For Bachelor of Fine Arts at Vcu You Do Not Do Any Regular College Classes

Last Updated on May 27, 2021

What should be in an fine art school application portfolio? How do you present a portfolio? What gives you lot the all-time gamble of being accustomed past the art school of your dreams? This commodity explains how to brand an art portfolio for college or university and is packed with tips from leading art and design schoolhouse admissions staff from around the world. It is written for those who are in the process of creating an application portfolio for a foundation form, document, associate or undergraduate degree and contains communication for specific art-related areas, such every bit Compages, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Animation, Game Design, Film and other creative, visual fine art-based courses. It is presented along with art and design portfolio examples from students who have recently gained credence to a range of fine art schools from around the world, creating a ix,000 give-and-take document that helps guide you lot through the application procedure.

What is an art school awarding portfolio?

In addition to coming together academic requirements, Art and Blueprint Schools, Universities and Colleges typically crave a practical art portfolio equally role of the awarding process (this is often accompanied past a personal argument and/or an art school interview – more on this before long). So whatis this?

The University of the Arts London gives the following definition of an application portfolio:

A portfolio is a collection of your work, which shows how your skills and ideas have developed over a period of time. It demonstrates your creativity, personality, abilities and commitment, and helps us to evaluate your potential.

Just equally every fine art educatee is dissimilar (with private strengths, experiences, passions and ideas) every art school has different requirements and expectations. While some universities and colleges accept strict criteria when it comes to preparing a portfolio, others are open up and flexible. This variation in expectations tin can get out students uncertain about how to proceed. Even when criteria is clear, applicants may experience overwhelmed and wonder what to depict/pigment/make/create, which mediums to employ and how to best select and present their work.

Producing an art portfolio is not to be taken lightly. Elevation fine art schools often accept very pocket-sized percentages of applicants. Understanding how to produce a slap-up portfolio is crucial. Although information technology is impossible to generate a listing of criteria that are appropriate for all applicants in every circumstance (there is unfortunately no guaranteed magic formula for creating a winning art portfolio) this article highlights tips from experienced admissions staff and makes general recommendations to help you produce the all-time university or art higher application possible.

A step-by-step guide to creating an art portfolio for college or academy

1. Research carefully and record the art portfolio requirements for a number of courses that involvement you

Deciding which fine art or design school is for you is a large decision (our upcoming commodity 'how to find the all-time art school in the world' will assistance with this). While you consider your options, it is advisable to employ to a number of different schools, in example you lot are not accepted into your first choice. In that location is no shame in applying to college or university and not getting in (many highly successful individuals are not accustomed into their academy of starting time pick); but being left with no place to go considering y'all didn't apply to enough schools is an easily avoidable circumstance!

Create a listing of art or pattern schools that yous would be prepared to attend and discover their admissions criteria (you can search for art schools in California and New Zealand on this website – more areas coming soon). All university and college art portfolio requirements are dissimilar. Record the exact admissions requirements advisedly, well in advance, every bit deadlines can be earlier than you expect and portfolios take a long time to prepare. Print these out, highlight central information and keep on-manus, so that yous can refer to them as needed throughout the application procedure.

In item, keep conscientious records of:

• Open Twenty-four hour period times

• Application and Portfolio due date/s. If yous are currently studying Art at high school, cheque how the portfolio due dates compare to your ain coursework deadlines and exam timetable. In some cases there may exist bug with work needing to be in two places at ane (i.e. submitted for assessment at high school and delivered to an art schoolhouse in hardcopy at the same time). This occurs particularly for students studying international qualifications or applying to art schools in different countries, and so you need to prepare for this in advance. Mark the deadlines of the schools that you are applying to clearly on your calendar.

• Size and format of work required

• Whether but finished pieces are expected, or whether sketchbooks, development and process piece of work are also welcome (some schools require just finished pieces, especially in the US; others love to see development work as well).

• Whether submissions are digital, hardcopy reproductions or original artwork. If copies of piece of work must be sent in, find out whether these should be colour photocopies, slides or photographs etc. Find out whether in that location are specific criteria for time based media (animation/moving image/video/interactive website design and so on).

• Labelling and presentation requirements. Many fine art schools have precise portfolio presentation requirements, with work labelled or identified in sure formats, with details about titles, dates and materials used, for example. Digital portfolio submission may use online tools such as SlideRoom.

• Whether there are special requirements for international or out-of-land applicants. If you are applying from another location, in that location may be special application criteria for you. For example, some colleges may accept international portfolios via email, instead of delivered in person.

• Whether supplementary cloth is needed, for example, a personal statement or written essay (more on this shortly). Art schools typically have academic requirements prepare by the university or higher as a whole, which may require a separate application class and a different deadline. You may as well exist asked to submit images of piece of work or objects that have influenced your work or teacher recommendations, testimonials or reports (but include these if specifically requested).

• Requirements almost what to draw / include. Many art and design schools go out applicants free to select what to include inside their portfolio. Unless specifically stated, the portfolio should comprise primarily visual artwork, not art history assignments, artist analysis or extensive notation. You may have to submit a combination of personal artwork, piece of work produced in high school classes and/or 'home tests', exams or assignments set by the art school you are applying to. In the RISD application portfolio, for example, applicants must respond to three set assignments, such equally 'observe and draw a bicycle, or an interior space'. Some stunning RISD bicycle drawings completed every bit part of this awarding portfolio process are shown below:

Enlarged images are past Triye (middle left), Anetta Urmey (middle right), Boyung yeon Kim (bottom left) and Seraph (bottom right). Top photograph by Mikey Todd:

These drawings are completed entirely in graphite pencil or charcoal on white paper and may be realistic or abstract. They may be derived from the whole or role of the bicycle, arranged alone or with whatever other object/s or scene. These examples evidence the exciting level of skill and inventiveness demonstrated by students applying to the Rhode Island Schoolhouse of Pattern.

Every bit another example, Parsons the New School for Pattern asks applicants to submit a portfolio as well as the 'Parsons Challenge'. In the by, this challenge has included instructions such as:

Using any medium or media, explore something usually overlooked within your daily environs. Choose i object, location, or action. Interpret your discovery in 3 original pieces. Support each slice of fine art with an essay of approximately 250 words.

In one case you have nerveless the requirements for the item degrees you lot are interested in, the side by side step is to seek out existing portfolio examples.

2. Await at contempo pupil art portfolio examples to gain a visual understanding of what is expected

Seeing examples of real portfolios is one of the best ways to sympathize the standard y'all are aiming for (and to gain your ain art portfolio ideas). Many university and higher art portfolio examples can be found online or in campus libraries (some art schools retain hardcopy examples to aid students the following year – these tin can be invaluable) and a large number of varied pupil art portfolio examples are featured in this article below. These illustrate the range of different portfolio styles that are possible and assist to bear witness how submissions for particular specialisations or degrees might differ from one another.

If you feel daunted looking at other portfolios, it is worth stressing that is usually the best candidates who display their work (this is indeed the instance inside this article). Do not despair if your technical skill is not as strong as the piece of work y'all see: retrieve art portfolios are assessed upon a broad range of criteria (more on this below). If yous have a smashing academic background, innovative ideas and a passion for the field of study, you lot tin can trump someone with technical skill who is lacking in inventiveness and personal drive. You might be surprised to realise how many famous artists do not have flawless observational drawing skill. Showcase your strengths and back yourself.

A portfolio for fine art school by Grace Camille Lee:

These are some of the images that were submitted in Grace's awarding portfolio. Most of these pieces are personal artwork; others were completed as function of a Foundation course (this is a ane year course that many UK students accept prior to starting university. A Foundation grade can be an excellent fashion to prepare an fine art college portfolio and is a mutual path to art schoolhouse for students in the Great britain). Grace was offered a place at Kingston, Brighton and Goldsmiths – art schools in the United kingdom.

Gray'southward School of Art publish a certificate containing examples of sketchbook pages from educatee portfolios (some of which are shown beneath):

These examples testify a beautiful range of mixed media and experimentation, as well as in-depth compositional exploration and development of ideas.

A Kingston University application by William Govoni:

This portfolio shows bear witness of strong observational drawing skill and competence in a range of different mediums. The inclusion of pattern drawings makes it articulate that William is a well-rounded candidate with a wide skills base.

A university application portfolio past Kirsty Mackenzie:

These two images are from the Elam Fine Fine art portfolio examples shown on the Academy of Auckland website. This portfolio comprises of work that Kirsty completed in high school.

A Kingston University application by Lily Grant:

These captivating compositions show a breadth of skill and a contemporary arroyo to portraiture that is combined with observational drawing skill.

3. Nourish Open Days

Open days are the ideal time to find out whether an fine art school is the right place for y'all (read more about this in how to find the best art school in the earth – coming soon). Open days are also a cracking opportunity to observe out more well-nigh the admissions process and what is expected past a schoolhouse in terms of application portfolios. (As mentioned above, some art schools accept past portfolios on display at the school permanently – in the campus library, for instance).

4. Plan your art portfolio, aiming to demonstrate a range of artistic skill and experiences, creative ideas/originality and passion/commitment

This is the most important section of this article, because information technology is the area where people are almost confused. All over the internet applicants beg to know: 'what should I include in a college art portfolio?' The answer is this: include a range of recent visual work (completed within the last yr or 2) that best communicates your artistic skills and experiences, creative ideas/originality and passion/commitment.

The detailed recommendations beneath explain this further:

a) Emphasise observational drawing

Near art and design courses require applicants to have a sure level of observational drawing skill. This is essential non just for Art specialities, but for many others, such as Architecture and Fashion Design. Even degrees that exercise not seem to evidently focus upon drawing ordinarily welcome the inclusion of this within an awarding portfolio. For instance, Ringling College of Art and Blueprint states:

For majors without as much drawing involved, the submission of drawing in your portfolio is always welcome but not required.

An observational drawing is a realistic representation of an object or scene that has been viewed directly in real life (as opposed to something that has been imagined or fatigued from a photo) – read more most how to produce dandy observational drawings. It tin can be produced using any medium or combination of mediums such equally graphite pencil, charcoal, pen, ink and/or paint. For the majority of applicants, information technology is highly advantageous to demonstrate the ability to observe something in real life and depict it accurately. It is recommended that observational drawing (or painting) from get-go-hand sources form a substantial part of your portfolio.

The aim is that you:

• Show to admissions staff that you are able to competently record shape, proportion, tone, perspective, surface qualities, detail, space and course

• Describe in a personal, sensitive mode, rather than in a mechanical style (i.due east. not a laborious copy of a photograph – drawings from photographs are specifically discouraged). This might involve more than artistic, expressive, gestural marking-making or the addition of non-realistic elements, textures, materials. In other words, communicate a strong sense of realism, but in a mode that also capture an essence of the bailiwick, rather than an exact, rigid copy of a scene. It can assistance to think about ideas and meanings behind a drawing – selecting a subject that holds meaning or relevance for yous, rather than just selecting any random object to draw.

Clara Lieu, Visual Creative person and Adjunct Professor at the Rhode Island Schoolhouse of Design, explains the importance of including original observational drawings in a university or higher portfolio like this:

Create original work from straight observation. This is hands down the number i, absolutely essential thing to do that many students fail to practice. Just doing this 1 directive will put you calorie-free years ahead of other students.

Accomplished drawings are in a higher place all else, the heart of a successful portfolio when applying at the undergraduate level. You might be a magician in digital media, just none of that will matter if yous have poor drawings.

Szivesen, a portfolio reviewer, explains:

Most schools emphasize drawing from straight observation every bit their primary ground for the portfolio, no matter what aspect of art you want to report. That's because basic drawing skills are fundamental and considering drawing is a little more likely to be a compatible measure than other areas of art and blueprint.

Examples of observational drawings from a university Foundation grade application portfolio past Sinead Kirby:

People often presume that observational drawings must be meticulous and precise. This is not the case. These sketchbook pages testify fluid, gestural, expressive observational drawings, which immediately capture a sense of motion and architectural space.

It is worth remembering that y'all don't need to attend a formal life drawing class to consummate observational effigy drawing (although attention such a class tin be an excellent experience for artists and fine art students and is highly recommended if available). The drawings below by Curelea Loana Andreea (part of a academy Foundation course application) show captivating examples of observational figure drawings that could accept place in a home or classroom setting:

Sometimes admissions staff even report tiring of the standard 'life drawing' and that the freshness and originality of drawings similar those to a higher place can be more interesting.

Observational portraits in a university Foundation portfolio by Emma Hooper:

It is of import to remember also that observational cartoon skill is often evident throughout your portfolio – even in works that are 'non-representational' and/or more than creative and interpretative. In the works above, for instance, we can run across beautiful observation of human grade and attention to the way light hits a face.

b) Explore a range of subject thing – make art near (and of) lots of interesting things
If y'all are wondering what you should depict: the possibilities are limitless. You may, for case, draw a landscape, notwithstanding life, portrait, animal, human being figure, interior or exterior environment, hands and feet, or any other interesting everyday object – focusing, maybe, on subject matter that is relevant for your degree (meet more well-nigh tailoring your application to your particular focus area below) and, more importantly, subject field thing that has some meaning and relevance to you. You should try and avoid common or cliché approaches and include a range of different interesting objects and scenes – and do non exactly replicate the work of another artist.

Dorian Angelo, of Ringling College of Fine art and Design, suggests:

…if you're non sure what to draw, draw the things in your room. Depict your hands, draw your feet, draw your canis familiaris. That's perfectly fine. Attempt not to get into any clichés or any traps of drawing withal thing. Nosotros don't want to see a sketchbook full of horses. We don't want to see a sketchbook total of just cartoons or anime. Show that you are looking at real life; that yous're looking at different subject field thing…

In Ringling College of Art and Blueprint's Game Art & Design portfolio requirements, they country:

Please do non copy directly from some other artist, or include such things as anime, tattoo designs, dragons, unicorns, etc.

In the words of Clara Lieu, Rhode Isle School of Blueprint:

Practice not copy your work from photographs or other sources. This means no fan fine art, no anime, no manga, null from another artist's work. Admissions officers have seen hundreds, probably thousands of images from educatee portfolios. They are well trained to rapidly spot artworks that accept been copied from photographs or that have been lifted from other resource.

Information technology is never, ever good to accept fan art in any portfolio. Past fan art, I mean drawings of celebrities and other characters that are not your own. That's basically the kiss of death, and will immediately cause people to encounter you equally nix more than a hobbyist.

If you are stuck for observational drawing ideas, these examples by students in portfolio grooming courses at Ashcan Studio of Fine art may trigger some ideas.

Artwork past Suyeon Moon (shoes, height left) (accepted into the Parsons AAS Graphic Design program), Soojin Lee (crumpled clothes, pinnacle right), accustomed into Parsons Manner Design program with a 4 yr scholarship, Insuk Kang (shelving scene, upper middle), accepted into Parsons Mode Pattern with a 4 yr scholarship, Kalene Lee (bottom left) accustomed into Pratt, Industrial Design, with a 4 year scholarship and Jiwon Hwang (bottom right), Parson's Fashion Design with a four yr scholarship:

Observational drawings completed as part of art school application portfolios.

For more tips about what to draw, read how to come upwardly with keen ideas for an art project.

c) Use a range of mediums, styles, art forms and techniques

Your art portfolio should show a various range of skill and visual experiences. Demonstrate that you are able to use and experiment with a range of styles, mediums and techniques and can control, utilise and manipulate mediums in a skilful, appropriate and intentional way. Someone who is able to create acrylic paintings, sculptures, prints and pencil drawings, for example, is infinitely more flexible than someone who is only able to sketch only with a pencil. The old applicant demonstrates growth, diversity and a breadth of skill, as well as an interest in learning new things. The latter may exist a 'i trick pony'.

Recommendations:

• Cull a range of mediums that highlight your artistic strengths. Apply moisture and dry mediums (graphite, charcoal, ink, pastel, acrylic, watercolour, oil, ceramics, motion-picture show etc and other mixed mediums) and paint / draw upon a range of unlike surfaces (see hither for great ideas near things to depict or paint on if you are looking for new ideas), but don't include weaker work, simply for the sake of covering a greater range of mediums.

• Explore a range of appropriate styles. Choose artistic styles that showcase your skill, interests and strengths. Don't try and gauge what the university of art school would adopt (despite common misconceptions, they rarely favour one style of art-making more than another); cull those that align with your strengths.

• Experiment with a variety of tools, techniques, processes and art forms. Unless otherwise specified, an application portfolio may include drawings, paintings, photography, digital media, design, three-dimensional work, web design, animation, video and almost any other type of artwork. This does not mean y'all should endeavour to include every dissimilar technique or art form possible (this would create a scattered and incohesive portfolio) only that you demonstrate that you are willing to experiment and try new art-making experiences, focusing on areas that interest you and highlight your strengths.

A portfolio by Kisa Sky Shiga, completed every bit part of a portfolio grooming course at Ashcan Studio of Art:

A wide range of mediums are shown in these 3 works by Kisa Sky Shiga, whose portfolio was accepted by RISD (Apparel Design, 4 year Scholarship), Parsons (Manner Design, 4 year Scholarship), Pratt (Fashion Design, 4 yr scholarship) and FIT: Style Institute of Engineering (Fashion Design).

Printmaking in a academy Foundation awarding by Henry Richardson:

In improver to a range of expressive drawings and paintings, Henry's portfolio is supplemented with dry out point printmaking – providing evidence of a wide range of skills and a delivery to exploring different techniques.

A university Foundation application portfolio past Aqsa Iftikhar:

This portfolio contains a great mix of mediums, including oil paintings and ceramic sculptures, showing artistic skill in a range of two and three-dimensional form.

A university Foundation awarding portfolio past Ayse Kipri:

This portfolio combines formal observational drawings with contemporary collage and installation work. Ayse completing a Foundation degree in Art and Design at Camberwell College of Arts and is now studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Cardinal Saint Martins.

e) Include a range of varied, well-balanced compositions – show an 'eye for aesthetics'

All work – fifty-fifty observational drawings – should show that you understand how to etch an prototype well, arranging visual elements such as line, shape, tone, texture, colour, form and color in an pleasing way. Compositions should be well-counterbalanced and varied – with a range of viewpoints/scales included throughout the portfolio.

• Avoid drawing items floating in eye of a page unless this is an intentional, considered decision (see our Art educatee'due south composition guide (coming soon) which explains more than about how the formal visual organisation of artwork. Think nigh the shadows, spaces and surfaces in and around objects. Recall carefully about cropping of images and positions of items within each work.

• Select and use appropriate colours, making sure that if multiple works are bundled on 1 folio, the colours work well together also (more on this in the portfolio presentation section below)

• Make certain the proportions and spatial relationships between different elements in graphic designs (such every bit text, images and space) are carefully considered

f) Include process / development work if permitted

Some art schools – particularly in the US – require that every piece in your awarding be a finished, realised work. Others – particularly those in the UK and NZ – love to meet procedure, evolution or sketchbook work. If an art or design school specifically states that this material is permitted, this is an fantabulous opportunity to flaunt your skills, commitment and depth of knowledge. The research and processes undertaken to develop your piece of work are often every bit of import as the final work itself and let the selection console to understand your work in context and see how it has been initiated and developed. Process and evolution work helps colleges and universities to understand how you retrieve (the ideas and meanings backside pieces, for instance) and see that you are able to take an thought from concept and develop information technology through to a final resolution. It provides show that you are able to analyse / experiment / explore and trial different outcomes and brand audio disquisitional judgments.

We want to run into how you generate and develop ideas from your visual inquiry. It is important that we see how they progress from the starting point correct through to the determination of your ideas / project. – Grays School of Fine art, Scotland.

Images of pages from your workbook/southward tin be very helpful to the selection console. This could include: bear witness of ideas, thinking processes, experimentation and analysis. – Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Evolution piece of work might include sketchbook or workbook pages that show:

• In depth investigations into subject affair (sketches / photography and other visual documentation of outset-manus sources)

• Investigations into mediums, materials and techniques and technologies

• Development of concepts, compositions or details

• Written analysis aslope visual work and annotation discussing ideas behind your work

• Evidence of links to the historical, gimmicky and/or social context in which works have been made – i.e. connections to artists and real earth bug

• Annotated screen captures, contact sheets, and documentation of digital processes

A university Foundation application past Lola:

The sketchbook pages in this portfolio show the evolution process backside the finished portrait bottom right, making it clear that the project has original beginning-hand sources and a strong personal connexion.

A university Foundation application by A Level Fine art student Heather Meredith:

In this example we can see the contrast of finished pieces alongside evolution work. The layered sketchbook pages communicate a wealth of insight nearly working processes, a willingness to experiment, and the depth of thought that is put in to developing and refining ideas.

A university Foundation application portfolio by Violet Volchok, who was offered a place on courses at Kingston and Ravensbourne, United Kingdom:

Part of an As Fine art exam project, these images combine first-class technical skill with captivating and striking compositions. This sequence of work shows initial artist analysis, original photography and limerick development leading towards final pieces. Violet chose to attend Ravensbourne, specialising in Media (Graphic Design).

This video contains a proficient overview of what a portfolio might contain, particularly for universities that request procedure / development piece of work:

For more tips well-nigh producing great process piece of work, you might find it helpful to read our guide to producing an outstanding high schoolhouse art sketchbook or how to develop ideas in an art projection.

Notation: If development work is not permitted as function of the portfolio itself, information technology is unremarkably appropriate to bring this to the interview.

1000) Communicate creative ideas: be original

Information technology is important to remember that artistic skill must be accompanied by inventiveness, original ideas and some course of visual curiosity. In other words, technical skill is no use if you are unable to recall of how to put this to employ in a unique, interesting fashion. Someone who is able to generate original and captivating ideas that rip into your center and soul is far more appealing than someone who produces boring, anticipated, nonetheless technically excellent artwork. Although skill is an excellent asset – and a sure level is necessary – applicants to colleges and universities and art schools should non aim to be glorified 'photocopiers', but rather the creators of heady, unexpected visual outcomes. To achieve this within your portfolio, it may assist to:

• Be experimental – attempt different things and push techniques, materials and technology in innovative and unexpected ways

• Make fine art nearly something (visually communicate ideas) rather than just laboriously depict a scene – demonstrate your intellectual potential.

• Be yourself – reveal your personality and interests. Never submit fine art that is an simulated of someone else's. Aim for artwork that is new, fresh and about something that matters to yous. Don't replicate any of the portfolios you encounter on this folio or elsewhere. Your portfolio should exist individual to you. Permit your portfolio reflect your strengths, interests and experiences and represent who you are.

On the whole, greater accent is put on prove of your visual curiosity, idea generation and exploration, and your free energy, appointment and contextual sensation, than on high level technical skills and finish. – Edinburgh Higher of Fine art, Scotland

…[A proficient portfolio] demonstrates how you can retrieve in innovative and contrasting ways, and shows originality, inventiveness and commitment to beingness creative. – Massey University, New Zealand

… stand out from the oversupply by pushing the boundaries of a prescribed curriculum, personalising a theme or project to demonstrate their invention and creativity. Work that reflects an applicant's own enthusiasms, thought processes and ideas is always of involvement to the selectors. – Academy of Dundee, Scotland

It's no good promoting house styles, equally that makes all students' piece of work expect the aforementioned. If a pupil is showing a piece of work from a form, it's important that information technology also shows a personal theme. – Helen Heery, Academy of Salford, United Kingdom

A portfolio assignment by Amelia Eaton:

This is an example of a successful double-sided drawing project completed for RISD (Rhode Island School of Blueprint). Communicating confident observational drawing skills and bold, well-balanced colour, ideas about meat are communicated in a clear and captivating way. Amelia was accepted by RISD.

A Fine Fine art portfolio past Karen Park, completed during a class at Ashcan Studio of Fine art:

These two works from Karen'south art school portfolio combine both technical skill with creative, innovative visual ideas. Karen was awarded a Full Scholarship from Cornell Academy – Fine Fine art.

A university Foundation awarding past Anna Clow:

This original A Level Art projection and was completed during Anna'south concluding year of high school. Where many students paint or describe conventional portraits, Anna has created innovative, exciting works that combine dolls, man grade and interior trunk parts. Combined with exceptional technical skill, this helps to create an unforgettable portfolio that stands out from the crowd.

A Fashion Pattern portfolio by Halim Ki, completed during a grade at Ashcan Studio of Art:

This is another instance of captivating, exciting portfolio that communicates clever, surrealist ideas. Halim was accepted into Parsons – Way Design.

Some great tips are independent in this video past the University of the Arts London about the importance of ideas, enthusiasm and creativity – providing some excellent thoughts, especially for those who might non have gained a strong Fine art pedagogy at high school:

h) Communicate passion, commitment and enthusiasm

Universities desire people who will represent their schoolhouse well – who will become on to do great things that will reflect positively upon their place of written report. They want passionate, swell students who will cope with the workload and who intend to actually go on and make utilise of their degree. This means that y'all must convey a sense of passion, commitment and enthusiasm within the portfolio (as well as during the interview – more on the art school interview soon). To exercise this, y'all can:

• Ensure that work from classroom projects is thorough, personalised, self-motivated (goes the 'actress mile').

• Include some personal, contained, self-directed piece of work that has been completed exterior of the classroom. This helps to give an indication of your current involvement and interest in the arts.

During the procedure of reviewing portfolios, the Ruskin staff always look for work that goes across the mere fulfilment of School curricula. Nosotros search for highly motivated activity, over and above any projection-based piece of work, and for a breadth of appointment, a sense of purpose and a forcefulness of stance in the way the portfolio is edited. Of import for us is to be able to discovering a sense of the temperament laying behind the piece of work, and sense the deeper interests that inform the portfolio. We are not interested in finding a particular formula or a specific style, but in signs of free energy, ambition, critical reflection and creativity. – Ruskin School of Fine art, United Kingdom

Personal art is the work done outside of a classroom situation and reflects the artists' unique interests in use of materials, subject matter and concept. Work can be completed in any media including (but not limited to) drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, digital/computer fine art, film/video, ceramics, sculpture, blitheness and performance art. – Kavin Buck, School of Arts and Architecture at the University of California Los Angeles, United States

Involvement in art must be more than casual. – Tom Lightfoot, Rochester Constitute of Technology, U.s.

Emma Rose, who works in the faculty of arts and sciences at Lancaster University, advises that students include some self-generated piece of work – not just the projects that have been assigned on courses. "Nosotros want someone with that extra spark – peradventure y'all've gone off with a camera to take interesting photos." – The Contained

Self-initiated projects (artwork created contained of classroom assignments/exercises) are particularly encouraged. – UCLA Department of Art, U.s.a.

Ultimately, it'due south all virtually passion and ideas, and then if you include the kinds of things that y'all're most excited nearly, that y'all're almost proud of, then chances are your portfolio submission will make a stiff impression. – Ringling Higher of Fine art and Design, United States

i) Tailor your application to suit your degree

Portfolio guidelines for dissimilar areas of Art and Design are often similar, but it tin exist wise to alter your portfolio so that it is advisable for the degree you are applying for. Rather than creating a completely different gear up of images for each specialisation or major, still, a submission tin be tweaked slightly, so that information technology showcases relevant strengths and an interest in the area you are applying for (for example, submitting observational drawings of city scenes or edifice interiors for an architecture awarding etc (although this is not necessary – more than on architecture portfolios below).

Equally an example, digital based degrees may like to see evidence of technological sensation and adequacy and the ability to work with a range of digital platforms, aslope traditional not-digital techniques. This might include time-based interactive work (moving-picture show, animation, video, website blueprint).

The following listing gives some guidance near the sort of textile that maybe helpful for specific areas, in add-on to the items discussed above, such as observational drawing. As with all recommendations in this article, you should refer to the university or college yous are applying to for precise requirements.

Graphic Blueprint Portfolios:

• Graphic design impress work or web graphics
• Font design or use of typography
• Graphic illustrations
• Video graphics
• Interactive web media and any other related projects

A university Foundation application portfolio by Jacob Wise:

This portfolio shows an obvious strength in graphic design. Forth with testify of potent observational cartoon skill, the work is supplemented by original posters that show a good understanding of limerick – with competent arrangement of line, colour, space, text and form. "The Bauhaus motion, Russian constructivism and the Swiss international graphic mode are a source of massive inspiration for my work with the utilization of sharp edges, bold shape, colour and precision".

Architecture Portfolios:

• Many students assume that an compages awarding portfolio must be filled with drawings of buildings or architectural designs. This is nigh e'er notthe case (as with all other recommendations made in this commodity, y'all should check the requirements of the particular form you are applying for). Admissions staff typically wish to run across evidence of creativity with a range of media and strong observational cartoon skill (as described in the first part of this article), including the ability to represent infinite, perspective and 3D grade. This can exist achieved through exploration of completely unrelated subject matter, such as withal life, landscapes and man form. If you accept a choice, nonetheless, drawing buildings, manmade structures, interior/exterior spaces, furniture and/or mechanical parts and then on, may help to demonstrate an interest in architectural design.
• Architecture schools usually practise NOT crave formal technical drawings (instrumental or estimator generated plans / orthographic projections etc) and if these are accepted as part of the application portfolio, they are oft express in quantity, and so that yous include a sufficient range of hand-generated work. You lot are nonexpected to understand how to pattern a edifice – this is what you learn upon the course.
• Three-dimensional sculptures, installations, casts and/or model constructions can be great to include, as these communicate spatial sensation and an interest in working with 3D form. These might include conceptual models fabricated from cardboard, paper, wire, wood and other institute materials, for example.
• Artwork in a wide range of mediums (printmaking / photography etc) are typically accepted.
• Note: Some universities and compages schools specifically asking that the portfolio is notfilled with Blueprint Applied science work, preferring to see piece of work that has been produced as role of high schoolhouse Fine art courses. (Although some high school Design Technology courses provide fantabulous preparation for architectural degrees, Art courses typically offer a stronger grounding in observational drawing and composition).

Examples of observational drawings submitted as part of an awarding to the University of Auckland, School of Architecture, New Zealand:

Notation that even the bottom cartoon – an observational drawing of lights mounted upon a steel bar – communicates a articulate involvement in architectural course.

Images from an architecture application portfolio by Irence M, completed while studying at Ashcan Studio of Art:

Irence was awarded a four year scholarship and was accepted into RISD Architecture. These works communicate a clear involvement in three-dimensional infinite and architectural course.

An compages portfolio example by Ken Liang, completed under the guidance of Evangelos Limpantoudis from the Architecture School Review who helps students gain admission to top architecture schools from around the world:

Ken was accepted past all five architecture schools that he practical to: Cornell, Savannah College of Art and Design, Parsons, the Rhode Island School of Design and Columbia University. With no prior experience nearly art or design, his portfolio became a vehicle for Ken to learn about the design process, showing the procedure of development of architectural forms derived from conceptual models using cloth and clay.

Fashion Design Portfolios

• Figure drawings – for example drawings of clothing on models
• Documentation of original sewing, textiles or fashion design projects

Office of a Kingston University Art Foundation application portfolio past Annabelle Holden:

Studying Fine art History, Textiles and Photography at high school helped Annabelle prepare a great portfolio, including work from a textiles projection where she reinvented vintage items.

A Fashion Design portfolio by Jinsoo Choi, prepared during a class at Ashcan Studio of Fine art:

Jinsoo was accepted into Parsons Fashion Design (Scholarship), Pratt Fashion Design and FIT. Annotation the outstanding observational drawing skill and clever linking of colours between the separate pieces inside this portfolio.

Game Art Portfolios:

• Storyboards
• Original grapheme designs

Product Design Portfolios:

• Subjects like production design frequently crave potent practical, analytical and communication skills, likewise equally the technical and conceptual ideas and self-motivation required past other art-related degrees. This means that testify of working with materials and in both 2D and 3D can be benign.

Film Schoolhouse Portfolios:
Filmmaking may combine many unlike skills including performing arts, music, literature and writing. Every bit a result, portfolio requirements may be quite different from a traditional fine art school awarding. Applications may include:

• Screen shots from original films, animations, videos or digital applications with video excerpts embedded (make certain these are short as admissions staff will not have time to view long reels of footage, and/or captured as a storyboard with screenshots). These may be submitted on DVD or flash drives or equally URL links to YouTube, Vimeo or embedded on a personal website or web log (see why Art students should have their own website and how to make one)
• Fashion, costume or set design
• Storyboards
• Website blueprint and multimedia work
• Evidence of involvement in theatre or performing arts
• Screenplays and creative writing may also be advisable

5. Take time to create new artwork and/or better existing pieces (if required)

Once y'all have planned what y'all will include in your portfolio, yous should set aside a catamenia of time to produce this. If you take not taken loftier school Art classes, preparing a page will accept a lot of work – about 6 months to consummate a portfolio from scratch (retrieve information technology is ideal to create more work than is needed, so that you tin advisedly edit and remove the weaker pieces). Run across if your high schoolhouse Art teacher can help (even if you don't take Fine art). An experienced instructor will often have a long history of helping / observing students apply and may have a good knowledge of what helped successful candidates in the past. If your own art instructor is non experienced with helping students apply to academy – or you experience you lot need more assistance preparing your portfolio – find out if there are local courses or workshops that address how to make a portfolio for art school. Portfolio preparation classes are often run by the universities / colleges themselves. These may exist relatively inexpensive weekend workshops or be yearlong, such as Foundation or Art portfolio courses. Making a portfolio can experience less daunting when you produce work with a class of others and seeing others produce piece of work tin be motivating and inspirational.

Y'all volition likely have to use a considerable portion of your holiday and vacation fourth dimension to create piece of work or improve existing pieces – as well as generate personal work outside of your curriculum or consummate 'dwelling house tests' or assignments if required.

The most of import detail of preparing your portfolio for higher admissions is to remember to give yourself plenty of time and have fun with it. It is almost incommunicable to create quality piece of work if you are nervous and under a fourth dimension constraint. Don't look until the terminal infinitesimal, and make plenty work then you tin can edit together the best portfolio for each school you programme to apply to. – Kavin Buck, Schoolhouse of Arts and Architecture at the University of California Los Angeles, United States

When it says put together a portfolio of 12 pieces, it doesn't necessarily hateful just brand 12 pieces. It'southward easier to just brand, make and make then narrow it downwardly to 12 pieces. Not merely will y'all have more to choose from, an admissions counselor during a portfolio review tin can aid you make up one's mind what to submit for a final awarding. So don't limit yourself, but create! Katie, Admissions Counsellor, Parsons, Usa

A University Foundation application portfolio by Nina Cavaviuti:

This quote from Nina illustrates the challenge in preparing a portfolio exterior of an Art class: "I take had to prepare a portfolio around a fulltime degree class and a weekend job. Not being in a schoolhouse surroundings where you are constantly supervised has meant I have had to work independently, I take learnt to have reward of my surroundings and to use time effectively, such as using daily travel every bit an opportunity to create observational drawings and attending regular life drawing classes to ameliorate my technical cartoon skills."

6. Select and Review Piece of work

One time yous have completed a significant body of work, seek feedback and modify / amend / redo pieces. Don't go out this until the last infinitesimal, because you volition run out of time if changes are needed. Build in reflective time – fourth dimension to prepare it aside and come back to it with fresh eyes.

This excellent video past Paul Stanford, Head of Department of the Foundation Form in Art and Design at Kingston University, shows the evaluation of an average educatee portfolio to be offered a place. It highlights the importance of editing a portfolio carefully and eliminating weaker piece of work, as well as ending a portfolio well, so that the final impression is a good one.

Towards the heart of the portfolio, Paul begins to notice technical deficiencies – 'a bit of a boring drawing, you lot might say' – 'information technology's non a neat life cartoon, is it?' – a reminder that students should only submit work that plays to their strengths. The student's skill set as a whole and estimated potential is evaluated, with observational drawing skill only one function of this equation.

Well-nigh people get besides close to their ain work and cannot see information technology objectively. Bring an unbiased person (not friends or family) to assistance with your final portfolio selection, ideally someone who has a background in art or pattern. When selecting work, aim for quality over quantity, avert repetition and include diverseness of bailiwick thing, skill and medium.

Read the school's suggestions for portfolio submission carefully. Almost will say "ten to twenty pieces" and I tin can tell you that more is oftentimes not improve. If you have ten really strong works to submit, and so the quality level noticeably drops, better to show ten uniformly good works than a whole range. – Anonymous answer on Yahoo

Be selective. …don't submit work that you are non proud of just for the sake of having diversity. – Virginia Commonwealth University

Select projects that show a range of media and discipline affair, while still emphasizing your strongest work. – Carnegie Mellon University

It'southward good to start with lots of piece of work so exist super selective with what y'all put in the portfolio… – Charlotte Cook

Some institutions offer the opportunity to have your portfolio reviewed before submission (a 'preliminary portfolio review'). United states of america students are also able to attend National Portfolio Day, where they are able to receive feedback on their portfolio-in-progress from university and college representatives. These are held all over the US and are highly recommended. Lines are long and you should go far early to ensure that you are able to speak to the schools of your commencement selection.

At this outcome, brace yourself for harsh words. It'due south not uncommon for students to exist told at National Portfolio Solar day that they essentially have to starting time over from scratch because their portfolio is headed in the incorrect direction. Reviewers will be candid and direct about the quality and type of work that their school is looking for, and then don't be discouraged if you get a tough critique. Rather, exist glad that you got the feedback y'all needed to go yourself headed in the right direction. – Clara Lieu, Rhode Isle School of Design, United States

Have effective criticism and advice – don't exist offended (y'all'll need to get used to this if y'all want to go to art school!) – Virginia Democracy University, Us

What Should exist In a Portfolio? This video from the University of Arts London explains how a good portfolio should have a sense of journey or 'story unfolding'. It is a practiced video that helps y'all understand which pieces to select. It is a skillful reminder to show a range of creative skills and techniques and well every bit communicating your personality, interests and a sense of your own experiences.

7. Organise, photograph and present your art portfolio

Presentation of your portfolio is very important. The organisation and organisation of your portfolio has a direct affect upon the manner the work is perceived. A good layout helps to communicate an eye for composition, a professional approach, shows your commitment and desire to attend a university or college: it leaves a positive, memorable impression. Poorly cared for work that is thrown together in a sloppy, thoughtless layout, or is overly decorative and laboured in presentation, significantly detracts from the quality of the artwork. Admissions staff may spend less than 5 minutes looking at your portfolio, and so offset impressions count.

This video nigh preparing a portfolio by University of the Arts London contains some great reminders most presenting a portfolio. In particular, they propose that you should 'put nil in your portfolio that you tin't talk nigh' and organise it so that it is easy to navigate. Information technology also explains that while a portfolio should not be crammed full of everything a student has produced, information technology should non be over-edited: 'pared down so much that nosotros can't actually run into footling glimpse of potential'.

Carefully photograph piece of work for digital submissions and any piece of work that is three-dimensional/sculptural or that exceeds size specifications for hardcopy submissions (see our guide to photographing fine art like a pro – coming soon). Reread portfolio presentation requirements carefully to make sure that you nowadays exactly what is required by the admissions departments of each of the schools that you are applying to (particularly size and weight restrictions).

Here are some full general portfolio presentation tips:

a) Select a simple, professional format that allows your work to be viewed easily.

If a portfolio size isn't specified, choose something that works well for your own work and that can be transported easily. A3, A2 or A1 is normally fine.

From my own experience, I observe A3 is the near ideal (both in pedagogy and beyond). A3 marks the perfect balance because you tin sufficiently display your artwork effectively, while making it easier to transport. – Contempo U.k. art school applicant from the StudentRoom.

Choose a flat type of fine art portfolio case or folder that opens and close easily, while protecting piece of work so that it doesn't get creased. (Avoid rolling work upwardly, as information technology will be hard to go it to lie flat). The portfolio example may exist a spine-mounted leather art portfolio (usually plant in all good art retailers – see examples on Amazon) or a clear not-reflective clear file binder, for case. It doesn't need to be overly expensive: avert extravagant folders and cull one that is simple, clean and practical.

Although presentation is important for your portfolio, don't spend loads of time and coin ownership flashy folders advises Wendy Rochefort, who is studying a foundation degree in Art at Cornwall College. "Unproblematic mounts and a tidy finish are fine." – The Independent

Have all sheets deeply bound in such a mode every bit to allow all sheets to lie apartment when the portfolio is open. Be able to exist easily and safely handled. There should be no exposed metallic binders, staples or similar fittings. Sheet metal or other heavy or abrupt materials should not be used for portfolio covers. – School of Compages, Academy of Auckland, New Zealand

Choose plain, neutral portfolio colours (black, grey, white etc) and avoid busy, decorative or patterned presentations (you want accent to remain on your artwork). Similarly, avoid reflective surfaces that hamper vision (for example, glazing paintings or clearfiles with shiny plastic).

Keep the presentation format uncluttered and relevant. Avoid over decorating your portfolio as this can detract from the content. – University of the Arts London, U.k.

b) Order the work in a logical and aesthetically pleasing way.

Outset and finish with a peachy piece of work, so that yous create a smashing initial and final impression. Space other great work evenly throughout your portfolio (avoiding a clump of weaker piece of work). Think almost group similar work together, past medium, subject or style – possibly as a series of projects – or chronologically. An assessor must be able to 'empathize' your portfolio and see any connections between pieces (for example, show the artistic journeying between evolution piece of work/sketchbook pages and final outcomes). Aim to arrive announced coherent, rather than a whole lot of scattered, disconnected pieces.

Narrative is an of import element to consider when preparing a portfolio. How work is laid out and displayed changes how it is read, meaning the placement of pieces is vital to showing tutors your best power in the shortest amount of time. – The Guardian.

Call up about the composition of each page – which images are facing each other, whether the colours work well together etc. Consider the relationships between pieces, especially the relationship between sizes, colours and format of piece of work.

Add greater dissimilarity, ingather tighter to brand more than dramatic compositions. Add a little more intense color. Yous'd be surprised how much stronger your work can look with just a few careful additions. – Karen Kesteloot, a portfolio development coach from PortPrep

c) Avoid unnecessary repetition

If y'all are asked to submit a specific number of images, ensure that each of these is a different piece of piece of work. Where a certain number of sheets are asked for, it may be possible to mount smaller works onto a single sheet. If you desire to submit unlike angles of i work, information technology is usually best to digitally submit these on one sheet, or every bit one prototype. Read the guidelines of the item university or college you wish to employ to carefully to detect out what is expected.

There is no virtue in quantity solitary and candidates should not include multiple colour variations of prints, for example. Duncan of Jordanstone Higher of Art and Blueprint, Great britain

Do not include detail photos of work in your portfolio unless you consider them absolutely necessary. Under no circumstance should more than ii item shots be included. – Yale Schoolhouse of Art

d) Trim / ingather everything in a make clean environment and attach to the portfolio (if submitting in hardcopy)

• Make sure work is thoroughly dry and that pages volition not stick together
• Make sure work is secured well, with no loose work falling out when pages are opened
• Use fixative to stop charcoal, chalk or graphite drawings smudging and ensure that these are non directly facing other artworks in the portfolio. Existing smudges tin be erased from drawings using a putty prophylactic, prior to spraying with fixative.
• Avoid fold out flaps, and other irritating formats that may distract or irritate the viewer
• Brand sure photographs are focused, gratis of fingerprints, printed on matt (non-reflective) paper and are large enough to come across details clearly
• Don't mount things with distracting borders (it is not normally necessary to mount or mat your work); faming piece of work is unnecessary. Let the work stand on its own. A clean, professional person and minimal fashion is usually ideal, as described above.

eastward) Presentation of digital work (if submitting online or upon DVD or memory stick)

• If you wish to include digital material with a hardcopy submission, ensure that the art school y'all are applying to is able to view work digital cloth in particular format (video / CD etc). Bank check carefully what type of new media presentations they take and accompany this with a printed hardcopy version (screenshots etc) and a notation about the programmes used, in example difficulties arise.
• Characterization all digital files sensibly, such as firstname-lastname-application.pdf rather than 4690243fxz.pdf
• Ensure images reflect the true color and advent of the artwork and are cropped correctly, without unrelated, disctracting background items
• Ensure moving prototype or video footage is cropped to a sensible length (admissions staff usually have tight time limitations)
• Consider embedding videos upon your own website, rather than equally a link to youtube / vimeo. This creates a much more professional backdrop to your application (see how to create your own website).
• Equally with physical submissions, think carefully about the organisation and grouping of images.
• Save a tape of all digital submissions every bit a backup!

f) Label piece of work conspicuously but unobtrusively

• Use small, clear writing to label piece of work in a manner that doesn't detract from the artwork. If labelling guidelines are not given (sometimes a separate canvass containing details of each epitome is required), characterization work in the corner or on the reverse with the championship, mediums, dimensions, dates and additional info as required. Avoid decorative font and excessively large headings.
• Proof for spelling errors and inaccuracies (get someone else to check this too). Make sure all links to digital moving images work.

Want more help with applying to Fine art school?

This article is accompanied by our Guide to the Art school interview (coming soon) – packed with advice from those who have recently applied. To make certain that you don't miss out on this commodity, delight make certain that you lot are subscribed to our newsletter using the sign up form below!

Amiria has been an Fine art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the form design and assessment of student work in two loftier-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Compages (Beginning Form Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Art & Pattern Coursework Assessor.

raderswelf1981.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/how-to-make-an-art-portfolio-for-college-or-university

Share this post