Forensic Sketch (Composite) Artist – Career Outlook, Salary, and Requirements

As high-tech digital advancements sharpen the accuracy and validity of law enforcement evidence-gathering, forensic artists with backgrounds in criminal justice should be pleased to learn that the use of analogy paper and pencil sketches still play a major role in criminal investigations.

Forensic sketch artists, also known as composite artists, use their knowledge of facial anatomy and artistic skill to create images of potential criminals and missing persons. By interviewing victims or witnesses of a crime scene, forensic artists create sketch drawings used by police and released to the public to identify and apprehend criminal suspects. Serving the needs of law enforcement, crime victims, and the public-at-large, forensic sketch artists have multi-faceted careers that require them to think critically, ask probing questions, take in verbal information and express it in artistic mediums, and apply their anatomical and anthropological knowledge of the human body.

Forensic sketch artists typically work as members of a law enforcement team or are employed as freelancers. Most have a bachelor’s degree in fine art, criminal justice, or computer science with a specialization in 3D modeling. The International Association for Identification (IAI), the world’s oldest and largest forensic association, defines three main disciplines in the field of forensic art: composite art or imagery, postmortem or facial reconstruction, and image modification and enhancement. Composite artistic imagery requires forensic artists to ask questions and create sketches of victims or suspects using paper and pencil sketches. Post-mortem rendering or facial reconstruction involves rendering faces using computer software, paper and pencil, or sculpting clay from viewing photographs or actual skeletal remains. Image modification and enhancement are used by forensic artists to create age-processed images that can help families and law enforcement locate missing people. These three artistic skills are shown to be effective for law enforcement to bring justice and closure to families.

Due to the emotionally-taxing nature of this career, it is essential for forensic sketch artists to be patient and strategic communicators. Empathetic skills are essential when interviewing traumatized victims and the ability to ask strategic questions when dealing with an uncooperative witness is equally important.

Melissa R. Cooper, a freelance forensic artist based in California, describes the efficacy of her multidisciplinary career “As an expert forensic artist, my renderings are done by unifying the two most dominant elements in our arsenal: art and science. The sources of my illustrations are often the product of someone else’s memories combined with the science of how we anatomically evolve throughout life […] and my renditions continue to serve law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, law firms, scientific research, production companies, and whomever else is in need of my services.”

Read on to learn about the career outlook, salary, requirements, and steps to take to become a forensic sketch artist.

Career Outlook for Forensic Sketch Artist

As previously mentioned, forensic sketch artists are either trained law enforcement professionals, freelance artists, or both. Therefore, the career outlook for forensic sketch artists depends on individuals’ educational and professional backgrounds. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that careers in police and detective work are growing at a rate of 5 percent, a rate which is as fast as the national average for all other occupations, and predicts that 37,500 new positions will be needed between 2018 and 2028 (BLS 2019).

Specific data for forensic sketch artists is not available, but the BLS estimates that 500 new openings for craft and fine artists, a similar career, will be available between 2018 and 2028 (BLS 2019). While the occupational demand for craft and fine artist careers is currently one percent, it is worth mentioning that the demand for the specific career of freelance forensic sketch artist could be higher than is reflected in the aforementioned occupational profiles.

Forensic Sketch Artist Salary

Due to the numerous career pathways to train for this career, the average annual salary for a forensic sketch artist varies widely. Salaries depend on factors such as education, experience, years of employment, and locations where work is performed.

The BLS calculates the average annual salary for a craft and fine artist to be $48,960 (BLS May 2018) while the average annual salary for a police officer or detective is $63,380 (BLS May 2018).

Professionals who hold associate or bachelor’s degrees statistically earn higher salaries than professionals with a high school diploma. Having certifications or proof of continuing education courses can help people leverage higher salaries when applying for jobs or promotions in law enforcement and freelance artists calculate their pay rates based on their educational backgrounds, previous work experience, and professional training.

PayScale (2020), a self-reported aggregator of occupational data, illustrates the connection between years of experience and hourly wages for “fine artists” as follows:

• Entry-level (less than one year): $14.87 per hour
• Early career (1-4 years): $18.54
• Mid-career (5-9 years): $20.46
• Experienced (10-19 years): $21.74
• Late-career (20 or more years): $24.37

Salaries for fine artists vary widely depending on the location where work is performed. Here is a list of the top- and lowest-paying cities for fine artists as compared to the national average salary of $48,605 per year (PayScale 2020):

• Atlanta, GA: 142 percent higher than the national average
• Los Angeles, CA: 23 percent higher
• Seattle, WA: 17 percent higher
• Orlando, FL: 6 percent below the national average
• Chicago, IL: 20 percent below
• Cincinnati, OH: 26 percent below

How to Become a Forensic Sketch Artist

Step One: Graduate from High School (Four Years)

High school students aspiring to become forensic sketch artists are encouraged to take as many courses possible in art as well as anatomy and physiology. Additional courses to support a future artistic career in law enforcement are civics, computer science, and graphic design.

Knowing a foreign language could be advantageous for questioning witnesses, victims, or family members whose primary language isn’t English. Partaking in extracurricular activities in arts or athletics can teach essential communication and teamwork skills. Students are advised to keep their grades up so as to gain admission into a reputable and regionally or nationally accredited college or university program.

Step Two: Enroll in an Undergraduate or Professional Training Program (One Year or More)

Future forensic sketch artists are encouraged to pursue a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or fine art. An additional associate degree or a fine arts major with a minor in criminal justice, anatomy, anthropology, or computer science is also recommended to learn as much as possible about this multidisciplinary field. If available, forensics art courses with an emphasis on composite drawings, age-progressed imagery, post-mortem imagery, and forensic facial imaging and anthropology are recommended by the IAI educational program requirements.

An example of an undergraduate program in criminal justice is Utica College which offers an online bachelor of science and a minor in criminal justice. The bachelor of science program allows students to choose from six specializations, including a general track which allows students to choose four elective courses to suit their professional goals. The criminal justice minor program requires 15 credits to complete and is designed for noncriminal justice majors who are interested in multidisciplinary career fields such as social work, psychology, law, and government.

Forensic artists who are interested in police officer training should seek out state or municipal training programs. An example of a police academy training program is the New York Police Department (NYPD). Located in Queens, NY, this 750,000 square-foot facility gives didactic instruction as well as hands-on scenario-based training in mock environment training rooms to prepare future law enforcement professionals for police and detective work.

Step Three: Enroll in a Forensic Artist Course or Training Program (Timeline Varies)

To learn specific forensic artist techniques, many forensic sketch artists pursue courses or training programs. These courses are typically approved by the International Association for Identification (IAI) or taught by seasoned forensic artist professionals.

To meet the rigorous IAI requirements for certification, forensic art programs must include a minimum of 40 hours and taught by an IAI-certified instructor and include curriculum in one of the three forensic categories: composite art and imaging, age progression, or facial recognition.

Forensic artist workshops taught by experienced professionals are a commonly sought-after training option. Such courses can be government-sponsored programs or courses offered by established forensic artists. An example of a course offered by an established forensic artist is the forensic art essentials class offered by Lois Gibson—a professional sketch artist who has worked for the Houston Police Department for 35 years. In addition to holding the title for the most successful forensic artist in the Guinness Book of World Records, she has appeared in numerous media outlets and TB true-crime television segments. Her course titled “Forensic Art Essentials” provides beginning and seasoned forensic artists what they need to get started in the profession as well as techniques to increase their effectiveness. The cost of the course is $250 and includes all supplies.

Another forensic art course is taught by Stuart Parks Forensic Associates, which includes 40 hours of instruction in a one-week format. Participants are able to immediately start drawing composite images for their law enforcement agencies. Advanced courses in drawing, facial comparisons and identification, and black and white sketching are available.

Step Four: Build Law Enforcement Clientele Base (Ongoing)

Forensic sketch artists who are employed as police officers are encouraged to communicate their desires to contribute their unique services to leadership and human resources. It is possible that they could begin sketching right away or perhaps have the chance to fulfill this role when another sketch artist resigns or retires from the local police force.

Freelance artists with forensic sketching skills are encouraged to build their professional networks and make contact with as many nearby law enforcement agencies and legal professionals as possible to increase their clientele base.

Step Five: Gain Experience and Professional Development

Forensic sketch artists are encouraged to practice their craft whenever possible and stay current with professional development opportunities, workshops, and lectures by leading professional forensic artists.

Gil Zamora, a forensic sketch artist based out of San Jose, CA who is famous for his role in the Real Beauty Sketch video series by Dove, has trademarked an interview technique called Compositure which utilizes cognitive psychology to recreate a sketch from an eye-witness’s memory rather than traditional memory recall techniques. He gives talks on forensic sketching interview techniques and is currently writing a book about what he’s learned in his 17-year career as a police artist.

Forensic Sketch Artist Tasks and Responsibilities

The multidisciplinary nature of forensic sketch artist careers means that individuals engaged in this work should be ready to solve problems using skills from a variety of different fields ranging from art to science. Here is a list of typical tasks and responsibilities required of a forensic sketch artist.

• Applying knowledge of facial anatomy in sketching or recreating images of faces of suspected criminals or crime victims
• Investigating human teeth for abnormalities and structure (odontology)
• Using knowledge of the function and structure of human bones to draw (osteology)
• Creating composite images and age-progressed images of suspects or potential crime victims with digital imaging software
• Interviewing crime suspects, witnesses, and crime victims in a variety of states ranging from emotional duress to non-cooperation to create an accurate sketch
• Designing simplified and appropriately detailed visual aids for courtroom testimonies
• Providing courtroom testimonies in criminal trials

Forensic Sketch Artist Certification

Certification for forensic sketch artists is not required for most positions, but having it may increase an applicant’s chances of gaining employment.

Forensic artist certification is available through the International Association for Identification (IAI) and encourages applicants to have solid fundamental knowledge in composite imaging, facial reconstruction, and age or image enhancement. In addition to extensive documented educational and work experience requirements with one or multiple agencies, forensic artists seeking certification must also submit a portfolio of forensic artistry with ten forensic art images prepared for law enforcement investigations cases, and complete a written exam with a score of 80 percent or higher. Applicants who fail the test must wait six months from the rejection date to reapply and pay the certification fees. Recertification is possible after five years.

Educational requirements for IAI forensic art training programs are outlined and educators who want to have their programs affiliated with IAI must submit their forensic art training program curriculum to the forensic art certification board for review.