“The future belongs to those who can blend creativity with technology.” — Steve Jobs.
Once, art and technology were two different domains. However, today, the two have come to coexist in most fields, especially in fine arts education. Technology’s scope is not limited to far and creative ways of making art. It’s also interested in the processes of art education and the art reception, looking at the results. The examination of the future is particularly important for these students since many of them are all set to explore fine arts courses after 12th standard. The students need to know how this digital era has influenced BFA in the things that it offers.
In this blog, we will discuss the technological advancement in the field of fine arts education, tools and platforms that are coming in to boost the curriculum and how students should equip themselves in the coming era of digital art.
The Evolution of Fine Arts with Technology
In the past, the spheres of fine arts included painting, sculpture, drawing, and many more, which were focused on physically doing those works. Also, among these primary practices, we still hold on to today. However, the students of art today tend to add technology to their creative works. This can be seen in several bachelor of fine arts programs practised today, where digital apparatus and application programs are as important in the learning process as a paintbrush or a chisel.
In understanding this concept, the students of fine arts have also come up with technology that goes as far as exploring the areas of digital designs, 3d modelling, animations and even aspects of virtual reality. Straightening the understanding of tech in every course given in fine arts makes the students ready for the practical arts since there are no more clear divisions between the two worlds of art that is, the traditional art and the digital one.
How Technology is Reshaping BFA Programs
1. Digital Art and Design Tools
One of the notable aspects of changing technologies in contemporary art education is the use of digital art tools. Software applications like Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, and Corel Painter have become a staple in most if not all the BFA programs. Students are confined to working with mechanical art tools and painting only, no: they can now have and work with computers installed with a myriad of software that lets them play with form, colour and texture in ways that even a few decades ago would have been considered impossible.
As per a Statista report, the digital art market is projected to widen further with the advent of talented digital artists into sectors such as gaming, advertising, and other entertainment services. For this reason, the improvement of BFA programs includes having design courses about digital art rather than just the normal art courses.
2. 3D Printing and Sculpture
Sculpture aspirants are witnessing a tectonic shift in their approach towards the sculptural course, thanks to 3D printing technology. One does not have to depend on only physical techniques anymore as students are now able to put their ideas in 3D modelling software and print out their designs. This change makes hyperbole of forms and materials possible and creates a hybrid space for the fine arts and other professions like engineering and architecture.
After completing 12th grade, the Fine Arts Colleges in India have started teaching 3D printing as part of their programme to widen students’ artistic and commercial design appreciation.
3. Animation and Motion Graphics
Animation is one of the most stimulating areas in the fine arts. A Bachelor of Fine Art in animation motion graphics allows graduates to seek employment in film, television, gaming, and digital advertising. Nowadays, thanks to sophisticated software like Autodesk Maya, Blender, nuclear, and Toon Boom Animation Harmony, students learn to engage even their 2D skills to tell stories through creating up to three-dimensional animated movies and graphics.
Moreover, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 4% growth in jobs in animation and multimedia arts from 2019 to 2029, largely due to increased use of special effects and animations in video games, movies, and the internet. It is for this reason that many BFA programs nowadays have inclusions of animation and motion graphics courses.
4. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
In recent years, two innovations that have had an impact on the art space are virtual reality and augmented reality. Artists working in VR can for instance build worlds where their audience not only views art but becomes a part of it. AR on the other hand is more interactive as users project digital art on physical spaces where they are enhancing already existing work.
In BFA courses there is education regarding these technologies not only in the context of creation but also in the context of changing the perception of art. For instance, modern art galleries can also offer online exhibitions or incorporate AR into their practices, thereby increasing the interaction between the audience and the exhibition.
As quoted in the article provided by PwC, both these markets that are related to AR and VR are estimated to attain a gross annual rate of 31% in expansion by 2023. As this technology gains even greater acceptance, BFA’s with capabilities in virtual and augmented reality will be in great demand in industries that include, but are not limited to entertainment and gaming and most importantly healthcare where these immersive technologies are becoming key assets.
Preparing Students for the Digital Art World
After the 12th standard, fine arts courses appear to be on the way to becoming very basic for students who will be going out to the professional fields after their studies. This is because a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree BFA program is undergoing a lot of changes and those changes that involve the use of technology together with the old art practices are enhancing creativity towards the job market for the students.
This is how students should prepare themselves:
- Stay Open to New Tools: Accept the use of digital tools such as design software, 3d and animation and VR technology as one of the artistic skills. As a result, the skills to create artworks through the computer develop and the mind seems to be open to new ideas.
- Experiment with Different Mediums: Involving oneself in various art forms will enable a person as an artist to be very proficient. Whether it’s painting or producing 3-D images, an artist should be able to switch from one art form to another. Fine art is all about thoughtful imagination and creation and technology serves as a tool to appeal to that imagination.
- Learn the Fundamentals: It is no denying that most art created today even through modern technology still revolves around painting practices that exist and have existed for many centuries. Therefore find time to train in such disciplines as they will cut across all your jobs be it hands-on work, paint on a canvas or an image on a computer.
- Follow Industry Trends: The need for one’s skill development is unevaded by attainment in research and technology. It implies that it is not enough to just buy and install new software, one should also know to what extent and how far such innovations are used in movies, games, and advertising industries among others.
Conclusion
Technology is playing and will continue to play an indispensable role in the fine arts of the future; in both the creation and experience of art. Bachelor of Fine Arts Courses is leading the way in this development by providing a course structure that runs on traditional artistic skills and marries them with the current digital revolution. In any combination of 3D printing, animation, virtual realism or otherwise, today’s BFA students are ready to transform everything that people ever thought about art in the 21st century.
Considering the focus on fine arts subjects after 12th standard for women, it is essential to understand that fine arts in the days to come will be an amalgamation of technology and creativity. This way, all the budding artists appreciate that there is no boundary for their work and careers.
