Player's Handbook[]
Player characters with artistic ability are naturally accomplished in various forms of the arts. They have an inherent understanding of color, form, space, flow, tone, pitch, and rhythm. Characters with artistic ability must select one art form (painting, sculpture, composition, etc.) to be proficient in. Thereafter they can attempt to create art works or musical compositions in their given field. Although it is not necessary to make a proficiency check, one can be made to determine the quality of the work. If a 1 is rolled on the check, the artist has created a work with some truly lasting value. If the check fails, the artist has created something aesthetically unpleasing or just plain bad.
Artistic ability also confers a +1 bonus to all proficiency checks requiring artistic skill—music or dance—and to attempts to appraise objects of art.
The Complete Barbarian's Handbook[]
A barbarian must select an art form common to his homeland. Acceptable choices include cave painting, plainsong (a style of singing based on approximate pitches instead of fixed intervals, performed without harmony or instrumental accompaniment), crude sculpting (in clay, wood, or bone), and primitive mosaics (colored pebbles or bits of bone arranged in appealing patterns).
A barbarian with the artistic ability proficiency receives a +1 bonus to dancing and musical instrument proficiency checks.
Shaman[]
Shamans use this ability only to craft items for use in ceremonies. (If the character picks painting as the emphasis, then he can paint flawless images and symbols upon altars and ceremonial items, while sculpting will allow the character to create an exceedingly beautiful spirit mask.
When performing shamanic rituals involving artistic efforts, the character receives a +1 bonus to the shamanic ritual check.