What is Visual Arts

The term "visual arts" refers to a diverse range of artistic mediums, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and digital media. It is a type of artistic expression that involves the audience visually and elicits interpretations and feelings from them. Art forms include pottery, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, photography, video, cinema, and architecture are examples of visual art forms.

Basic Overview and Definition of Visual Arts 

Visual Arts is the artistic discipline that creates primarily visual works. Different methods and mediums are used by artists in this sector to portray concepts, feelings, and narratives. Modern digital media and installation art are included in the category of visual arts, which also includes more conventional forms like painting and sculpture. Arts that convey their message, meaning, or emotion primarily through visual methods are referred to as visual arts. Painting, photography, and sculpture are examples of visual arts that can be categorised as decorative, commercial, or fine art. Art is typically subjective and open to many interpretations.

Examples of visual arts include: 

• Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, Drawing, Printmaking, Design, Crafts, Video, Filmmaking, and Architecture. 
• Visual arts can also include performances and installations if they are exhibited in a public space. 
• Visual arts explore creativity and imagination. They encourage the translation of thoughts, emotions, and narratives into visual forms. 
• Visual artists work with paints, develop murals, draw images, create art mixed with media, and design 2D and 3D images. Many visual artists prefer working full-time, but many artists may prefer freelance work.

Popular Visual Arts Courses

Some popular visual arts courses include

Bachelor's Level:

1. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Painting
   • Focuses on traditional and contemporary painting techniques, colour theory, and art history.
2. Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Photography
   • Covers photography fundamentals, digital editing, and portfolio development.

Master's Level:

1. Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Sculpture
   • Advanced studies in sculpting techniques, public art, and art criticism
2. Master of Arts (MA) in Digital Media Arts
   • Explores digital art creation, interactive installations, and multimedia storytelling.

Best Universities for Visual Arts 

Choosing the right university is pivotal for budding artists. Here are the top 10 universities worldwide for visual arts, along with their popular courses:

University	Popular Courses	QS Ranking (Subject-wise)
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)	- BFA in Studio Arts- MFA in Painting	#11
Royal College of Art, London	- MA in Photography- MFA in Sculpture	#1
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)	- BFA in Illustration- MFA in Digital Media	#7
Yale University	- BA in Graphic Design- MFA in Photography	#9
University of the Arts London	- BA in Fine Arts- MA in Curating	#2
Goldsmiths, University of London	- BA in Art Practice- MA in Visual Cultures	#18
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)	- BFA in Character Animation  - MFA in Film	#24
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	- BA in Design Media Arts- MFA in New Genres	#29
Central Saint Martins, UAL	- BA in Fine Art- MA in Art and Science	#2
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)	- BFA in Painting- MFA in Illustration	#33