A good artist cover letter shows how you create works that are visually pleasing, engaging, or thought-provoking. Use this document to express your interest in the employer and cite your formal training and related skills, such as printmaking or animation.
The tips and examples below will help you write a cover letter that gets you interviews for your next job as an artist.
Artist Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write an Artist Cover Letter
When possible, connect each part of your cover letter back to the employer and its stated hiring needs. The following advice and examples will show you how to use this strategy so your letter is optimized for each application.
1. Heading
At the top of the page, include:
- Your resume contact header, which should give your full name, address, email, phone number, online portfolio or website, and LinkedIn or other social accounts, if applicable
- The date
- The recipient’s name, title, organization, and contact information (when available)
(Note: Feel free to omit this section when sending your letter as an email message, as long as your contact details are part of your email signature.)
Example
Tyesha Stack
Story Artist | [email protected] | (123) 456-7891 | 123 My Street, Los Angeles, CA 08642
May 25, 2024
Clorinda Witt
Senior Hiring Manager
Skydance Animation
(753) 157-7531
[email protected]
2. Salutation
Address your recipient by name – this is the quickest way to signal you’re sending a job-specific letter and not a boilerplate. If you can’t find the person’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” so your greeting is still tailored somewhat to each artist job opening.
Examples
Dear Mr. Goodman,
Dear Minuteman Press Hiring Manager:
3. “Hook” or introduction
Catch the reader’s attention by citing an achievement from your resume or a key credential the employer seeks in applicants. Then, connect that highlight to your main strengths and overall candidacy for the advertised artist role. Refer to the hiring organization by name here to further convince the recipient you’re applying to them specifically.
As an alternative to the work highlight approach, you can set yourself apart by networking. Begin your letter by citing any personal or professional connections you have with the hiring manager. If someone at the organization alerted you to the job, use a line like “I was excited to hear from your colleague [Name] about [Organization]’s new artist opening.” Or, if you’ve already met your recipient, mention that with a line like “It was great speaking with you at the [event] last month.”
Example
I recently implemented a new client liaison protocol that reduced revision requests by 45% over six months. The system improved communication efficiency and ensured swift adaptation to evolving briefs. I hope to apply similar strategic skills as a print production artist at Minuteman Press.
4. Job- or employer-specific paragraph(s)
This section is crucial, so think it through fully for each application in your job search.
On a separate document or sheet of paper, take 10 minutes to brainstorm why this artist position or employer interests you based on the job posting. When you’re done brainstorming, review your notes: Do any stand out as important or persuasive? Adapt those points into one or two brief paragraphs that speak to the job opening at hand. By making this description a central part of your letter, you’ll have a better chance of persuading the manager to give you a call.
Following this explanation, cite a few more of your artist skills or achievements, possibly as bullet points.
Example
As an innovative creator with more than two years of experience in the animation industry, Skydance Animation’s commitment to designing incredible visuals by leveraging cutting-edge technology appeals to me. My recent accomplishments show I have the technical and creative abilities to excel on your team. They include:
- Being selected out of 25 story artists to create a range of facial expressions for the main character of a feature film
- Mentoring three student interns to improve their understanding of storyboarding and composition
- Receiving praise five times during performance reviews for my exceptional work ethic and productivity
5. Conclusion
Finally, request an interview and thank the hiring manager for their time and attention. Consider briefly restating why this artist job interests you. You can also use this section to refer to your resume or other application materials. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.
Example
I look forward to attending an interview to discuss how my extensive experience producing branded literature and superb lettering skills can help your company continue its reputation for fast and high-quality service. Please contact me to set up an interview time.
Sincerely,
Terence Poole
Artist Cover Letter Tips
1. Show your creativity and success in your field
Start your letter strong by describing a key way you’ve applied your talents, honed your craft, or explored new styles or subject matter. Then, connect this work to the big picture by showing how it served a client or engaged an audience.
Example
Last year, I collaborated with two colleagues to create the color concepts for one of the top five animated films of the year. My supervisors praised my team’s use of paintings and marker sketches to produce a cohesive scheme. I am excited to demonstrate these skills as a story artist at Skydance Animation.
2. Explain why you’re drawn to the opportunity
When writing your body paragraph(s), consider what this artist job has in common with your background. For instance, maybe the role centers on developing community art programs, a key focus of your most recent position. Or maybe it works with ceramics, textiles, or another medium or material in line with your formal training. Also, consider what you know about the employer’s creative vision or sensibility and how that compares to yours.
Example
As an innovative artist with over seven years of on-call experience, I am excited by the chance to join the creative team at Minuteman Press. Your company’s reputation for leveraging cutting-edge illustration technologies aligns perfectly with my skill set.
3. Highlight your other art skills
Use your bullet points list to cover your success in other key work areas for an artist, like composition, materials selection, or client relations. Show each skill in action by describing how you applied it toward a specific art project or endeavor. Consider also using this section to link hiring managers to relevant work samples in your online portfolio.
Example
My recent achievements include:
- Training six interns to improve their use of the InDesign program, three of whom joined the company post-graduation as professional illustrators
- Consistently working efficiently on tight timescales, delivering 76% of projects early while ensuring a 99% satisfaction rate over two years
- Receiving glowing praise during my annual performance review for my strong understanding of branding and color selection
Artist Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Terence Poole
Print Production Artist | [email protected] | (385) 294-5035 | 432 First Street, Colorado Springs, CO 39503
May 18, 2024
Edgar Goodman
Senior Hiring Manager
Minuteman Press
(485) 244-5738
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Goodman,
I recently implemented a new client liaison protocol that reduced revision requests by 45% over six months. The system improved communication efficiency and ensured swift adaptation to evolving briefs. I hope to apply similar strategic skills as a print production artist at Minuteman Press.
As an innovative artist with over 7 years of on-call experience, I am excited by the chance to join the creative team at Minuteman Press. I believe that your company’s reputation for leveraging cutting-edge illustration technologies aligns perfectly with my skill set. My recent achievements include:
- Training six interns to improve their use of the InDesign program, three of whom joined the company post-graduation as professional illustrators
- Consistently working efficiently on tight timescales, delivering 76% of projects early while ensuring a 99% satisfaction rate over two years
- Receiving glowing praise during my annual performance review for my strong understanding of branding and color selection
I look forward to attending an interview to discuss how my extensive experience producing branded literature and superb lettering skills can help your company continue its reputation for fast and high-quality service. Please contact me to set up an interview time.
Sincerely,
Terence Poole
Artist Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to start a cover letter?-
With a clear example of your success in the role you’re pursuing. The concept of “show, don’t tell” absolutely applies to your cover letter’s first paragraph. For instance, don’t just tell the hiring manager you’re an “efficient illustrator.” Display you have this quality by describing a time you came in ahead of the deadline and what impact that had on overall production.
How long should my cover letter be?-
No more than one page, or around 250 words. Hiring managers expect an applicant’s cover letter to be shorter than their resume, so keep it concise. Resist the urge to tell your whole career story, even if you have an extensive background as an artist. Give just enough detail to pique hiring managers’ interest so they take a closer look at your resume.
What should my cover letter’s design look like?-
Your resume’s. Carry over all of that document’s basic format settings, like font style, line spacing, and page margins.
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