Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Artist Types

Visual Artist

Creators who make art you can see — including painters, illustrators, muralists, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, and more. This category includes fine art and decorative works for homes, businesses, galleries, and public spaces.

Specialties:

• Painter – Creates art using paint on surfaces like canvas or walls.
• Muralist – Paints large-scale artwork on walls or buildings, often in public spaces.
• Printmaker – Produces art through techniques like screen printing, etching, or block printing.
• Illustrator – Makes visual representations to accompany text or communicate ideas.
• Photographer – Uses cameras to capture images, often in artistic, documentary, or commercial styles.
• Filmmaker – Creates narrative or documentary video content, including short or long-form projects.
• Animator – Creates motion-based visuals, including 2D, 3D, and stop-motion animations.
• Mixed Media Artist – Combines multiple materials (e.g., paint, fabric, found objects) into their work.
• Collage Artist – Constructs compositions from cut or assembled images, paper, or textures.
• Digital Artist – Uses computers or tablets to create original digital images and artwork.
• Installation Artist – Designs immersive or site-specific environments that often invite viewer interaction.

Performer

Artists who use their body, voice, or movement to engage an audience — from actors and dancers to spoken word poets, drag performers, circus artists, and specialty performers (like fire spinners or mimes). Think stage, street, and everything in between.

Specialties:

• Actor – Performs in theater, film, or video projects using voice and movement.
• Dancer – Uses movement, choreography, and physical expression in performance.
• Drag Performer – Performs in character, often blending fashion, lip-sync, comedy, and dance.
• Spoken Word Artist – Performs poetry or storytelling out loud, often with rhythm or emotion.
• Voice Actor – Provides voice for characters in animation, games, ads, or other media.
• Specialty Performer – Includes circus arts, flow artists, acrobats, mimes, stilt walkers, fire performers, etc.

Musician

Instrumentalists, singers, composers, beatmakers, and DJs. Whether they perform live or record in the studio, musicians on CAN cover everything from jazz to hip hop, classical to experimental.

Specialties:

• Singer/Vocalist – Uses their voice to perform music across any genre.
• Instrumentalist – Plays musical instruments (e.g., strings, percussion, brass, keys, etc.).
• Composer – Writes original music for songs, film, theater, or other media.
• DJ – Mixes and performs music using turntables or digital tools.
• Producer/Engineer – Records, edits, or mixes music for artists, albums, or performances.
• Band/Group – Musical ensemble performing together live or recorded.

Writer

Poets, novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, journalists, and authors. Writers may create original work, contribute to collaborative projects, or help others tell their stories through ghostwriting or editing.

Specialties:

• Poet – Writes poetry in traditional or experimental forms.
• Nonfiction Writer – Writes essays, memoirs, journalism, or educational content.
• Fiction Writer – Writes novels, short stories, or other narrative works.
• Playwright – Writes scripts for theater.
• Screenwriter – Writes for film, TV, or web video.
• Copywriter – Crafts marketing and advertising language.

Designer

Visual problem-solvers who make ideas tangible — from graphic designers and illustrators to brand strategists, type designers, and UX/UI pros. Designers often help shape the look and feel of businesses, events, and publications.

Specialties:

• Ceramics – Works with clay to make pottery, sculpture, or tiles.
• Textile/Fiber Artist – Uses materials like fabric, yarn, or thread to create art or objects.
• Woodwork – Crafts items from wood, from furniture to sculptures.
• Glasswork – Works with glass using techniques like blowing, fusing, or stained glass.
• Metalwork – Creates objects or sculpture using metal, forging, welding, or shaping.
• Jewelry Maker – Designs and fabricates wearable art from metals, beads, or natural materials.

Maker

Craftspeople and artisans who work with their hands to create functional or decorative items — including ceramicists, fiber artists, woodworkers, glassblowers, jewelry designers, and textile artists. If it’s made, not mass-produced, they’re here.

Specialties:

• Graphic Designer – Uses images, typography, and layout for branding, posters, publications, etc. May also develop the visual identity of a company or product (logos, color palettes, etc.)
• Fashion Designer – Designs clothing or accessories.
• Set Designer – Creates physical or digital environments for performances or photo/video shoots.
• UX/UI Designer – Designs digital interfaces (websites, apps) for usability and visual appeal.
• Illustrator – Creates art for editorial, packaging, children’s books, or other commercial uses.
• Animator – Brings images to life through motion for web, film, or games.