This document discusses the career of being a sculptor. It describes sculpting as the art of making figures or designs through carving or molding materials. Sculptors can be self-employed and create their own works or be employed, such as at visual effects companies like Weta Workshop creating sculptures for movies. To work as a sculptor requires natural artistic skills like creativity, drawing ability, and skill with tools. A bachelor's degree in fine arts is recommended, though some sculptors are self-taught. The career path involves developing one's skills and portfolio, either by self-employment building a client base or seeking employment with companies hiring sculptors.

2. Sculpting
The career that I have chosen for my project is a career in
Sculpting. I have chosen this career for my project because I
have always loved art and I really like the fact that with
sculpting you can make your art 3D.
Sculpting King Kong – Weta Workshop
Gollum Sculpture, Wellington Airport – Weta Workshop

3. What is Sculpting and
What Does a Sculptor Do?
Sculpting is the art of making figures or designs by carving
wood, moulding clay, casting metals etc. There are very limited
available jobs for sculptors so not many people take up this
career.
In some cases sculptors are self employed and make whatever
they want and sell it to clients. In other cases sculptors are
employed and they work at places such as Weta Workshop and
make sculptures for movies and other things.

4. Skills & Qualifications
To be a sculptor you need to have a variety of natural artistic skills. First
of all you need to have a good imagination. You have to be creative to do
well in a sculpting career. You also need to be an excellent freehand
drawer and skillful with a range of different tools and materials . Another
important skill is to be able to work accurately to a tight deadline as you
may not have a huge amount of time to create your artwork. The main
skill you need for any type of art is really just natural artistic talent.
Some artists are self-taught but others go on from school to study a
Bachelor of Fine Arts. If you want to study for this degree you will have to
have studied NCEA art so that you have a portfolio of your artwork to
present to the university in order to be accepted. If you want to be a
sculptor in the film industry it is recommended that you also study history
at college. To increase your chance of being accepted for the university
course you will need to show imagination and originality in your work.
Universities look for people who can showcase their talent so it is also
important to do this.

5. Career Pathway
There is not really a clear career pathway for a sculptor. There are two
different career pathways for a sculptor to take – an employed sculptor
or a self-employed sculptor. You need to know that you want to be an
artist when you are still at school so that you can take art classes and
develop an art portfolio. You also need to practice art in your spare time.
When you begin your career as a self-employed sculptor you need to have
good all round art skills. You may choose to study for a Bachelor of Fine
Arts or you may just keep sculpting your best work and slowly build up
your reputation. If you want to get a reasonable income you will need to
have clients or galleries to sell your art to. If you are lucky you may win a
scholarship to study overseas. If you want to work as an employed
sculptor then you will also need to have natural art skills and you will
definitely need a Bachelor of Fine Arts to get a sculpting job at a
company like Weta Workshop. You then just work for your company and
make sculptures when needed.

6. Self-Employed Sculptor
DISADVANTAGES
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You need another job while you establish your
reputation and develop a client base
Hard to make a living when you are starting
out
Hard to get a regular flow of income
Some materials worked with are toxic
ADVANTAGES

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You are paid to do what you love
You have control over what you make
You have control over the hours you work
You get to be imaginative and creative
You can express yourself

7. Employed Sculptor
DISADVANTAGES
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Long hours of work
Your creativity is slightly more limited
than that of a self-employed sculptor
as you are told what you are to make
Hard to find an available job
Some materials worked with are toxic
ADVANTAGES




You are paid to do what you love
If you work for companies like Weta
Workshop you get to make sculptures
for movies
You don’t have to pay for your own
resources
You get a regular income

8. Artist / Sculptor Facts
There are no New Zealand statistics for sculptors specifically but they
come in to the broader category of artists.
Pay
Pay for artists varies depending on your ability, how productive you are, and what type of
work you do.
How Many New Zealanders are Doing this Job?
2012-3898, 2011-3787, 2010-3515. Numbers of New Zealand artists are increasing.
Job Opportunities
There are few job opportunities. Opportunities to make a living as an artist are poor due
to it being a small industry that is hard to become established in.
Hours of Work
Self-employed sculptors choose how long they work for each day but employed sculptors
work the hours that their employer states.
Working with People
When working as a self-employed sculptor you work by yourself but when you work
as a self-employed sculptor you can work with others or by yourself.
Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, '2003-2012 Occupation Data' (prepared for Careers
New Zealand), 2012.

9. Job Advertisements
It was very hard to
find a particular job
advertisement for a
sculptor as there are
so few jobs available.
Instead of finding a
particular sculpting
advertisement I
managed to find two
advertisements for
artist in general.

10. HERE ARE SOME
IMAGES OF
SCULPTURES MADE
BY WETA
WORKSHOP.

17. Using the 123D Creature sculpting app I made my own sculpture.
Here are some screen shots I took whilst I made my sculpture.
Here are some screen shots of my finished sculpture…