Art / Artist Cover Letter Example [Also for an Internship]

“I’m an artist! Why on earth do I need to write a cover letter?”

You’re right to think that actions speak louder than words. 

But—

Your employer has probably never met you, so stop with the drama act and get down to writing your artist cover letter. 

This guide will show you an art cover letter sample and the best tips on how to write an artist cover letter step-by-step.

Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.

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Use this cover letter template

Sample cover letter for a resume—See more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.

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Artist Cover Letter Sample

Cover Letter for an Artist Template

Here’s how to write a cover letter for an art job:

1. Format Away Your Cover Letter

Just like you need a canvas to paint or fabric to sew, your art cover letter needs a base, too.

Create a cover letter format that holds everything together:

• Pick the same cover letter design as your artist resume to stay consistent in your job application. That way, you’ll be ready with your cover letter heading without much effort.
• Make enough white space in your cover letter. Set 1-inch margins on each side, 1–1.15 line spacing, and double-spacing between paragraphs.
• Creative fonts are a no-go. Choose an easy-to-read cover letter font, like Calibri or Arial, in 12pt font size.
• Outline your cover letter contents to stay on one page.
• Don’t justify. Left align.
• Save your letter in PDF. Word or InDesign may not read well.
• Name your cover letter file with three parts: YourName_JobTitle_CoverLetter.pdf

There are no secrets behind writing a cover letter. See it for yourself: How To Write A Cover Letter

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2. Use Your Reader’s Name in the Salutation

The art world is small. So—

Do your research to address your letter precisely to the person hiring, i.e., art directors, curators, principals, and the like. 

You’ll come off as ignorant if you don’t, and it’ll stick to you forever.

Yikes!

Here’s what you need to do to avoid such a label:

• Include the place and date of writing under your contact information.
• Then, add the reader’s name and their job title. 
• Mention the name of the workplace together with its address details.
• Begin the letter with Dear + Ms/Mr + LastName.
• Refrain from using “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam.” It gives away your lack of interest, plus it suggests poor research skills.
• If you’re having difficulty finding the name of your recruiter, only “Dear Selection Committee” can save you.

Find all the answers to How To Address A Cover Letter

3. Open Your Art Portfolio Cover Letter With Success

“Can’t be!”

Well, actually—

It can.

You’re the next René Magritte, and you make your recruiter’s expectations turn into the surreal with only a few opening lines.

• The easiest way to make an impression in the cover letter introduction is to show off your most significant accomplishment.
• As an aspiring artist writing an art internship cover letter, your enthusiasm and relevant experience are what matters most here.
• But there are other ways, too, like commenting on a recent event, referring to shared influences, or worshiping their works of art.

The guide will show you Examples Of How To Sell Yourself In A Cover Letter 

4. Write About Your Relevant Experience and Skills

Imagine this:

The task is to write “Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd is a masterpiece.” and you write “I’m a masterpiece.”

Jaw.

Dropped.

Someone tells you exactly what they need, and you ignore it? Your cover letter is not the place to do that. 

Find just the way to describe yourself and your experience to a potential employer:

• Whether you’ve come a long way already or you’re still waiting for your big break, refer to qualities and skills your employer has given in the job description. 
• Look for the keywords in candidate requirements and responsibilities. Use them to show your relevance and fit for the position. 
• Thinking about what you can do is one thing, but proving it is another. Always give evidence of positive outcomes. Power verbs should help you with that.
• Don’t repeat what you wrote in the resume. Choose something recruiters don’t know yet, or get into the details of one of your accomplishments. 
• One or two paragraphs are enough.  

Before you start writing your performance paragraphs, read Why Lying In Job Applications Never Works

5. Double-Size Your Motivation for the Job

Do you want to be the next Rob Janoff, work at Pentagram, or design live visuals for Rihanna’s shows?

You’ve got your 15 minutes. 

Tell the employer about your dedication in the second-to-last paragraph.

• The cover letter is a tool to exhibit your artistic personality, so put this knowledge to good use and make it personal. 
• Don’t be afraid to show emotions.
• Share your enthusiasm for growth. Artists who don’t work on their talents and skills are like the last season of Game of Thrones—you feel cheated and want to move on as quickly as possible.
• If you share views on matters or concepts, say it. Everyone feels better around like-minded people.

To explore your possibilities for describing your motivation to the employer, read What You Should Include In A Cover Letter

6. Make an Offer and Call to Action Yourself

“You up for a shoot in Big Sur?”

Easy does it! 

You’ll forget your camera in such a hurry. 

Why don’t you let your recruiter feel the same level of excitement? They should also feel the hurry to calling you!

• Ask the hiring person to invite you for an interview. Even if you think it’s too bold a move for you. It’ll only highlight your motivation to join them.
• You can add “this week” to put even more pressure on them.
• Sign off the letter with “Best regards” or “Kind regards” if you think “Sincerely”doesn’t do anymore, and your full name.
• If you’re hiding quite a success up your sleeve, you can mention in it a postscript. Just write P.S.— and follow with the achievement.

For the final writing part, check How To End A Cover Letter

Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.

Create your cover letter now

Sample cover letter for a resume—See more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.

That’s a wrap!

You’re all set, and thank you for reading! 

Pray to tell—

How did you like the guide on writing a cover letter for an artist? Do you think we should add more tips for cover letters for art internships? Is there something missing in our art portfolio cover letter sample?

Let us know in the comments!

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Sources

• https://www.jstor.org/stable/44989674
• https://english.washington.edu/writing-cover-letter