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This is What an Artist Does

Santana | future graphic artist

My name is Santana and when I grow up I want to be an artist/illustrator/graphic artist.

I understand that the job of a graphic artist is to come up with designs for people to see on TV and on billboards. It is also about listening to what people want you to draw. The reason I want to be a graphic artist is because I love science. I like to find materials (like cardboard, duck tape and string) to build props into designs for people to see.

The education needed for an artist/illustrator/graphic artist is to have training in software packages. The education for an illustrator is a college degree in fine arts plus freelance work.

The opportunities for a graphic artist are good because I can work in magazines, comic books, TV and computer games. The opportunities for an illustrator are good because I can work in drawing designs to create a story.

For me, it was about drawing pictures and making props from scraps at home. My parents kept telling me what an artist I was. They were so amazed at what I made from cardboard and told me this is what an artist does.

Santana's essay appears here as written, to preserve the young author’s unique voice and individual writing style. However, we have deleted personally identifiable information to protect the student’s privacy.