Apart from famous artists like Padmashree-Padmabhushan K G Subramanyam and Padmabhushan Gulammohamed Sheikh, works by budding artists were very much in demand as well. This is quite evident from the endless list of buyers and connoisseurs, which include Transpek group of industries and Rakesh Agrawal, who heads the ABS Art Gallery.

There are two sets of portfolios at the Graphic department of MSU’s Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA). While one comprises of first generation artists such as Subramanyam, Sheikh, Jyoti Bhatt, Suresh BV, Ranjitsinh Gaekwad, Rini Dhumal, Vinod Shah and Indrapramit Roy, the other has art works of budding artists. Nearly 16 sets of portfolios at the Graphics department were booked on the last day of the fair.

Sources at FFA said that profits of over Rs 18 lakh has already been made. This amount will be donated to the Mumbai terror attack victims, they added.

Prof Deepak Kannal, FFA Dean, said: “Two segments of collectors were seen at the FFA fair, the buyers and connoisseurs. While the buyer is the one who chooses, the connoisseur is the one who knows what to invest and what value will a piece of art have in the coming years.”

Padmabhushan Gulammohamed Sheikh said: “Earlier, students used to make things as per the curriculum for the FFA fair. The artworks were not pre-designed to sell.”

While Sheikh has used his brush strokes in a ‘Speaking Tree’, Subramanyam has shown his expertise in a sketch of a woman with a baby and a tavdi (earthen pots used for keeping Chappatis in West Bengal).