Fine art is about much more than simply creating beautiful objects and displaying them for all the world to see. At its best, the creative process allows people to understand the spirit of the times in which it was created and to perhaps understand the nature of their own lives in a deeper and more profound way than they ever have before.
Of course, whether it’s painting, sculpture, ceramics, collage or any of the other many ways in which the artistic impulse can be expressed, the fact remains that there are innumerable avenues of study students can pursue in a fine arts curriculum.
Fine art curriculums on the graduate level are not simply extensions of undergraduate work. Despite the fact that you may have spent your undergraduate years studying one or two specific aspects of the fine arts, dipping into the graduate realm will provide a chance to experience many other areas of the field as well. For even though you will certainly focus heavily and specifically on a particular interest, learning about other mediums in fine art courses will make you that much more accomplished a practitioner in your specific area of expertise.
Students in fine art courses will study theory and practice, as well as the history of art and artistic expression. They will study the works of famous artists, as well as learn from experts and leaders in the field. Those enrolled in fine art curricula will choose a specific area or two on which to focus their studies. Some of the many fine art concentrations include:
Other fine art concentrations include metalwork, printmaking, animation, multi-media art, creative writing and sculpture. And some students pursuing a masters or PhD degree in fine art may decide to focus their studies on art education or administration.
Fine art courses highlight the ways in which art is a major defining aspect of culture, as well as on how art reflects the lands and times in which we live. Fine art is a form of expression and communication that has existed for thousands of years, and we learn much about past civilizations through the art they left behind.
Students will spend a great deal of time engaged in studio work in order to perfect techniques and to discover new methods. They will work with materials such as wood, metal, clay, plastic, glass, paint, fabric, film and wax. Fine art courses may include 2D and 3D studies, media studies, etching, lithography and electric arts. Critical theory is another major topic in the fine art curriculum, and students will participate in student and faculty critiques.
As students enhance their artistic, creative and perceptive skills, and create original works of art, they will work toward building a portfolio of their work. Some fine art curricula include courses in business in order to provide students with the knowledge needed to successfully market their work.
Careers in Fine Art Working in the fine arts can be notoriously difficult. But that does not mean that students should give up hope of ever finding work. There are plenty of people who make a rather comfortable living with careers in fine art. Some students become artists who live by selling their work. Others find jobs working for or selling their work through museums, art galleries, art dealers and corporate and private collections. The key to steady work for most artists is to obtain commissions for their creations.
While many artists are self-employed and work on a freelance basis, they often must work other jobs to supplement their income. However, one can find a fine art career as a craft artist and make an average annual salary of $25,000. A fine artist can expect to make around $30,000 a year, but one can obviously make much more if his or her work is in demand.
A fine art career as an art teacher can bring in about $43,000, while multimedia artists and animators can earn an average of $48,000. Art directors can earn an average annual salary of $65,000, while careers in fine art as a professor can command a salary of about $68,000.
No matter which type of fine art career students choose, they must maintain their perseverance. The road may not always be easy, but those who are able to keep their passion for what they do can find real success in a fine art career.
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