Have you been a regular visitor to museums and art galleries? Does talking about art and creating unique and interesting pieces of art your passion? If the answer is yes, then you should definitely think about pursuing a career in the art industry. With modernization and global technology, the field of art expanded onto different realms. It is no longer about painting or sculpting. You can become a 2D-3D animator, digital artist, or graphics designer.
Since the advent of the 21st century, the study of fine arts has gained more popularity amongst students. Earlier, due to the bad reputation of the subject and taboos associated with it, people often restricted their willingness to study art and build a career in the field. Even the belief that if you study art, the pay will be less and opportunities won’t be great either was prominent. Hence, a majority of art students often dropped the idea of building a career as an artist.
However, in the last decade, a rise has been observed in students pursuing a BFA degree in either Visual or Performing arts as a career. A Bachelor of Visual Arts degree in an undergraduate course that is mainly focused on areas of painting, sculpting, photography, animation, ceramics, videography, and many more. In BFA, visual arts acts as a specialization in which fine arts is taught to students. The motive of the degree is to enhance an understanding of art history and culture, along with practical development and hands-on experience in areas of filmmaking, sculpting, painting, and so on and so forth. On the other hand, a Bachelors in Performing Arts is a course focused on preparing students for job roles in theatre, film, and music.
To build a career in arts, you will have to decide which specialization you wish to pursue. Many good colleges and universities, both in India and abroad offer an immense number of opportunities to students for their degrees in fine arts. For example, the Applied Arts department in the Indian College of Art provides a wide range of areas in which students can gain expertise. These include publicity advertising, printing activity with special emphasis on mass media, both its uses and production.
The number of career options available for a student pursuing a BFA degree is immense. Below are some of the job profiles you can go for if you choose to study Bachelor of Visual Arts as a specialization in your BFA degree.
Bachelor of Visual Arts
Depending upon your ideal choice of interest and skill set you can develop your personality to make it suitable for a sustainable and successful career. It is undeniable that initially, times will be tough as the industry is pretty wide and individuals need to remain consistent to establish themselves as recognized professionals.
Professional Artist
Studying art and then becoming a professional artist is perhaps the most obvious career choice. In this field, you will have to remain patient and consistent in your work because gaining a reputation is not that easy. Contact with galleries, other artists, spread the word about your work, create an audience, and stay determined, for the dream may seem too far but it is not unachievable.
Illustrator
To become a successful illustrator you need to be excellent in your work. Since most illustrators work on a freelance basis, your portfolio needs to be exceptionally strong and versatile. Apart from specializing in specific mediums of drawing, digital sketching, or painting, you will also need to utilize your networking and marketing skills for organizations to take note of your work.
Photographer
Photography in itself is divided into various sectors, from weddings or events to models and professional portfolio building. In certain fields such as in the fashion industry, the jobs are highly competitive and you will need to be excellent in communications, building contacts, and keeping yourself at par with industry expectations.
Animator
With the recent development in the animation industry becoming more known and famous amongst individuals, the scope in this field is immense. You can explore working in animes, any big studios, or even with advertising agencies that have begun to use animations as a means of promoting this brand and products. If you have artistic talent, a sharp eye for details, and like creating stories, then you can imagine yourself working as an animator.
Graphic designer
The marketing and media industry has been revolutionized with the continuous development of technology. Nowadays, every single brand uses aesthetic and visually attractive designs for its clientele. Unlike other art jobs, this will require frequent interactions with clients so need to have strong communication skills. Sometimes, you will even need to work in a team so brushing up your leadership skills will also be a good idea. Choose a specialized field in the design and continue doing your masters as this will provide you with the enhanced and proficient skillset required to excel in the field.
Art Curator
Love being in charge of paintings and talking about them? If the answer is yes, then the job of an art curator is made for you. You will have the chance to handle exhibitions, sales, and exhibits in a gallery or museum. Depending on your favorite era or type of art, you can complete your education, gain the necessary skills and knowledge to work in a museum or gallery. Completing your postgraduate studies in the subject will also help you in getting a chance to work as an intern, apprentice, or even full-time.
Find your choice of job yet?
If not, then apart from these job areas, you can always study to become a printmaker or an art teacher at the school or university level. To summarise, after BVA, you will have plenty of chances to establish a career for yourself in any of the fields related to art. Not only will you expand your creative potential but you will also become a part of a community that remains unique and innovative in every area.
Even if none of the options appeal to you, art is a vast field and still has plenty of choices for you to make for job opportunities. Similar to any other career, initially the jobs might not be as rewarding as you can expect so you will have to remain patient. However, with hard work and perseverance studying BFA from a reputed institution can be a rewarding experience and if you enjoy art and learning about then you should follow your instincts and go for it!