Ask a Forensic Artist

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“Why is it so much harder to freelance?”

If you read yesterday’s post, I said that basically all roads to a career in forensic art lead to working at an agency. Someone in law enforcement will have a ...

“Can I Become a Forensic Artist if I’m not in Law Enforcement?”

Probably not. Becoming a forensic artist is not easy, but if you’re employed in law enforcement, you’re going to have a much smoother time of it than someone that’s atempting to break in ...

“Why is it called ‘Forensic’ Art?”

fo·ren·sic  (fə-rěn’sĭk, -zĭk)    adj. Relating to, used in, or appropriate for courts of law or for public discussion or argumentation. Of, relating to, or used in debate or argument; ...

“How many forensic artists are there, anyway?”

Reality check: there are very few full-time forensic artists out there. I’ve heard a number of people say that there are only 10-15 or so in the US, but I ...

“What should I do first if I want to do composites? Take a class?”

No. But keep reading! Basically, composites are the “bread and butter” of the field; you will likely do many more of these than any other type of forensic art. Not ...

What are the different types of Forensic Art?

What are the different types of Forensic Art?

The International Association for Identification (IAI) Forensic Art discipline has defined forensic art into four general categories, so there is no reason for me to reinvent the wheel here. This ...

“What is the first step to becoming a forensic artist?”

Actually, there is no such thing as a step-by-step, foolproof way to becoming a working forensic artist. Each of us got here in a variety of different ways. Some of us knew ...

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