Art

As a result, art has not only reached homes, offices, hotels and educational establishments, it is also regarded as a rewarding career.But if one is seeking a quick fortune, it may not be a wise choice. Art means serious business which calls for dedication and perseverance. To begin with, one should have a genuine interest in the field. 8220;Art is not a subject which one can learn from books a month before the examination,8221; says Barsha Chakraborty, a student of sculpture from College of Art, Delhi. She adds, 8220;Learning from ones own mistakes is an indispensable path, through which every artist has to travel. Such knowledge can never be gained from books.8221;

Anyone who wants to opt for art as a career should have a good hand in drawing and sketching. The ability to think creatively is very important. A course from a college or an institute can familiarise the student with the various nuances of art.

Courses in Fine Arts Painting and Sculpting vary in duration. The Delhi College of Art offers four-year degree courses in painting and sculpting, besides applied art. The aspirants seeking admission in this college of national repute require at least 50 per cent marks at the intermediate level and have to clear the entrance examination. The admission test comprises object drawing, general knowledge, illustration from memory and composition.

The four-year degree course in Fine Arts is divided into two parts 8212; the foundation course and the specialisation course. The foundation course is of one year and is common to the students of Fine Arts Painting and Sculpting and Applied Arts. The course covers the basic aspects of various branches of art. The specialisation course starts from the second year when training is given to the students in their area of specialisation. Painting covers topics like life drawing, portraits, etchings and compositions, whereas sculpting is the art of creating representational or abstract forms by chiselling stone, casting metal, clay modelling, wood carving, etc.

The Department of Fine Arts and Art Education, Jamia Millia Islamia, also offers Bachelor of Art courses in painting and sculpting. The programme is designed to produce artists having skills to teach up to Senior Secondary level and practise art professionally. Applicants for this course should have passed Senior School Certificate Examination or any other recognised equivalent examination and secured at least 50 per cent marks in aggregate. Candidates who have passed Higher Secondary or equivalent examination are also eligible, provided they have obtained at least a second class Bachelor8217;s degree from a recognised University.

Admission to the course, BFA in painting, is made on the basis of a practical test of life drawing and composition, written test and interview. Admission to BFA in sculpture is based on a practical test on clay modelling and life drawing, written test and interview.

Other institutions offering courses in Fine Arts are College of Art Chandigarh, Government College of Arts and Crafts in Chennai, Calcutta School of Art, JJ School of Arts in Mumbai, Faculty of Fine Arts, M S University Baroda, Faculty of Fine Arts, Benaras Hindu University, College of Arts and Crafts in Lucknow and Kala Bhavan, Vishwa Bharti in Shantiniketan West Bengal and Aligarh Muslim University. Theadmission procedures in all these government-run colleges are similar.

Besides the degree programme, some institutes offer certificate and diploma courses in Fine Art. The Department of Fine Arts, Jamia Millia Islamia, offers a one-year certificate course in Fine Arts. New Delhi Polytechnic for Women, a private establishment, offers diploma courses of one to three years8217; duration.

The skills that art graduates possess are demanded by many industries like advertising, book publishing, newspaper and magazine publishing, film and television, theatre and tourism. Art graduates Painting and Sculpture can also work as commercial artists, as the first year of the college covers related topics. Says Malashree, of Benaras Hindu University, 8220;Though my passion is painting, I would not mind working on commercial art assignments. One has to work very hard to make ones mark as an artist, but to get into the creative departments of advertising agencies is the easiest and the simplest.8221; But there are artists who at the very beginning of their career get involved with galleries and exhibitions. In this case, one should be prepared to face criticism, feels Barsha.

Another option for fine artists is to work for his/her own design studio. Design studios cater to a limited clientele as compared to the agencies. But with greeting card manufacturing companies such as Archies, Hallmark and Gibson having outlets at every nook and corner, design houses and freelance artists can look forward to a lot of work opportunity.

Some artists like to work as illustrators or cartoonists in newspapers, magazines and other publications. Others cater to the requirements of various export houses, by supplying items like terracota lamp shades, papier mache products, potteries, plant holders and sculpture pieces. And those who want to pursue their career in education, can opt for post-graduation. Generally all colleges having BFA programmes offer courses in MFA also. But certificate and diploma holders in Art are not eligible for admission to MFA. Some post-graduates who want to become art historians or art critics go for higher qualifications.

A very challenging option is to work as art directors in the film industry, theatre and television. But this line is not as glamorous as it sounds. 8220;Often one has to work with tight deadlines and continuous pressures,8221; says Mrinalini, an art director working for theatre as well as films. 8220;But it is very rewarding in terms of job satisfaction and the money one can earn,8221; she adds.

Earnings of the artists depend on where and how they begin. A trainee in a design house, advertising agency or publication industry can earn between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per month. Art is a field where qualifications matter, but only to an extent. If one happens to be a graduate from a premier institute, one may get a starting salary of around Rs 8,000 per month. There is no upper limit to the money which an experienced artist can earn. Though initially a graduate from a good institution is given preference, later it is the quality of the work and experience that matters. Same is the case with freelance artists and private set-ups like design houses. Here one does not get client because of a good curriculum vitae but because of the work done in the past.

Artists, who want to make individual statements, can make use of art galleries, exhibitions and crafts fair. If the works start selling, there8217;s no dearth of either money or fame in this line. Again, talent is generally seen as the guiding principle to make it big in the field of art. On the whole, art is only for those who are aesthetically inclined, with matching aptitude.