Artisans and Craft persons

This unit group includes those who use manual and artistic skills to design and make ornamental objects, pottery, stained glass, jewellery, rugs, blankets, other handicrafts and artistic floral arrangements. Makers of stringed musical instruments are also included in this unit group. Most craftsperson's are self-employed. Artistic floral arrangers are usually employed in florist shops and florist departments of retail establishments or may be self-employed. Craft instructors are also included in this unit group and are employed by artisan guilds, colleges, private studios and recreational organizations.

Example Titles

artisan
artistic floral arranger
carver
craft instructor
craftsperson
glass blower
leather worker
metal arts worker
potter
silversmith
stained glass artist
stringed instrument maker
totem pole carver
weaver



Main duties

The following is a summary of main duties for some occupations in this unit group:

• Carvers use hand tools and woodworking machines to produce carvings from wood, stone and other materials and to carve ornamental designs into wooden furniture and other objects.

• Glass blowers design and create glass objects using blowpipes and artisan's hand tools and equipment.

• Metal arts workers design metal jewellery, utensils, implements, wall hangings and other objects and create them from gold, silver, copper, pewter and other metals.

• Potters design ornamental and ceramic functional earthenware pieces and create them using clay, moulds, potter's wheels and other equipment, glazing materials and kilns.

• Stained glass artists design stained glass windows, lampshades and other objects and cut, paint, fire and assemble pieces of stained glass to create such products.

• Stringed instrument makers construct stringed instruments applying their knowledge of wood, ebonite, metal properties and other materials and instrument design using hand and power tools.

• Weavers use hands or loom to interlace strips of flexible material such as wool, cotton, silk, grasses, bark and rawhide to make baskets, wreaths, wall hangings, clothing, rugs, blankets and other objects.

• Craft instructors prepare craft making lessons, gather the required working materials and demonstrate and teach craft making techniques.

• Artistic floral arrangers design bouquets, corsages, sprays, wreaths and other floral arrangements and select natural and artificial flowers, foliage and decorative accessories to create arrangements or other floral items to suit customers' requirements.

Employment requirements

• Skills are often learned through apprenticeship with a master craftsperson.

• Training programs are offered by artisan guilds, colleges and private studios.

• Creative ability and talent, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work and knowledge of safe handling of material, tools and equipment are required.

• A college diploma in fine craft techniques may be required.