what type of Comic Book Artist you are, you’re basically the person who decides what the story’s characters and events look like, making you a visual deity within the comic book universe!

What skills do you need to become a comic book artist?

To be a comic book artist, you need to be creative and have strong drawing skills. You will want to be familiar with common design software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark Express, and InDesign. Working in the art world requires a lot of networking with other artists, so great interpersonal skills are a plus.

What experience and/or certifications do you need to be a comic book artist?

There are no academic requirements to become a comic book artist, but a high school diploma is recommended. Art school and other courses are a great resource if you want to have more formal training.

What companies and industries employ comic book artists?

Most artists are self-employed. However, some artists work for government agencies and in the movie industry.

What is the job outlook and salary for comic book artists?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment as an artist is expected to grow by 1%, which is considered to be little or no change. The median annual wage for an artist is $48,760.