Forensic Artist Related Careers
According to the American Academy of Forensic Science, forensic art is an emerging specialty. The AAFS requires that forensic artists have at least a bachelor's degree, and possibly a master's or doctorate, depending on the specialties the practitioner wishes to pursue.
Potential employers include universities, government and law enforcement agencies, and criminal investigation units and their laboratories. Forensic artists also work for coroners, medical examiners, hospitals, prosecutors' offices or private companies.
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Composite Drawing
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A composite sketch artist works with witnesses to create a drawing of a criminal or person of interest, usually for law enforcement purposes. The artist uses pencils, charcoals and pastels to create a person's likeness, based on the recollections and descriptions of witnesses or victims. This requires a very different skill set than those needed for traditional portraiture, as the sketch artist is "working blind." The artist must learn to ask the right questions, interpret the answers visually, and develop a calm, patient manner. Training in psychology, especially the vagaries of memory and effective interview techniques, is necessary.
Post-Mortem Sketching
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Some forensic artists work the cases of unidentified deceased persons, drawing likenesses from morgue photos. To re-create how a person appeared in life sometimes requires educated guesses, based on a study of anatomy and the physiological changes that occur after death. Artists work with forensic pathologists to come up with a likely image, adjusting for many different factors, depending on the phase of decomposition.
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Age Progression
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Another specialty cultivated by forensic artists is projecting age progression, i.e., drawing or sculpting what a long-missing child or wanted person would look like years after his disappearance. In order to project aging in the case of a missing child, artists must have a grasp of craniofacial growth patterns. To estimate the aging of a fugitive or adult missing person, the forensic artist must understand and project the physiological principles of aging.
Evidence Preparation
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Preparing demonstrative evidence or displays to use at trial is a highly specialized area of forensic art. The artistic expertise required depends on specific case requirements. Evidence preparation and display may involve drawing, sculpting (facial reconstruction), model design (crime scene re-creation), and digital (computer) imaging and animation expertise (reenactments).
Forensic Anthropology
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Forensic artists are sometimes employed by museums and institutes to create images based on ancient bones. Artists can also create realistic historical models for museum exhibits. An advanced anthropology degree is usually required. Specialties most often employed in this work include 3D modeling, sculpting, age progression skills and specialized training to work with antiquities.
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