Career in sketching.........
Put your feelings into a drawing…Make a mark … through sketching… "
Free hand sketching, rendered with pencil or brush, is an essential skill in the learning growth of any artist. One must learn to sketch in order to convey his/her ideas. One can master enough skills by constantly drawing things around yourself – landscape features, utensils, objects, views, people at work and play etc.
It is an "Effective visual communication tool" All you need to carry is a pencil or a pen and a sketch pad. Can be done anywhere and one doesn’t need an office or work table for it.
It gives a spark to your creativity as you hold the pencil in your hand. It gives youfreedom to illustrate the thoughts in your mind on to paper.
It is an "Effective visual communication tool" All you need to carry is a pencil or a pen and a sketch pad. Can be done anywhere and one doesn’t need an office or work table for it.
Types of Sketching
CROQUIS : Indicates a quick sketch of a live model using just lines. Generally used by Fashion Designers these days.
POCHADE : Color is used to record the atmospheric effect by the artist. Used in large scale landscape paintings.
PORTRAIT SKETCH : Used in Portrait Art where a person’s characteristics are captured like smile, facial anatomy on paper making it a worthy stand-alone art pieces.
"Doesn’t matter how pretty a sketch looks, it’s all about communicating ideas to the world around you "
Sketching Tips & Techniques
Outlines : Create a heavy outline that will be the defining edges of the object
Hatches and Cross Hatches : Hatch is created by drawing small lines in one direction.
Circular technique : Tiny scribbles and circles are created to give textures like leaves of trees. To create this you need to move your pencil in swirling motion.
Smooth Shading : Use your different grades of pencil to create smooth shades/strokes to show shadows, light and dark areas.
Skills Required
- Ability to draw the ideas in mind
- To create realistic pictures with just pencil and paper
- For Forensic artists, excellent communication skills are needed
- Knowledge of Human Anatomy
- Ability to draw accurately from memory
- Creativity
Employment Opportunities
A sketch artist is the professional, who creates drawings and sketches for various purposes. It can be portraits, pictures of live models and spaces or a person from memory. Majority of sketch artist’s work as free lancers and other employment opportunities for this career are as below:
- Freelance artists
- Forensic artists
- Courtroom sketch artists
- Art educators
- Cartoonist
- Graphic artist for 2D/3D images
Highly talented artists may even have their artwork showcased in galleries or museums by putting up exhibitions. By attending various sketching workshops one can develop a strong portfolio that will further help in freelancing job opportunities.
Earnings
The annual income of a freelance sketch artist may vary depending on the artist’s talent and skill. Work experience and certifications are greatly advantageous when getting hired.
Though art cannot be measured in terms of money, however an artist with 3-5 years of experience can make around INR 2.5 lacs to 3 lacs per annum when employed in a firm. Rest Freelancers income depends on per sketch basis ranging from Rs. 1500 to 5000 depending on type and complexity of work.
How do I get there?
Generally, to become a sketch artist, a fixed education path is not required if you have the skill or talent to draw. One should pursue strong art programs or workshops to develop and fine tune their skills. However, there is still an option of graduation and post-graduation in this field that one can go for.
Paths
Stream
Entrance/Course
Degree/Diploma
Goal
Path 1
Any
Art Workshops
3- 6 months training by sketch artists
Includes Topics like facial/Human anatomy, drawing speed and accuracy, memory processes, shading styles.
Sketch Artist
Path 2
Standard 10+2
10+ 2 pass; Any Stream
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Qualified/Professional Artist
Path 3
Standard 10+2 / Graduation
1-2 years of experience required and 80-120 hours of training by IAI (International Association of Identification); pass written and practical exam.
Forensic Art Certification
Forensic Artist/ Consistent Employment/Courtroom Artists/ Law Enforcement Sketch Artist
Where to study?
With the increase in growing opportunities and career prospectus students in India are willing to pursue Arts as their Majors. Graduation in Arts and Fine Arts course has made it possible for artists to reach out to the ordinary man at reasonable price. Moreover, these courses enables you to discover your own talent and skills and thereby further polishing it for excellence.
Indian Institutes
- Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology: www.srishti.ac.in
- Kala Bhavan (Institute of Fine Arts), Santiniketan:www.visvabharati.ac.in/KalaBhavana
- International Institute of fine Arts, U.P: www.iifiaindia.org
- National Institute of Fine Arts, Delhi: www.nifafinearts.com
- M.S. University of Baroda – Faculty of Fine Arts: www.msubaroda.ac.in
- Department of Fine Arts – Aligarh University: www.amu.ac.in
- Bharatiya Kala Mahavidyalaya, Pune: www.cofa.bharatividyapeeth.edu
- L S Raheja School of Art, Mumbai: www.lsrahejaworli.com
- Department of Fine Arts, Kurukshetra Univesrity: www.kuk.ac.in
- Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Arts, Mumbai: www.jjschoolofart.in
Foreign Institutes
- Maryland Institute Of Arts, USA: www.mica.edu
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago, USA: www.saic.edu
- The University of Texas at Austin, Austin: www.finearts.utexas.edu
- The Florence University Of Art, Florence, Italy: www.fua.it
- Boston University, College of Fine Arts: www.bu.edu
Busykar.com has been launched to provide communities within a city an online platform to meet, learn and earn with their hobbies and skills. Community members can login and find a suitable platform to showcase their talent, promote their small business, find a coaching class or get a break as a model or actor, join yoga or dance class.