Art is gaining importance really fast, like few other fields are. Take a look at a career in this field, if you have the talent
Without a little bit of beauty or a splash of colour, everything would seem dull and drab. On a personal level, we all tend to add that zing to our wardrobes with the accessories we like most. And that’s exactly what a piece of art does for a space that you want to liven up. It adds that little bit of zing to everyday activities. The minute you hear the word art, you are most likely to conjure up the image the image of a painter capturing the fine thoughts of his mind. But there is much more, including paintings, sculptures, installations, beautiful writing, and perhaps even design!
A couple of decades ago there were hardly any options for artists to make a steady income, but now there are many options. The opening up of more art galleries, conduction of exhibitions and art appreciation events has led to the growth of opportunities in this field. Over the years festivals such as the Kala Ghoda art fest not only provide a platform for budding artists and artisans, but they also prove to be inspirational for artists across the country.
Sine art is a matter of personal choice, the work in this sphere is now more open, and artists are more sociable, meeting with the patrons for whom they create their pieces. This field has come a far way from being associated with sale, purchase and commissioning for recreation purposes only.
Today, fine art creations find practical applications in the commercial world across mediums, including music, theatre and cinema. With the realisation that this field could actually be monetized to offer a decent living to artists, several organisations and societies have been formed to promote the cause of specific arts. With that, the awareness of the arts increases and so does its appreciation and sale.
The market is young, and there are a variety of work options open for those who have acquired a degree. Most professionals suggest that you should build your portfolio along with your education, so that you have something to show and tell for your talent when you go in for work interviews.
Within the industry, you can start working for an art designer or a graphic designer, which will enable you to pick up job skills needed in the real world. For many artists, free lance work is a huge options, it provides the liberty to work from home (or your own studio) as well as the flexibility in terms of the time you want to work for. For free lance work, you need to build a ground network, so that you can look for more work. Apart from that, you need to be constantly tracking the trend, and look out for arts festivals and exhibitions that happen across the city (or even the country) and try and mingle with the others there to widen your network.
Those who are comfortable with the digital medium can easily find work with advertising agencies and media houses and other industries where art is needed like textile houses. Young talented graduates also find work with art studios and fashion and production houses.
Like many other fields, art is one such where generalisation of the pay scale does not work. This is because the earning differs from job to job. The job depends on the requirements of work, and sometimes, for those who work on an assignment basis, the money differs from month to month.
Is a course a must? Well, that is a very subjective discussion, for many would argue that in the old days, artists just created their work, they did not need to study it. But today, there are many aspects to being an artist, apart from creating the work. And for that, it is essential to undergo some formal training in the field.
Needless to say, whether or not one
pursues a course, an aspirant needs to have a certain inherent aptitude, not only to create art, but also to visualise and appreciate it. If a person has this aptitude, it can be polished with work experience as well a study programme. But like in singing or any such other field, an aspirant needs to have that talent to create the art. Without it, looking at this as a profession would not be a suitable idea.
Formal training can help you work on your existing talent, and bring out the best in you. For this it is essential to choose an appropriate course. There are degree, diploma and certificate courses to choose from. The most popular of these is the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. It is of four years’ durations, and offers a lot of knowledge and perspective to the students. It looks into print and electronic media as well as the use of art in advertising, among the study of many other technical subjects related to art.
To get admission into the course, you have to pass class 12 (HSC or equivalent). You can choose the specialisations later in the course, depending on your interest and aptitude. After completing the bachelor’s degree an aspirant can also opt for the master’s degree, which is the Master of Fine Arts (MFA), which is a two-year programme.
Some institutes in Mumbai are:
Rupali Ranadive / SSC student
I am really good at art, and I have also taken the talent exams like elementary and intermediate. My parents are very supportive, and have encouraged me to continue my passion even while I prepare for my board exams. The drawback is that currently I do not have a computer at home, and even though my father might be able to get me one soon, I am not sure I want to use that medium to become an artist. Will it be possible for me to get work if I do not use a computer?
Professional Aakanksha Sheth answers: I get asked this question often, because as artists, we often visualise our medium as the paper and colours or the canvass. I would say that to build your skills and be up to date in this world, you should learn how to operate the art software modules on the computer, even if you do not intend to work in it. It will show you the contrasts and the possibilities and the drawbacks. Also, as I said, it will keep you updated on stuff. That does not mean that you pressurise your family to get a computer right away. You have some time, and so you can wait until they can actually get one for you.
As far as looking for work goes, the fields are different and the needs and necessities from each medium are different. Thus, even though it may not be difficult to find work in the traditional medium, the digital world will have more opportunities.
