Can I Send in My Art Portfolio After My Application

Last Updated on May 27, 2021

What should be in an art school application portfolio? How do yous present a portfolio? What gives you lot the best risk of being accepted by the art school of your dreams? This article explains how to make an art portfolio for college or university and is packed with tips from leading art and blueprint school admissions staff from around the world. Information technology is written for those who are in the process of creating an application portfolio for a foundation form, document, acquaintance or undergraduate degree and contains advice for specific art-related areas, such equally Compages, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Animation, Game Design, Film and other artistic, visual art-based courses. It is presented along with art and design portfolio examples from students who have recently gained acceptance to a range of art schools from around the world, creating a 9,000 word certificate that helps guide you through the awarding process.

What is an fine art school application portfolio?

In add-on to coming together academic requirements, Art and Design Schools, Universities and Colleges typically crave a practical art portfolio as role of the application process (this is frequently accompanied by a personal statement and/or an art school interview – more on this soon). And so whatis this?

The Academy 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 inventiveness, personality, abilities and commitment, and helps u.s. to evaluate your potential.

Just every bit every art student is unlike (with individual strengths, experiences, passions and ideas) every art schoolhouse has different requirements and expectations. While some universities and colleges have strict criteria when it comes to preparing a portfolio, others are open and flexible. This variation in expectations can exit students uncertain about how to proceed. Even when criteria is clear, applicants may experience overwhelmed and wonder what to depict/paint/make/create, which mediums to use and how to all-time select and present their work.

Producing an art portfolio is not to be taken lightly. Top fine art schools frequently take very pocket-sized percentages of applicants. Understanding how to produce a great portfolio is crucial. Although it is impossible to generate a list 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 y'all produce the best university or art college application possible.

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

ane. Enquiry carefully and tape the art portfolio requirements for a number of courses that interest y'all

Deciding which fine art or design school is for yous is a big decision (our upcoming article 'how to discover the best art school in the world' volition help with this). While you consider your options, it is advisable to use to a number of different schools, in instance you lot are not accustomed into your first pick. There is no shame in applying to college or university and not getting in (many highly successful individuals are not accustomed into their university of first choice); only beingness left with no place to go because you didn't apply to enough schools is an easily avoidable circumstance!

Create a listing of art or design schools that yous would be prepared to nourish and find their admissions criteria (you lot tin search for art schools in California and New Zealand on this website – more areas coming before long). All university and higher fine art portfolio requirements are different. Record the exact admissions requirements carefully, well in advance, as deadlines tin exist earlier than you look and portfolios take a long time to prepare. Print these out, highlight central data and keep on-hand, so that you can refer to them as needed throughout the awarding process.

In particular, go on careful records of:

• Open Solar day times

• Awarding and Portfolio due appointment/s. If you lot are currently studying Art at high school, check how the portfolio due dates compare to your own coursework deadlines and test timetable. In some cases there may be issues with piece of work needing to be in two places at one (i.e. submitted for assessment at high schoolhouse and delivered to an art school in hardcopy at the same time). This occurs especially for students studying international qualifications or applying to art schools in different countries, and so yous need to prepare for this in advance. Marking the deadlines of the schools that you lot are applying to clearly on your calendar.

• Size and format of work required

• Whether just finished pieces are expected, or whether sketchbooks, evolution and process work are also welcome (some schools require merely finished pieces, peculiarly in the US; others beloved to encounter evolution 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 exist colour photocopies, slides or photographs etc. Find out whether there are specific criteria for time based media (animation/moving prototype/video/interactive website design and so on).

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

• Whether there are special requirements for international or out-of-state applicants. If yous are applying from another location, there may exist special awarding criteria for you. For example, some colleges may have international portfolios via electronic mail, instead of delivered in person.

• Whether supplementary fabric is needed, for example, a personal statement or written essay (more on this soon). Art schools typically accept bookish requirements set by the university or college equally a whole, which may require a split up application course and a unlike deadline. Y'all may as well exist asked to submit images of work or objects that have influenced your work or teacher recommendations, testimonials or reports (only include these if specifically requested).

• Requirements about what to draw / include. Many fine art and design schools leave applicants free to select what to include within their portfolio. Unless specifically stated, the portfolio should incorporate primarily visual artwork, not art history assignments, creative person analysis or extensive annotation. You may have to submit a combination of personal artwork, work produced in high school classes and/or 'home tests', exams or assignments gear up by the art school you are applying to. In the RISD application portfolio, for case, applicants must answer to three set up assignments, such equally 'find and draw a bike, or an interior space'. Some stunning RISD bicycle drawings completed as part of this awarding portfolio process are shown below:

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

These drawings are completed entirely in graphite pencil or charcoal on white paper and may exist realistic or abstract. They may exist derived from the whole or function of the bicycle, bundled alone or with any other object/s or scene. These examples show the exciting level of skill and inventiveness demonstrated by students applying to the Rhode Island School of Blueprint.

As another example, Parsons the New School for Design asks applicants to submit a portfolio likewise as the 'Parsons Challenge'. In the past, this challenge has included instructions such every bit:

Using any medium or media, explore something usually overlooked inside your daily environment. Choose i object, location, or activity. Interpret your discovery in three original pieces. Back up each piece of fine art with an essay of approximately 250 words.

Once you take collected the requirements for the item degrees you lot are interested in, the side by side step is to seek out existing portfolio examples.

2. Look at recent student art portfolio examples to proceeds a visual understanding of what is expected

Seeing examples of real portfolios is i of the best ways to understand the standard you are aiming for (and to gain your own fine art portfolio ideas). Many academy and college art portfolio examples tin exist constitute online or in campus libraries (some fine art schools retain hardcopy examples to aid students the following year – these can be invaluable) and a big 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 help to evidence how submissions for detail specialisations or degrees might differ from one some other.

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 case within this article). Exercise not despair if your technical skill is not every bit strong as the work y'all run across: remember art portfolios are assessed upon a broad range of criteria (more on this beneath). If yous take a great bookish groundwork, innovative ideas and a passion for the subject, you tin can trump someone with technical skill who is lacking in creativity and personal drive. You might be surprised to realise how many famous artists practise non have flawless observational drawing skill. Showcase your strengths and back yourself.

A portfolio for art school by Grace Camille Lee:

These are some of the images that were submitted in Grace's application portfolio. Most of these pieces are personal artwork; others were completed as part of a Foundation course (this is a ane yr course that many U.k. students take prior to starting university. A Foundation course can be an excellent way to prepare an art college portfolio and is a common path to fine art schoolhouse for students in the United kingdom). Grace was offered a place at Kingston, Brighton and Goldsmiths – art schools in the UK.

Gray'south Schoolhouse of Art publish a certificate containing examples of sketchbook pages from student portfolios (some of which are shown beneath):

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

A Kingston University awarding by William Govoni:

This portfolio shows prove of stiff observational drawing skill and competence in a range of different mediums. The inclusion of blueprint drawings makes it clear that William is a well-rounded candidate with a wide skills base.

A university application portfolio by 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 bear witness a latitude of skill and a contemporary approach to portraiture that is combined with observational drawing skill.

3. Attend Open Days

Open up days are the ideal time to observe out whether an art school is the right identify for you (read more near this in how to detect the best art school in the globe – coming soon). Open days are also a great opportunity to observe out more than most the admissions process and what is expected past a schoolhouse in terms of application portfolios. (Equally mentioned above, some art schools take by portfolios on display at the school permanently – in the campus library, for instance).

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

This is the most important department of this article, because it is the area where people are most 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 inside the last year or two) that best communicates your artistic skills and experiences, creative ideas/originality and passion/commitment.

The detailed recommendations below explain this further:

a) Emphasise observational cartoon

Most art and design courses require applicants to have a certain level of observational cartoon skill. This is essential non just for Fine art specialities, but for many others, such equally Architecture and Fashion Design. Fifty-fifty degrees that practice not seem to obviously focus upon cartoon ordinarily welcome the inclusion of this inside an application portfolio. For example, Ringling College of Art and Design states:

For majors without equally much cartoon involved, the submission of drawing in your portfolio is e'er welcome just not required.

An observational cartoon is a realistic representation of an object or scene that has been viewed directly in real life (every bit opposed to something that has been imagined or fatigued from a photograph) – read more almost how to produce corking observational drawings. It tin be produced using whatsoever medium or combination of mediums such as graphite pencil, charcoal, pen, ink and/or paint. For the majority of applicants, information technology is highly advantageous to demonstrate the power to discover something in real life and draw information technology accurately. It is recommended that observational drawing (or painting) from first-hand sources form a substantial part of your portfolio.

The aim is that you:

• Prove to admissions staff that y'all are able to competently record shape, proportion, tone, perspective, surface qualities, detail, space and form

• Depict in a personal, sensitive manner, rather than in a mechanical way (i.e. not a laborious copy of a photograph – drawings from photographs are specifically discouraged). This might involve more artistic, expressive, gestural marker-making or the add-on of non-realistic elements, textures, materials. In other words, communicate a stiff sense of realism, simply in a way that besides capture an essence of the bailiwick, rather than an exact, rigid copy of a scene. It can help to recall about ideas and meanings backside a drawing – selecting a subject that holds significant or relevance for yous, rather than only selecting whatever random object to describe.

Clara Lieu, Visual Artist and Offshoot Professor at the Rhode Island School of Blueprint, explains the importance of including original observational drawings in a university or college portfolio like this:

Create original piece of work from direct ascertainment. This is easily down the number ane, absolutely essential matter to do that many students fail to do. But doing this one directive will put yous light years ahead of other students.

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

Szivesen, a portfolio reviewer, explains:

Nigh schools emphasize cartoon from direct ascertainment every bit their primary basis for the portfolio, no affair what aspect of art you want to study. That's because basic drawing skills are fundamental and because drawing is a little more likely to be a compatible mensurate than other areas of art and design.

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

People oft assume that observational drawings must be meticulous and precise. This is not the case. These sketchbook pages bear witness fluid, gestural, expressive observational drawings, which immediately capture a sense of movement and architectural space.

It is worth remembering that you don't demand to attend a formal life drawing class to consummate observational figure drawing (although attending such a class can be an fantabulous experience for artists and art students and is highly recommended if available). The drawings below by Curelea Loana Andreea (part of a university Foundation form application) show captivating examples of observational figure drawings that could take place in a home or classroom setting:

Sometimes admissions staff even report tiring of the standard 'life cartoon' and that the freshness and originality of drawings like those above can be more interesting.

Observational portraits in a university Foundation portfolio past Emma Hooper:

Information technology is important to retrieve also that observational drawing skill is often axiomatic throughout your portfolio – even in works that are 'non-representational' and/or more creative and interpretative. In the works above, for example, nosotros tin see beautiful ascertainment of homo grade and attention to the way light hits a face.

b) Explore a range of subject matter – make art about (and of) lots of interesting things
If you are wondering what you should draw: the possibilities are limitless. You may, for case, describe a mural, still life, portrait, brute, human effigy, interior or exterior surroundings, easily and feet, or whatever other interesting everyday object – focusing, perhaps, on bailiwick matter that is relevant for your degree (see more most tailoring your application to your item focus area below) and, more importantly, subject matter that has some meaning and relevance to you. You should endeavor and avoid common or cliché approaches and include a range of different interesting objects and scenes – and practice not exactly replicate the work of some other artist.

Dorian Angelo, of Ringling College of Art and Blueprint, suggests:

…if yous're not sure what to depict, depict the things in your room. Draw your hands, draw your feet, describe your canis familiaris. That'south perfectly fine. Try non to go into any clichés or whatever traps of drawing all the same affair. We don't want to encounter a sketchbook full of horses. We don't desire to see a sketchbook full of simply cartoons or anime. Show that y'all are looking at real life; that you're looking at different subject matter…

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

Please do not re-create directly from another artist, or include such things as anime, tattoo designs, dragons, unicorns, etc.

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

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

It is never, ever good to have fan art in whatsoever portfolio. By fan art, I mean drawings of celebrities and other characters that are not your own. That's basically the kiss of death, and volition immediately cause people to encounter y'all as nothing more than a hobbyist.

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

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

Observational drawings completed as part of art school application portfolios.

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

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

Your art portfolio should testify a diverse 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 command, apply and manipulate mediums in a skilful, advisable and intentional fashion. 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 former applicant demonstrates growth, diversity and a breadth of skill, besides as an involvement in learning new things. The latter may be a 'one play a trick on pony'.

Recommendations:

• Choose a range of mediums that highlight your artistic strengths. Employ wet and dry mediums (graphite, charcoal, ink, pastel, acrylic, watercolour, oil, ceramics, flick etc and other mixed mediums) and pigment / draw upon a range of different surfaces (come across here for great ideas about things to draw or pigment on if you are looking for new ideas), just don't include weaker piece of work, only 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 endeavor and guess what the university of fine art school would prefer (despite common misconceptions, they rarely favour one way of art-making more than 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, pattern, three-dimensional work, web blueprint, animation, video and nearly any other type of artwork. This does not mean you should endeavour to include every different technique or art form possible (this would create a scattered and incohesive portfolio) but that you demonstrate that yous are willing to experiment and try new art-making experiences, focusing on areas that interest y'all and highlight your strengths.

A portfolio past Kisa Sky Shiga, completed as part of a portfolio preparation course at Ashcan Studio of Art:

A wide range of mediums are shown in these iii works past Kisa Heaven Shiga, whose portfolio was accustomed by RISD (Apparel Blueprint, 4 year Scholarship), Parsons (Fashion Pattern, 4 year Scholarship), Pratt (Fashion Pattern, 4 year scholarship) and FIT: Fashion Plant of Technology (Fashion Design).

Printmaking in a academy Foundation application by Henry Richardson:

In add-on to a range of expressive drawings and paintings, Henry's portfolio is supplemented with dry point printmaking – providing evidence of a broad range of skills and a commitment to exploring dissimilar techniques.

A university Foundation application portfolio past Aqsa Iftikhar:

This portfolio contains a corking mix of mediums, including oil paintings and ceramic sculptures, showing creative skill in a range of ii and three-dimensional form.

A university Foundation application portfolio by Ayse Kipri:

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

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

All work – even observational drawings – should show that you empathise how to compose an image well, arranging visual elements such as line, shape, tone, texture, color, class and color in an pleasing way. Compositions should be well-balanced and varied – with a range of viewpoints/scales included throughout the portfolio.

• Avoid drawing items floating in centre of a folio unless this is an intentional, considered decision (see our Art student's composition guide (coming soon) which explains more about how the formal visual organisation of artwork. Think almost the shadows, spaces and surfaces in and around objects. Recollect carefully about cropping of images and positions of items within each piece of work.

• Select and use appropriate colours, making sure that if multiple works are arranged on ane page, the colours work well together also (more on this in the portfolio presentation department beneath)

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

f) Include process / development piece of work if permitted

Some art schools – particularly in the US – crave that every piece in your awarding be a finished, realised piece of work. Others – peculiarly those in the U.k. and NZ – love to see process, development or sketchbook work. If an fine art or blueprint schoolhouse specifically states that this material is permitted, this is an first-class opportunity to flaunt your skills, delivery and depth of knowledge. The research and processes undertaken to develop your work are often equally important every bit the final work itself and allow the selection panel to understand your work in context and see how it has been initiated and developed. Process and development work helps colleges and universities to understand how you recollect (the ideas and meanings behind pieces, for instance) and see that you are able to have an idea from concept and develop it through to a last resolution. It provides evidence that y'all are able to analyse / experiment / explore and trial unlike outcomes and make sound critical judgments.

We want to see how you generate and develop ideas from your visual research. It is of import that we see how they progress from the starting indicate right through to the decision of your ideas / project. – Grays Schoolhouse of Art, Scotland.

Images of pages from your workbook/southward tin be very helpful to the choice panel. This could include: evidence of ideas, thinking processes, experimentation and assay. – Elam Schoolhouse of Fine Arts, Academy of Auckland, New Zealand

Development work might include sketchbook or workbook pages that bear witness:

• In depth investigations into subject matter (sketches / photography and other visual documentation of first-hand sources)

• Investigations into mediums, materials and techniques and technologies

• Development of concepts, compositions or details

• Written assay alongside visual work and annotation discussing ideas behind your piece of work

• Testify of links to the historical, contemporary and/or social context in which works take been made – i.e. connections to artists and real world bug

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

A academy Foundation application past Lola:

The sketchbook pages in this portfolio bear witness the development process backside the finished portrait lesser correct, making information technology clear that the project has original first-paw sources and a strong personal connection.

A university Foundation awarding by A Level Art educatee Heather Meredith:

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

A academy Foundation application portfolio by Violet Volchok, who was offered a place on courses at Kingston and Ravensbourne, U.k.:

Part of an Equally 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 composition development leading towards concluding pieces. Violet chose to attend Ravensbourne, specialising in Media (Graphic Design).

This video contains a skilful overview of what a portfolio might incorporate, particularly for universities that asking process / evolution work:

For more tips most producing great process work, you might find it helpful to read our guide to producing an outstanding high school art sketchbook or how to develop ideas in an fine art project.

Note: If development work is non permitted every bit office of the portfolio itself, it is unremarkably advisable to bring this to the interview.

g) Communicate creative ideas: be original

It is important to recall that artistic skill must be accompanied by creativity, original ideas and some form of visual curiosity. In other words, technical skill is no employ if you are unable to call up of how to put this to employ in a unique, interesting way. Someone who is able to generate original and captivating ideas that rip into your heart and soul is far more highly-seasoned than someone who produces dull, predictable, yet technically excellent artwork. Although skill is an excellent nugget – and a certain level is necessary – applicants to colleges and universities and fine 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 – effort different things and push techniques, materials and technology in innovative and unexpected means

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

• Be yourself – reveal your personality and interests. Never submit art that is an imitation of someone else's. Aim for artwork that is new, fresh and near something that matters to y'all. Don't replicate any of the portfolios you run into on this folio or elsewhere. Your portfolio should be individual to you. Let your portfolio reverberate your strengths, interests and experiences and represent who you lot are.

On the whole, greater emphasis is put on evidence of your visual curiosity, idea generation and exploration, and your energy, appointment and contextual awareness, than on high level technical skills and finish. – Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland

…[A good portfolio] demonstrates how you can think in innovative and contrasting ways, and shows originality, creativity and delivery to beingness creative. – Massey University, New Zealand

… stand out from the oversupply past pushing the boundaries of a prescribed curriculum, personalising a theme or project to demonstrate their invention and inventiveness. Work that reflects an applicant's own enthusiasms, thought processes and ideas is e'er of interest to the selectors. – University of Dundee, Scotland

It's no good promoting house styles, as that makes all students' work look the same. If a pupil is showing a piece of piece of work from a class, it'south important that information technology also shows a personal theme. – Helen Heery, University of Salford, Uk

A portfolio assignment by Amelia Eaton:

This is an example of a successful double-sided cartoon 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 fashion. Amelia was accepted past RISD.

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

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

A university Foundation application by Anna Clow:

This original A Level Art project and was completed during Anna's final yr of high school. Where many students paint or draw conventional portraits, Anna has created innovative, exciting works that combine dolls, homo form and interior body parts. Combined with exceptional technical skill, this helps to create an unforgettable portfolio that stands out from the oversupply.

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

This is another example of captivating, exciting portfolio that communicates clever, surrealist ideas. Halim was accustomed into Parsons – Fashion Blueprint.

Some great tips are independent in this video by the Academy of the Arts London about the importance of ideas, enthusiasm and creativity – providing some excellent thoughts, peculiarly for those who might not accept gained a strong Art teaching at high school:

h) Communicate passion, commitment and enthusiasm

Universities want people who will represent their school well – who will continue to exercise great things that will reflect positively upon their place of study. They desire passionate, peachy students who will cope with the workload and who intend to really go on and make use of their degree. This ways that you must convey a sense of passion, commitment and enthusiasm within the portfolio (also equally during the interview – more on the art school interview shortly). To practice this, you can:

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

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

During the process of reviewing portfolios, the Ruskin staff e'er look for work that goes beyond the mere fulfilment of School curricula. Nosotros search for highly motivated activity, over and higher up any project-based work, and for a breadth of date, a sense of purpose and a strength of stance in the way the portfolio is edited. Important for us is to be able to discovering a sense of the temperament laying backside the work, and sense the deeper interests that inform the portfolio. We are not interested in finding a particular formula or a specific fashion, but in signs of energy, ambition, critical reflection and creativity. – Ruskin Schoolhouse of Art, United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland

Personal art is the work done outside of a classroom state of affairs and reflects the artists' unique interests in use of materials, subject thing and concept. Piece of work can be completed in whatsoever media including (but non limited to) drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, digital/computer art, pic/video, ceramics, sculpture, blitheness and performance art. – Kavin Buck, School of Arts and Architecture at the Academy of California Los Angeles, United States

Involvement in art must be more than casual. – Tom Lightfoot, Rochester Institute of Engineering, U.s.a.

Emma Rose, who works in the kinesthesia of arts and sciences at Lancaster University, advises that students include some self-generated work – non only the projects that have been assigned on courses. "We desire someone with that extra spark – perhaps you've gone off with a camera to have interesting photos." – The Independent

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

Ultimately, it's all about passion and ideas, so if y'all include the kinds of things that you're virtually excited about, that you're most proud of, and then chances are your portfolio submission will brand a strong impression. – Ringling College of Art and Design, United States

i) Tailor your application to arrange your degree

Portfolio guidelines for different areas of Art and Blueprint are oft like, simply information technology tin be wise to modify your portfolio so that it is advisable for the caste yous are applying for. Rather than creating a completely different set up of images for each specialisation or major, still, a submission tin can be tweaked slightly, and then that it showcases relevant strengths and an interest in the area you lot are applying for (for example, submitting observational drawings of city scenes or building interiors for an architecture application etc (although this is not necessary – more than on architecture portfolios below).

As an example, digital based degrees may similar to see testify of technological awareness and capability and the ability to work with a range of digital platforms, aslope traditional non-digital techniques. This might include time-based interactive work (film, animation, video, website design).

The following list gives some guidance about the sort of fabric that maybe helpful for specific areas, in addition to the items discussed higher up, such as observational drawing. As with all recommendations in this article, you lot should refer to the university or college you are applying to for precise requirements.

Graphic Pattern Portfolios:

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

A university Foundation application portfolio by Jacob Wise:

This portfolio shows an obvious strength in graphic design. Along with testify of strong observational drawing skill, the piece of work is supplemented past original posters that bear witness a good understanding of composition – with competent system of line, colour, space, text and course. "The Bauhaus move, Russian constructivism and the Swiss international graphic style are a source of massive inspiration for my piece of work with the utilization of precipitous edges, bold shape, colour and precision".

Architecture Portfolios:

• Many students assume that an architecture application portfolio must be filled with drawings of buildings or architectural designs. This is most always notthe instance (as with all other recommendations fabricated in this article, yous should check the requirements of the particular course you are applying for). Admissions staff typically wish to see evidence of inventiveness with a range of media and strong observational drawing skill (as described in the first part of this article), including the ability to represent space, perspective and 3D form. This can be achieved through exploration of completely unrelated field of study matter, such equally even so life, landscapes and human form. If y'all have a selection, nevertheless, cartoon buildings, manmade structures, interior/exterior spaces, furniture and/or mechanical parts and and then on, may help to demonstrate an involvement in architectural blueprint.
• Architecture schools commonly do Not require formal technical drawings (instrumental or computer generated plans / orthographic projections etc) and if these are accepted as part of the application portfolio, they are often limited in quantity, and so that you include a sufficient range of hand-generated piece of work. You are notexpected to empathize how to design a edifice – this is what you learn upon the class.
• Three-dimensional sculptures, installations, casts and/or model constructions can be great to include, every bit these communicate spatial sensation and an involvement in working with 3D form. These might include conceptual models made from cardboard, paper, wire, forest and other found materials, for example.
• Artwork in a wide range of mediums (printmaking / photography etc) are typically accepted.
• Notation: Some universities and architecture schools specifically request that the portfolio is notfilled with Pattern Technology work, preferring to see work that has been produced as part of loftier schoolhouse Art courses. (Although some high schoolhouse Pattern Engineering science courses provide first-class preparation for architectural degrees, Art courses typically offer a stronger grounding in observational cartoon and composition).

Examples of observational drawings submitted equally office of an application to the University of Auckland, School of Architecture, New Zealand:

Note that even the bottom drawing – an observational drawing of lights mounted upon a steel bar – communicates a clear interest in architectural course.

Images from an compages application portfolio by Irence M, completed while studying at Ashcan Studio of Fine art:

Irence was awarded a iv yr scholarship and was accepted into RISD Compages. These works communicate a clear interest in three-dimensional space and architectural course.

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

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

Fashion Blueprint Portfolios

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

Office of a Kingston University Art Foundation awarding portfolio by Annabelle Holden:

Studying Art History, Textiles and Photography at high school helped Annabelle prepare a corking portfolio, including piece of work from a textiles project where she reinvented vintage items.

A Manner Design portfolio past Jinsoo Choi, prepared during a form at Ashcan Studio of Art:

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

Game Fine art Portfolios:

• Storyboards
• Original grapheme designs

Production Design Portfolios:

• Subjects like product design oft require strong applied, analytical and communication skills, every bit well as the technical and conceptual ideas and self-motivation required by other fine art-related degrees. This means that evidence of working with materials and in both 2nd and 3D can be benign.

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

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

v. Take fourth dimension to create new artwork and/or improve existing pieces (if required)

One time you lot have planned what you will include in your portfolio, you should set bated a catamenia of time to produce this. If you take not taken high school Art classes, preparing a page volition accept a lot of piece of work – nigh 6 months to consummate a portfolio from scratch (remember information technology is ideal to create more work than is needed, so that you tin can carefully edit and remove the weaker pieces). Come across if your high schoolhouse Art teacher tin aid (even if you don't take Art). An experienced teacher will oft have a long history of helping / observing students employ and may have a practiced knowledge of what helped successful candidates in the past. If your own fine art teacher is non experienced with helping students apply to university – or you feel you need more help preparing your portfolio – detect out if there are local courses or workshops that accost how to make a portfolio for art school. Portfolio preparation classes are often run by the universities / colleges themselves. These may be relatively cheap weekend workshops or be yearlong, such equally Foundation or Art portfolio courses. Making a portfolio can feel less daunting when yous produce work with a grade of others and seeing others produce work can be motivating and inspirational.

You will likely accept to utilize a considerable portion of your vacation and vacation time to create work or improve existing pieces – as well as generate personal work exterior of your curriculum or complete 'home tests' or assignments if required.

The almost of import detail of preparing your portfolio for college admissions is to remember to give yourself plenty of fourth dimension and accept fun with information technology. Information technology is nigh impossible to create quality work if yous are nervous and under a time constraint. Don't wait until the final minute, and brand plenty work and so you can edit together the all-time portfolio for each school you plan to apply to. – Kavin Buck, School of Arts and Architecture at the University of California Los Angeles, Usa

When it says put together a portfolio of 12 pieces, information technology doesn't necessarily mean just make 12 pieces. Information technology's easier to simply make, make and make and then narrow information technology downward to 12 pieces. Not only will you lot take more than to choose from, an admissions counselor during a portfolio review can assist you decide what to submit for a final application. So don't limit yourself, merely create! Katie, Admissions Counsellor, Parsons, United States

A University Foundation application portfolio by Nina Cavaviuti:

This quote from Nina illustrates the claiming in preparing a portfolio outside of an Fine art class: "I have had to prepare a portfolio around a fulltime caste course and a weekend job. Not being in a school surroundings where y'all are constantly supervised has meant I have had to work independently, I have learnt to take advantage of my surroundings and to use time effectively, such as using daily travel equally an opportunity to create observational drawings and attending regular life cartoon classes to improve my technical drawing skills."

6. Select and Review Work

Once you lot have completed a significant body of work, seek feedback and change / ameliorate / redo pieces. Don't get out this until the last minute, because y'all volition run out of time if changes are needed. Build in cogitating time – time to set it aside and come up back to it with fresh optics.

This fantabulous video by Paul Stanford, Head of Department of the Foundation Course in Art and Design at Kingston Academy, shows the evaluation of an average student portfolio to be offered a place. It highlights the importance of editing a portfolio carefully and eliminating weaker work, every bit well every bit ending a portfolio well, so that the final impression is a adept one.

Towards the middle of the portfolio, Paul begins to notice technical deficiencies – 'a bit of a dull drawing, you might say' – 'it's not a swell life drawing, is it?' – a reminder that students should only submit piece of work that plays to their strengths. The student's skill fix as a whole and estimated potential is evaluated, with observational cartoon skill only one part of this equation.

Nigh people become as well close to their ain work and cannot see it objectively. Bring an unbiased person (not friends or family unit) to help with your final portfolio selection, ideally someone who has a background in art or pattern. When selecting work, aim for quality over quantity, avoid repetition and include variety of subject matter, skill and medium.

Read the school'due south suggestions for portfolio submission advisedly. Almost volition say "10 to 20 pieces" and I can tell you that more is often not better. If y'all have ten really stiff works to submit, and so the quality level noticeably drops, better to show x uniformly proficient works than a whole range. – Anonymous reply on Yahoo

Exist selective. …don't submit work that you lot are not proud of only for the sake of having variety. – Virginia Republic University

Select projects that show a range of media and subject field matter, while all the same emphasizing your strongest work. – Carnegie Mellon University

It's good to start with lots of work and and then exist super selective with what yous put in the portfolio… – Charlotte Cook

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

At this event, brace yourself for harsh words. It's not uncommon for students to be told at National Portfolio Day that they essentially accept to start over from scratch because their portfolio is headed in the wrong direction. Reviewers will exist aboveboard and direct well-nigh the quality and type of work that their school is looking for, so don't be discouraged if you become a tough critique. Rather, be glad that you got the feedback you lot needed to get yourself headed in the right direction. – Clara Lieu, Rhode Isle Schoolhouse of Design, United States

Have effective criticism and advice – don't exist offended (you'll need to go used to this if you want to go to art school!) – Virginia Commonwealth Academy, United States

What Should exist In a Portfolio? This video from the Academy of Arts London explains how a proficient portfolio should accept a sense of journey or 'story unfolding'. It is a good video that helps y'all understand which pieces to select. It is a expert reminder to testify a range of creative skills and techniques and well as communicating your personality, interests and a sense of your ain experiences.

7. Organise, photo and present your art portfolio

Presentation of your portfolio is very important. The system and organization of your portfolio has a direct bear on upon the manner the work is perceived. A skillful layout helps to communicate an eye for composition, a professional person approach, shows your commitment and want to attend a university or college: information technology 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 then first impressions count.

This video nigh preparing a portfolio by University of the Arts London contains some dandy reminders near presenting a portfolio. In particular, they suggest that y'all should 'put cipher in your portfolio that you tin can't talk nigh' and organise it so that it is easy to navigate. It also explains that while a portfolio should not exist crammed total of everything a pupil has produced, information technology should not be over-edited: 'pared down so much that nosotros can't actually see little glimpse of potential'.

Carefully photograph piece of work for digital submissions and whatever work that is iii-dimensional/sculptural or that exceeds size specifications for hardcopy submissions (come across our guide to photographing art similar a pro – coming soon). Reread portfolio presentation requirements carefully to brand sure that you nowadays exactly what is required by the admissions departments of each of the schools that you are applying to (especially size and weight restrictions).

Here are some general portfolio presentation tips:

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

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

From my ain experience, I observe A3 is the almost ideal (both in teaching and across). A3 marks the perfect residual because you tin can sufficiently display your artwork effectively, while making it easier to send. – Contempo U.k. fine art school bidder from the StudentRoom.

Cull a flat type of fine art portfolio instance or folder that opens and close easily, while protecting work so that information technology doesn't go creased. (Avoid rolling work upwardly, equally it will be hard to get it to lie flat). The portfolio case may exist a spine-mounted leather art portfolio (commonly found in all good art retailers – see examples on Amazon) or a articulate not-reflective clear file folder, for example. Information technology doesn't need to exist overly expensive: avoid improvident folders and choose i that is simple, make clean and practical.

Although presentation is important for your portfolio, don't spend loads of fourth dimension and money buying flashy folders advises Wendy Rochefort, who is studying a foundation degree in Fine art at Cornwall College. "Simple mounts and a tidy finish are fine." – The Independent

Have all sheets securely bound in such a way every bit to allow all sheets to lie apartment when the portfolio is open. Be able to exist easily and safely handled. At that place should be no exposed metal binders, staples or similar fittings. Sheet metal or other heavy or abrupt materials should non be used for portfolio covers. – Schoolhouse of Compages, Academy of Auckland, New Zealand

Choose obviously, neutral portfolio colours (blackness, grey, white etc) and avoid busy, decorative or patterned presentations (yous desire emphasis to remain on your artwork). Similarly, avoid reflective surfaces that hamper vision (for case, glazing paintings or clearfiles with shiny plastic).

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

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

Commencement and end with a great piece of work, then that you create a nifty initial and final impression. Space other great work evenly throughout your portfolio (avoiding a clump of weaker work). Retrieve about grouping like work together, by medium, subject or fashion – mayhap as a serial of projects – or chronologically. An assessor must be able to 'understand' your portfolio and run into whatsoever connections between pieces (for example, evidence the creative journeying between evolution work/sketchbook pages and final outcomes). Aim to make it appear coherent, rather than a whole lot of scattered, disconnected pieces.

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

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

Add greater contrast, crop tighter to make more dramatic compositions. Add a picayune more intense color. You'd be surprised how much stronger your work can look with just a few careful additions. – Karen Kesteloot, a portfolio evolution coach from PortPrep

c) Avert unnecessary repetition

If yous are asked to submit a specific number of images, ensure that each of these is a different piece of work. Where a certain number of sheets are asked for, information technology may be possible to mount smaller works onto a single sheet. If you want to submit different angles of i piece of work, it is usually best to digitally submit these on ane canvas, or every bit one image. Read the guidelines of the particular university or college y'all wish to apply to advisedly to find out what is expected.

In that location is no virtue in quantity alone and candidates should not include multiple color variations of prints, for case. Duncan of Jordanstone College of Fine art and Design, United Kingdom

Do non include detail photos of piece of work in your portfolio unless you consider them admittedly necessary. Nether no circumstance should more than than two detail shots exist included. – Yale School of Art

d) Trim / crop everything in a clean surround and adhere to the portfolio (if submitting in hardcopy)

• Brand sure work is thoroughly dry and that pages will not stick together
• Make certain 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 not direct facing other artworks in the portfolio. Existing smudges can be erased from drawings using a putty rubber, 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, free of fingerprints, printed on matt (non-reflective) paper and are large enough to come across details conspicuously
• Don't mount things with distracting borders (it is not normally necessary to mount or mat your piece of work); faming work is unnecessary. Let the work stand on its own. A make clean, professional person and minimal fashion is usually ideal, as described above.

e) Presentation of digital work (if submitting online or upon DVD or retentivity stick)

• If you wish to include digital material with a hardcopy submission, ensure that the art school yous are applying to is able to view work digital fabric in particular format (video / CD etc). Check advisedly what type of new media presentations they have and accompany this with a printed hardcopy version (screenshots etc) and a note nearly the programmes used, in example difficulties arise.
• Label all digital files sensibly, such equally firstname-lastname-application.pdf rather than 4690243fxz.pdf
• Ensure images reflect the true colour and advent of the artwork and are cropped correctly, without unrelated, disctracting background items
• Ensure moving paradigm 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 as a link to youtube / vimeo. This creates a much more professional backdrop to your application (see how to create your own website).
• As with concrete submissions, retrieve carefully about the organisation and grouping of images.
• Relieve a record of all digital submissions as a fill-in!

f) Label piece of work clearly but unobtrusively

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

Desire more than help with applying to Art school?

This article is accompanied by our Guide to the Fine art schoolhouse interview (coming soon) – packed with communication from those who have recently applied. To brand sure that you don't miss out on this article, please make certain that you are subscribed to our newsletter using the sign up form below!

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

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

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