Info on Working as an Illustrator in Providence, Rhode Island

The city of Providence, Rhode Island features more than 20,000 corporate enterprises and private businesses, along with a flourishing local visual arts culture.  Consequently, talented artists living in Providence regularly land lucrative gigs in the field of commercial graphics.  Artists with illustrative technique are especially encouraged to apply.

Providence Schools and Training Programs for Illustrators

Providence is packed with colleges and independent art studios that offer technical skills training for aspiring professional commercial illustrators.  Providence schools of graphic arts include Workshop, Brown University, Rhode Island College, Providence College and Rhode Island School of Design. 

On a similar note, many artists residing in Providence acquire skills via virtual design schools.  Accredited online colleges with fine arts degree programs include University of Phoenix, National University, Full Sail University, ITT Tech, The Art Institutes, DeVry and Stratford Career Institute.  In many cases, online schools also provide supplemental local campuses and training facilities.   

Working as an Illustrator in Providence, Rhode Island

Proven professional Providence illustrators frequently do commercial art for local graphic design firms such as Ciccariello Graphics, Dan Harvey, Maximum Graphics, Richard Rose Graphic Design and Xtreme Marketing, to name a few.  Local artists with a street-smart style might work for neighborhood tattoo manufacturers like Casey Tattoo, Kabloom Tattoo, University Tattoo or Artfreek. 

Providence artists with a penchant for precision often create technical diagrams for local engineering companies like Emsie Engineering, Betts Engineering, Hart Engineering, Delta-Therm Engineering and Advanced Media Design, among others.  Some local technical illustrators work for Providence-based medical illustration firms like Bradford-Kendall-Illustrations, Studio-Goodwin-Sturges or Fritz-Dumville. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, full time illustrators employed in the city of Providence, Rhode Island report an average annual salary of roughly $51,550, with a claimed mean hourly rate of about $24.80.  These figures, however, do not reflect the incomes of part time illustrators or most local freelancers. 

Skills of a Professional Illustrator

Professional illustrators are visual artists with diverse skill sets that include everything from commercial graphics to complex technical diagrams to humorous doodles to conceptual abstract designs and more.   Most professional illustration artists are solidly experienced with all forms of mechanical visual media, as well as with at least a few digital illustration design applications.  Popular illustration design software packages include Harvard Draw, 3D Studio Max, Autodesk Sketchbook, eDraw Max and Photo-to-Cartoon.  Among the most important interpersonal qualifications essential to commercial illustration work are excellent communication skills, extreme reliability, intense attention to detail and unquestionable artistic talent.