Chitrakala Vidhyalaya was established in 1964 as part of the Chitrakala Parishath, which has a diverse collection of art — from local folk to traditional to contemporary. The galleries here hold some of the best exhibitions not only in the city but also in the country. This exposure to world-quality art is conducive to the artistic growth of students.

Bangalore University granted affiliation to the college in 1983. It has a huge archive of contemporary visual art catalogues and slides that are used as teaching aids. It also has a well-equipped computer laboratory. The mission of the college is to encourage excellence, critical enquiry and experimentation in the medium of instruction.

Apart from the bachelor of fine arts (BFA) programme, the institute offers a masters in fine arts (MFA) as well as a postgraduate diploma in painting, sculpture and graphic arts. It also holds weekend art classes for children.

The five-year BFA programme includes the study of painting, applied arts, sculpture, graphics (print making) and art history. Courses in Kannada, English or Hindi are compulsory in the foundation year. Art history is compulsory for all the five years and is taught either in English or Kannada.

Admission announcements are issued in leading dailies in May. Those interested can obtain the application form from the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Art Complex, Kumara Krupa Road, Bangalore-560001 on payment of Rs 300 in cash. The form can also be downloaded from the website (www.chitra kalaparishath.org). To obtain the form by post, send a demand draft of Rs 300, drawn in favour of the administrator, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.

If you do download the form from the website, send a demand draft worth Rs 300 along with the filled-in application form to the institute.

Eligibility

Applicants should have passed their Plus Two, or an equivalent examination, from a recognised board.

Entrance Exam

You should have an aptitude for visual arts and some experience in drawing, painting or sculpture. An aptitude test is held for interested candidates at the Chitrakala Parishath in June. Shortlisted candidates are then interviewed by a panel of experts for the final admission decision.

Pattern of exam

The objective of the entrance exam and the interview is to ascertain a candidate’s perception and his or her aptitude for pursuing this course. There is a two-hour drawing test, which includes pencil drawing and sketching, and an hour-long written test that has questions on art.

How to prepare

The design aptitude tests require drawing and sketching practice. To do well in this test, candidates need to have an acute sense of observation as well as the ability to analyse. Apart from artistic ability, applicants need general awareness and good communication skills to ace the entrance examination.

To hone their theoretical knowledge of art, interested applicants can refer to books like the Upkar Guide for Design and the Arihant Guide for Design, which are available in all major bookshops. Candidates should practise sketching, preferably from memory to polish their observation skills.

sample test paper

Make a freehand drawing of an “open umbrella”. Draw a three-dimensional view of it. Use only a pencil for drawing. Do not use paints, crayons, colour pencils,poster paints, colour markers, inks and colour sketch pens. You will be evaluated for your drawing ability in terms of correct perspective, proportions and quality of line.

Convert a drawing of a circle to a triangle, the triangle to a square and the square back to a circle in a series of frames.

Depict the life-style of a farmer by drawing his belongings other than garments. The drawing should show a realistic (three-dimensional) view of the belongings.

Which of these films were directed by Shyam Benegal?

a) Ardh Satya

b) Pather Panchali

c) Ankur

d) Sholay

Write in brief about the characteristics of the paintings of famous artists — Rabindranath Tagore and Jamini Roy.