Difference Between Fine Arts and Visual Arts: Key Differences and Comparison 2023

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Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

Art is a skill where artists have to create or form a drawing, painting, or design using their creative mind. There is a big difference between the two terms Fine Arts and Visual Arts.

Fine Arts are used to define artworks like painting, drawing, pottery making, performing arts, dancing, etc. which have only an aesthetic value, whereas the visual arts define only what can be seen with eyes, like painting, designing, photography, film making, animation, calligraphy, drawing and has a utilitarian value. Fine arts are not for commercial purposes. The artist/performer may create and draw an artwork or sculpture just for its beauty. Visual Art is for commercial purposes and it is created for the purpose of sale or purchase.

Both fine arts and visual arts courses can be pursued after passing the 10+2 exam from a recognized board. Top Arts Colleges take applicants based on their merit in class 12. The article lists out the key differences between fine arts and visual arts; focusing on course curriculum, syllabus, jobs, and admission requirements.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The course can be done after finishing the HSSCL exam. Bachelor of Fine Arts covers topics that are related to visual art, performing art, graphic art, plastic art, etc. After the completion of the course, you can know different forms of art and their value in the job market. The course completes in 3- 4 years.

BFA Eligibility Criteria

  • Candidates must score a minimum of 55% to apply for the Bachelor of Fine Arts course.
  • They can complete their 12th exam in any stream (Arts, Commerce, Science).

BFA Admission 2023

  • BFA Admission 2023 is based on both merit and entrance exam.
  • In some colleges, admission depends on the marks secured in the 12th-grade exam.
  • Some of the top entrance exams, one must have to appear for are- ITM NEST, BHU UET, AUCET, etc.

Top BFA Colleges

BFA Syllabus

Here is a brief detail of the contents of the syllabus for the Bachelor of Fine Arts course:

Semester I Semester II
History of India art (Part I) Fundamentals of Art (Part II) History of Indian art (Part I- Prehistory to 6th-century art)
Internal Works Landscape and clay art
Internal works
Semester III Semester IV
History of Indian art (Part I- 7th century to 18th-century ad) Fundamentals of art Clay modeling Sculpture making Engraving
Landscape
Semester V Semester VI
Fundamentals of visual arts Printmaking art
Drawing, calligraphy, geometry Pictorial designing (2D and 3D)

Know More: BFA Syllabus

BFA Jobs and Salary Prospects

  • There is good scope in the BFA course and has a good salary package.
  • As a fine arts student, you will get various jobs in the field of advertising, designing, the textile industry, colleges/ universities, film industries, and art museums.
  • For example, Art historians, Graphic designers, painters, Art therapists, and Museum creators are some job positions for fine arts graduates.
  • Top companies where you can apply for the job after completing the BFA course are- Kala and Arts (Ahmedabad), Direct Create (New Delhi), Kalakriti India (Hyderabad), Coshal Unfolding Artistry Pvt. Ltd. (Raipur), Giftstyle India (Uttar Pradesh). Anasha Art Gallery, Gallery Kolkata, and Jehangir Art Gallery are some examples of online art companies, where you can sell your artwork.
  • You can get the post of Fine Artists, Drawing Teachers, Art therapists, Production Artists, Editors, etc. in these top companies.
  • You can earn around INR 3.5 to 7 lakh per annum in the fine arts field.
  • Job seekers must have the skills of creativity and understanding to get a job in this field.

Know More: BFA Jobs

Bachelor of Visual Arts

Bachelor of Visual Arts is also a part of the fine arts courses. You can learn various topics of visual arts in this 4-year duration graduate course. Visual art covers the following topics and candidates can choose any topic to pursue the course. The topics or subjects that come under visual art are- Painting, Graphic designing, Sculpture, Animation, Film, Studio, etc. Check Top BVA Colleges

BVA Eligibility Criteria

  • Anyone who has passed their 10+2 in any stream can pursue visual arts course.
  • Candidates must have the minimum score to apply for the course, which is 50% on the 12th-grade exam.

BVA Admission 2023

  • The BVA admission process in 2023 is similar to the BFA admission process. Admission is based on the marks secured in the 12th-grade exam and entrance test.
  • The entrance exams, which are held at the national level or state level, or university level for the course of Bachelor in Visual Arts are- the JMI Entrance Test, LPUNEST, BHU UET, MH-AAC-CET (Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Arts) Entrance Exam.

Top BVA Colleges

BVA Course Syllabus

The course covers the following topics:

First Year Second Year
Fundamentals of visual art History of ancient Indian art and Western art
Still life, drawing, and designing Creativity
Painting and sketching Portrait study and portrait painting, creative mural painting
Traditional art Indian aesthetics
Geometry and perspective of art Photography
Clay art Computer graphic designing
Photography
Computer graphic designing
Third Year (Specialization- Painting) Fourth Year (Specialization- Painting)
History of medieval Indian art and western art History of modern Indian art and western art
Composition painting (portrait painting) Solo art exhibition
Third Year (Specialization-Applied Arts) Fourth Year (Specialization-Applied Arts)
Methods and materials for applied arts Advertising practices
Advertising, magazine layout, and typography History of modern Indian art and western art
Computer graphic designing Product campaign design
Residency Program Social campaign design

Career After BVA: Job Prospects and Salary

  • Visual art graduates can do work in advertising companies, studios, museums, art galleries, etc.
  • Fashion Designer, Graphic Designer, Set Designer, Sculptor, Visual Designer, Interior Designer, and Photographer, are some of the top job profiles, which you can opt for after completing the course.
  • Some of the top recruiting Indian companies that recruit graduates and experienced candidates in their companies are- Kalakarm Curriculum, Techno Magic Warriors, Dezigndia Designs, The Tee Point, Blue Vector, Xentrix Studios, Dust Value, etc.
  • The average salary of a visual art worker is INR 4 to 6.5 lakh per annum in India.

Difference Between Fine Arts and Visual Arts: FAQs

Ques. Which one is better Fine art and Visual art?

Ans. Fine art is about every form of work that has beautifulness, and meaning in nature and can give joy to one’s mind. And Visual art is those artworks that are visible. And both the courses are good and have job opportunities.

Ques. Is graphic designing, and fashion designing a part of fine arts?

Ans. Graphic design, fashion design, calligraphy, and ceramic art are various types of artworks that come under visual art.

Ques. Is there any diploma course that we can pursue rather than the undergraduate degree courses in fine arts and visual arts?

Ans. Yes, you can pursue a diploma course in fine arts or visual arts. For that, you have to pass the 12th exam.

Ques. What are the duration of fine arts and visual arts at the diploma level?

Ans. Both courses take 1-2 years to complete in India.

Ques. What are the average salary after completing fine art and visual art course?

Ans. The fine artist and visual artists earn approx. INR 3-7 LPA in various companies.

Ques. Are there any opportunities for visual artists and fine artists abroad?

Ans. There are a lot of opportunities for those who are highly skilled and have work experience in the field of fine art or visual art. The companies which are in foreign countries will pay INR 18 to 22 lakh per annum to the fine artist or visual artist.

Ques. What is calligraphy in Visual Art?

Ans. A calligraphy is a form of visual art, where the artist can write beautifully with a written brush or pen. Calligraphy shows the style of writing using different pens and ink.

Ques. What is ceramic and under which art form does it come?

Ans. Ceramics is an art that is a part of visual art, thus we can know that it can be seen and appreciated. Ceramic art is an artwork where artists use clay, various powders, water, and other elements to form a hard material.

Ques. Are music, dance, and dramas a part of fine arts?

Ans. Yes. These are a form of performing art that is also a part of Fine Arts.

Ques. Which course I can take after completing the Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Visual Arts?

Ans. Masters in Fine Arts or Masters in Visual Arts are the courses, you can study after completing BVA or BFA courses.

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