Data from the U.S. Census and more limited surveys aimed at specific artist occupations were used to profile the employment and earnings of four groups of artists in 1970-1990: authors, artists who work with their hands, performing artists, and architects and designers. The following items were examined: evidence of multiple job holding; reliability/consistency of data from various sources; growth of the field; geographic areas where individuals in the field are most likely to live and work; age, sex, and racial patterns in the field; education, employment, and income levels for the field and its various subfields; satisfaction with the field; and challenges facing individuals working in the field. Income and employment levels varied widely both between and within the four occupational groups examined. The numbers of people employed in all the occupations examined increased significantly during the decades examined. In 1989, authors' total earnings averaged $23,335. In 1990, the median income for full-time female painters/craft artists was $18,762. In 1989, actors/directors, dancers, musicians, decorators/designers, and architects had median incomes of $22,000, $8,500, $9,900, $45,873, and $56,773, respectively. In general, women tended to earn less than their male counterparts. (MN)