The Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) has a place amongst the courses that are chosen by many of today’s students. The main reason behind this is that it appeals to the aesthetic sense of the students and makes the imaginative senses grow. Moreover, it provides students with the theoretical as well as practical knowledge that are needed by individuals to make this field their own. Contemporary Art is practice by them, thus giving them a very good idea on the beauty of the subject they have chosen to study.

During the first year of this comprehensive program, individuals are given introduction to the conceptual skills that are needed by a person to turn their creative ideas into beautiful works of art. Here, they are taught drawing, given lectures as well as seminars and are introduced to studio facilities and research methods. In the 2^nd and 3^rd years of this course, individuals are given all the opportunities they need to expand their understanding of the visual arts by means of studio and art theory subjects in addition to studio-based practice. The works of students are developed primarily in major studio area and studio space is given to them for their II and III years of study.

Though the BVA course has duration of 3 years, an IVth year is available for students if they choose. Here, the practice of visual arts is done by way of the individual studio work development as well as research paper.

Advantages or Benefits of Bachelor of Visual Arts Degree

There are quite a few benefits by studying the BVA course. Those include:

• Individuals get a thorough in-depth training about painting.
• BVA emphasizes students on the importance of Art education.
• The course trains students to turn them into artists and introduces them to the world of Arts and its beauty.
• It motivates students to learn more about the subject, encouraging them to go for advanced studies.
• It raises the standard of creative education in all fields of education.
• The course provides students with enough background thus enabling them to follow their dreams within the company or with foreign arts companies or studios.
• One of the other advantages of studying this course is that students will be able to hold their exhibitions at both the National as well as International levels.

Eligibility Criteria for B.V.A

It is required for students to have a pass in class 12 with more than 50 percent marks. It is also mandatory for the students have appeared and cleared the written entrance test.

Admission Procedure for B.V.A

Admittance to the first year of the course is done on the base of the students’ performance in the admission test set by the university concerned. Students who clear the exam with high marks shall be short listed and admission shall be granted as per as their position in the merit list. Preference shall be provided to those people who have taken arts and painting in their HSC course.

B.V.A Entrance exams in India

• Banaras Hindu University Entrance Examination
• Delhi University entrance exam
• Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU) Entrance Exam

B.V.A Entrance Exam Pattern

This examination has a time period of 2 hours. The questions that are asked shall be of the objective nature. Multiple choices will be provided for the students and they can select the correct answer. Questions shall be asked from subjects such as visualization and painting etc.

Coaching Centers for B.V.A Entrance Exam

• NIFT Coaching Classes
• Target Design Academy
• VIFA coaching classes

Reference Books for B.V.A Entrance Exam

• Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis by Anna Robertson
• Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting by John F. Carlson

No guide books are necessary to appear for the entrance exam. All a person does need are good aesthetic skills in addition to a sense of creativity. This must include drawing and painting skills.

Top B.V.A Colleges in India

• Faculty of Fine Arts M. S. University Pushpa Bagh University Road, Vadodra-390002,Gujrat
• Faculty of Fine Arts Rabindra Bharti University, Emerald Bower Campus, 56/A, B. T. Road, Kolkata – 700 050, West Bengal
• College of Fine Arts & Crafts Kala Bhawan, Vishwa Bharti University, Bolpur Shantiniketan, West Bengal

Other Reputed Colleges/ Universities offering B.V.A program

• Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University / Agra University
• H.H. The Maharaja’s Govt. College for Women, Trivandrum
• Indore Professional Studies Academy
• Kurukshetra University
• Mahatma Gandhi College of Fine Arts (M.G.M.)
• Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts

B.V.A course curriculum

Format of the syllabus:

Semester I

• Drawing from Nature/Object
• Print – Making
• Fundamentals of Arts with 2-d Design Theory, Practical
• Indian Culture and Arts
• C.C. English
• Regional Language

Semester II

• Drawing from Human Figure/Antique
• 3 D Design
• Fundamentals of Arts with 2D Design (Advance) Theory, Practical
• Indian Culture and Arts (9^th Century to 13^th Century)
• English
• Regional Language

Semester III

• Still Life (Rendering)
• Head Study (Rendering)
• Print-Making II
• Indian Culture and Arts (14th Century to 18th Century)
• Fundamentals of Computer
• C.C. English

Semester IV

• Still Life (Painting)
• Head Study (Painting)
• Pictorial Composition
• Indian Culture and Arts (19th Century to Contemporary)
• History of Western Art (Pre Historic to 8th Century)
• C.C. English

Semester V

• Drawing from Life (Rendering) full figure on ½ imp. Paper)
• Composition (Basic)
• Mural Design I
• Western Aesthetics
• History of Western Art (09^th Century to 13th Century)
• Computer (advance)
• C.C. English

Semester VI

• Painting from Life (full figure)
• Composition (Advance)
• Mural Design II
• Indian Aesthetics
• History of Western Art (14th Century to 18th Century)
• C.C. English

Semester VII

• Portrait Painting
• Creative Painting Part I
• Mural Design III
• History of Western Art (14th Century to 18th Century)

Semester VIII

• Portrait (3/4 Size)
• Creative Painting Part II
• Mural Design IV
• Dissertation , Viva

B.V.A Specializations

These are a few of the specializations available:

• Architecture
• Calligraphy
• Cartooning
• Dance
• Drawing
• Graphic designing
• Illustration
• Music
• Paint making
• Painting
• Photography
• Sculpture
• Theatre Arts

B.V.A Dissertation

Students should consult with their teacher as well as the head of the Department and select an appropriate theme for their dissertation. The dissertation should be then prepared in the manner prescribed and submitted to the Head of Department prior to the beginning of the theory examination. The project ought not to exceed 70 pages and should be fewer than 50 pages.

B.V.A Course Evaluation

The evaluation of this course is done by Semester exams, Viva, Assignments and Dissertation.

B.V.A Text Books

• 5000 Years of the Art of India by Harry N. Abranas
• Anatomy and Drawing – Victor Pirard
• Anatomy Perspective and Composition for the Artist – By Stan Smith
• Art – Through the Ages by Harcourt Brase College Publication
• Basic Course in Spoken English – Dr. Shirin Kudchedkar
• Bhatia Kalecha Itihas by Shri H. Shshane.
• Bhartiya Soundaryashastra - Govilkar and Dandekar
• Design Basic by Devid A. Lauer
• Druk-Kala by Shantinath Arvade
• Introduction to The History Of Fine Arts In India And The West By Edith Tomory
• Kala Mhanje Kay - Sane Guruji
• Miniature Paintings 5 Albert Skir
• Pashchimatya Kalecha Itihas by Shri H. Shshane
• Prachin Bhartiya Kala by H.M. Mate
• Rekhankan Te Rekhachitra by Vasudeva Kamat
• Sketch Karata by Shivaji Tupe
• Soundrya Mimaunsa - Mardheka
• The Art and Architecture of India by Benjamin Rowland
• Water Colour by Milind Mulik
• Writing Skills – Dr. Ayesha Banatwalla

What to do after B.V.A?

There is no dearth in career options for students of BVA. It is possible for them to get jobs with a number of different fields. A few job options for them comprise of:

• Administration
• Program Analysis
• Public Relations
• Teaching
• Writing

All these fields can be considered by students of Humanities as well. Institutes of design and other allied areas will take in students of BVA too. If people wish to continue their advanced education, they can go for their postgraduate level programs. A variety of programs is offered in many reputed Indian institutions.

Job and Career options for B.V.A

Numerous career options are available for students of BVA. They can practice on any one of the field of their choice and excel in it. Graduates of BVA can also establish their career in a wide range of fields where their skills will get recognized very quickly. A few of the fields where they can practice their art include:

Job Types:

• Contracts Manager
• Decorator with special effect & wall papering
• Estimator
• Interior Designer
• Owner-Manager
• Painter
• Sign Writer

Employment Areas:

• Advertising Companies
• Animation
• Art History
• Art Studios
• Ceramics Industry
• Clothing Industry
• Dance Studios
• Digital Media
• Direction
• Fashion Houses
• Magazines
• Manufacturers
• Music Industry
• On-line Services
• Photography
• Printmaking
• Product Design
• Promotion
• Publishing Houses
• Sculpture
• Software Companies
• Television

Remuneration after B.V.A

Artists can be classified into 4 groups. They consist of:

• Art Directors
• Craft Artists
• Fine Artists
• Multimedia Artists

The majority of these people are self employed as they find it as a better option. Many others get employed with galleries, museums and other places of art. Other options available for people are with educational institutions, magazines or advertising agencies. Besides this, software publishing companies as well as newspapers offer employment for students of BVA as well. The salary of a fresher will be in the range of Rs. 8,000 - Rs.12, 000. With experience in the field, they will be able to draw more salary.