Craftspeople or craft practitioners design, make and repair objects that have both functional and artistic qualities, working in wood, metal, glass, leather, ceramics, textiles and other materials.
Craftspeople design the style and shape of objects. They use and manipulate materials to make objects according to the design. They finish off objects to enhance their artistic and/or practical qualities. Some craftspeople are asked to repair damaged or defective craft objects.
Craftspeople may specialize in one or more of the following:
Fibre Textile Workers, who work with weaving, felting, embroidery, stitching, quilting, dyeing, printing and garment design to create articles of clothing, finishings and decorative items. They may also do lace making, tapestry, collage, basketry, crochet, macramé, rug making, knotting, bookbinding and fabric painting.
Glass Workers work with hot glass (glassblowing and casting), warm glass (fusing and slumping) or cold glass (stained glass and lead lighting) to produce a variety of glassware and decorative items.
Leather Workers design, make and decorate shoes, bags, soft furnishings and gloves.
Metal and Jewellery Workers work with copper, brass, nickel, pewter, gold, silver and other metals to create jewellery and utensils such as enamelware and cutlery. They may choose to weld, patinate, cast, beat, construct and manipulate materials to suit the design.
Potters / Ceramicists mould clay into functional items such as mugs, bowls and tableware or conceptual (idea-based) works by wheel throwing, moulding or hand building. They then mix glazing materials to decorate, using various techniques, and apply the glaze. They put the finished or decorated pieces into kilns for firing and may decorate the pottery for artistic effect.
Wood Workers may choose to carve, lathe turn, laminate, inlay, construct and sculpt wood to produce items such as sculptures, decorative wall panels, furniture, picture frames, jewellery boxes and eating utensils.
Most craftspeople are involved in small business operations and often rely on exhibition sales and commissions to sell their work. Exhibitions and major commissions provide opportunities to become well known and therefore increase business prospects. Work is sold wholesale to shops, galleries and department stores or directly from the studio. Only a few craftspeople are employed full-time in their craft. Often other career opportunities develop in craft education, administration, curating, museum and gallery conservation or community artwork.
Satisfying Aspects
- expressing your ideas in visual form
- possibly becoming famous, especially for establishing a particular style or technique
- possible high earnings and own business
- working your own hours
Demanding aspects
- some projects can take a long time to complete
- sometimes back-breaking work in awkward positions
- difficulty making ends meet during slumps and long projects
- long hours, especially when first setting up own business and if working to a deadline on a project
Requirements
- above-average artistic design abilities
- promotional skills
- able to work alone and in isolation for long periods
- able to visualize three-dimensionally
- creative, imaginative and not afraid to try new ideas
- business skills, especially if self-employed
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory Subjects: None
Recommended Subjects: Visual Arts
Training
There are no formal educational requirements to become a craftsperson. However, entry to this occupation may be improved if you have qualifications.
Degree: BA (Fine Arts) - RU, UJ, US, UFS, NMMU, NWU, UCT, UFH, UP, WSU, Wits.
Diploma: N.Dip: Fine Arts and other various diplomas - CUT, DUT, TUT and VUT
Certificate: Various - art colleges, studios and some FET colleges, run Craft Courses.
Examples of specific courses:
Textile Design - DUT, TUT. Jewellery Design - TUT, UJ, DUT, CUT, CPUT, Ceramic Design - UJ, NMMU, CUT, Port Elizabeth FET, False Bay FET.
Some craftspeople are self-taught and often find it beneficial to work under the guidance of an established craftsperson.
Training which may be relevant to your specialized craft is available at certificate (mostly from technical and art colleges), diploma (mostly from Universities of Technology) and degree (university) levels.
In some cases, applicants are required to attend an interview and submit a portfolio of work.
Employer
- any organisation or individual who might commission you to create a specific work or piece of art
- shops who want on-going orders met
- educational institutions, as a teacher, lecturer or instructor
- craft administration, eg. as curator with museums and art galleries
- self-employment, with own studio and maybe own outlet
Job opportunities very much depend upon the quality and reputation of an individual's work; the level of tourist activity and the amount of money spent by tourists; fashion trends and the popularity of the craft pieces and the craftsperson; and local and export demand for hand-made craft pieces from this country.
Contact
Craft Council of South Africa
Tel: (011) 834-9569 Fax: (011) 492-3696
www.craftcouncil.co.za