What does a visual artist do? See what college and the profession are like
Do you know exactly what a visual artist does? This professional in the arts field can work both in the production of his own works and in the restoration of others originally made by others.
In addition, he works with diverse concepts that encompass historical, sociological, cultural and psychological issues. After all, art reflects society and, since society is so complex, the works are also complex, even if they seem simple at first.
Complex, isn't it? Well, understand below how the life of a professional specialized in Visual Arts works and how it is possible to become one.
Visual Artist: Understand what he does
In addition to having a naturally critical and creative sense, this professional also develops these characteristics in order to analyze the world around him.
This involves both the development of his own works and the analysis of those created by other artists.
In this sense, he has the ability to express himself through art, which can be done using various materials with which the visual artist is familiar. These include wood, plaster, clay and even computer programs that allow the development of graphic works.
A professional in this area, therefore, uses visual elements that may or may not be tangible, but that can always be seen and noticed by sight. This is how he expresses himself as an artist.
How does a Visual Artist work in practice?
Although a professional in the visual arts has the skills to create various works, he does not necessarily need to work creating art collections or restoring third-party productions while maintaining the original qualities of the work.
A career in this artistic area, therefore, is diverse and has several aspects that can be put into practice in the area of research and teaching, or even for curating museums and exhibitions and also for creating illustrations and others.
See below.
1. Creation of works
This is the hypothesis in which the artist dedicates himself to creating his own works, expressing himself through them.
Remember that a work of art is capable of telling a story, generating sensations and awakening memories. In this sense, the work of the visual artist is very interesting and relevant.
2. Restorer
The second area in which the visual artist can work is the restoration of existing works of art. This is important for maintaining the memory of art, ensuring that future generations will also get to know creations that marked an era.
In the case of restoration, the artist dedicates himself to fixing damage caused by time and materials without the work losing its original characteristics, since in this way it would no longer correspond to a restored production, but rather an original.
3. Illustrator
As already mentioned, the visual artist also has knowledge of graphic design, so he can use software to produce his works that do not need to be tangible, only visible.
This is the reason why he is able to work as an illustrator, and his drawings can be applied for the most diverse purposes, ranging from animated films to institutional and educational videos or vignettes. 4. Museum and Exhibition Curatorship
Curatorship involves choosing the works that will be exhibited in a museum or in a permanent or non-permanent exhibition. In this case, especially when it comes to artistic productions, a professional in the visual arts can be essential.
They have knowledge of the essence of an exhibition and what types of materials and works can be combined with it and its purpose. In addition, they have the ability to assess the value of pieces and their artistic and historical prominence.
5. Teacher and researcher
Furthermore, visual artists can dedicate themselves to teaching classes for elementary and high school students or even university students. As with the vast majority of undergraduate courses in higher education, they can also dedicate themselves to research in the area.
How to become a visual artist and what are the necessary requirements?
The Visual Arts course can be taken in two modalities, one for a bachelor's degree and the other for a bachelor's degree. Both last an average of 4 years and turn the graduate into an artist.
Furthermore, this course may be offered by some educational institutions and universities under the name “Visual Arts”, with no distinction between them.
During the course, various drawing and engraving techniques are taught, as well as how to work with certain materials. Furthermore, the analysis of works and the historical and cultural importance of each of the productions are also worked on, as well as the very concept of what is considered art.
As for the characteristics that are expected of aspiring visual artists, it is possible to mention creativity, attention and the skills to put creations into practice, such as drawing or sculpture.
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