Trying to Submit Film to College Should I Submit Under Studio Art

Terminal Updated on May 27, 2021

What should be in an fine art school application portfolio? How exercise you present a portfolio? What gives you the best chance of being accepted past the art school of your dreams? This commodity explains how to make an art portfolio for college or university and is packed with tips from leading art and design school admissions staff from effectually the world. Information technology is written for those who are in the process of creating an application portfolio for a foundation course, certificate, associate or undergraduate degree and contains communication for specific art-related areas, such as Architecture, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Blitheness, Game Design, Motion picture and other creative, visual art-based courses. Information technology is presented along with fine art and pattern portfolio examples from students who accept recently gained acceptance to a range of art schools from around the world, creating a 9,000 word document that helps guide you through the awarding process.

What is an art school application portfolio?

In addition to coming together academic requirements, Art and Design Schools, Universities and Colleges typically crave a practical art portfolio as part of the awarding procedure (this is frequently accompanied past a personal statement and/or an art school interview – more on this soon). So whatis this?

The University of the Arts London gives the post-obit definition of an application portfolio:

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

Just as every art student is dissimilar (with individual strengths, experiences, passions and ideas) every art school 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 go out students uncertain nigh how to proceed. Even when criteria is articulate, applicants may feel overwhelmed and wonder what to describe/paint/brand/create, which mediums to use and how to best select and present their work.

Producing an art portfolio is not to be taken lightly. Summit art schools oftentimes take very small percentages of applicants. Agreement 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 full general recommendations to help you produce the best university or art college application possible.

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

1. Inquiry carefully and tape the fine art portfolio requirements for a number of courses that interest you

Deciding which art or design school is for you is a big decision (our upcoming article 'how to find the best art school in the world' will help with this). While yous consider your options, it is advisable to apply to a number of different schools, in case you are not accepted into your beginning choice. There is no shame in applying to college or academy and non getting in (many highly successful individuals are not accustomed into their university of kickoff choice); but beingness left with no place to become because you didn't employ to enough schools is an hands avoidable circumstance!

Create a listing of art or design schools that you would exist prepared to attend and find their admissions criteria (you can search for art schools in California and New Zealand on this website – more areas coming presently). All university and college art portfolio requirements are different. Record the verbal admissions requirements advisedly, well in advance, every bit deadlines tin can be before than you expect and portfolios take a long fourth dimension to gear up. Print these out, highlight cardinal information and keep on-hand, so that y'all tin can refer to them every bit needed throughout the application process.

In particular, keep conscientious records of:

• Open Solar day times

• Application and Portfolio due date/s. If you are currently studying Art at high school, check how the portfolio due dates compare to your own coursework deadlines and exam timetable. In some cases there may be issues with work needing to exist in two places at one (i.east. submitted for assessment at high schoolhouse and delivered to an fine art school in hardcopy at the same time). This occurs particularly for students studying international qualifications or applying to art schools in different countries, so yous demand to set up for this in advance. Mark the deadlines of the schools that you lot are applying to conspicuously on your agenda.

• Size and format of piece of work required

• Whether only finished pieces are expected, or whether sketchbooks, development and process work are also welcome (some schools require but finished pieces, particularly in the U.s.; others love to see development work as well).

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

• Labelling and presentation requirements. Many art schools have precise portfolio presentation requirements, with piece of 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 as SlideRoom.

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

• Whether supplementary material is needed, for example, a personal argument or written essay (more on this soon). Art schools typically accept academic requirements ready by the university or college as a whole, which may crave a split application grade and a different deadline. You may also exist asked to submit images of work or objects that accept influenced your work or teacher recommendations, testimonials or reports (merely include these if specifically requested).

• Requirements about what to draw / include. Many art and design schools go out applicants gratuitous to select what to include within their portfolio. Unless specifically stated, the portfolio should comprise primarily visual artwork, not fine art history assignments, artist analysis or all-encompassing notation. Y'all may have to submit a combination of personal artwork, work produced in high school classes and/or 'dwelling house tests', exams or assignments set past the fine art school you are applying to. In the RISD application portfolio, for case, applicants must respond to three set assignments, such equally 'detect and draw a bicycle, or an interior space'. Some stunning RISD bicycle drawings completed as part of this application portfolio process are shown beneath:

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

These drawings are completed entirely in graphite pencil or charcoal on white newspaper and may exist realistic or abstruse. They may be derived from the whole or part of the bicycle, arranged lonely or with whatsoever other object/s or scene. These examples testify the heady level of skill and inventiveness demonstrated by students applying to the Rhode Island School of Pattern.

As some other case, Parsons the New School for Design asks applicants to submit a portfolio likewise equally the 'Parsons Challenge'. In the past, this challenge has included instructions such as:

Using whatsoever medium or media, explore something usually overlooked inside your daily surroundings. Choose one object, location, or activity. Interpret your discovery in iii original pieces. Support each piece of art with an essay of approximately 250 words.

Once you accept nerveless the requirements for the particular degrees you lot are interested in, the next step is to seek out existing portfolio examples.

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

Seeing examples of real portfolios is ane of the best means to understand the standard you lot are aiming for (and to gain your own art portfolio ideas). Many university and college art portfolio examples tin exist plant online or in campus libraries (some art schools retain hardcopy examples to assistance students the post-obit year – these can be invaluable) and a large number of varied student art portfolio examples are featured in this commodity below. These illustrate the range of unlike portfolio styles that are possible and assist to bear witness how submissions for particular specialisations or degrees might differ from i 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 example within this commodity). Do not despair if your technical skill is not every bit strong equally the piece of work y'all run across: remember art portfolios are assessed upon a wide range of criteria (more on this below). If you have a neat bookish background, innovative ideas and a passion for the subject, you can trump someone with technical skill who is lacking in creativity and personal bulldoze. You might exist surprised to realise how many famous artists do not 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 one year form that many UK students take prior to starting academy. A Foundation form tin can be an excellent style to prepare an fine art college portfolio and is a common path to fine art school for students in the Britain). Grace was offered a place at Kingston, Brighton and Goldsmiths – art schools in the UK.

Grey's School of Art publish a document containing examples of sketchbook pages from pupil portfolios (some of which are shown beneath):

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

A Kingston University application past William Govoni:

This portfolio shows evidence of strong observational drawing skill and competence in a range of unlike mediums. The inclusion of pattern drawings makes information technology clear that William is a well-rounded candidate with a broad skills base.

A university application portfolio by Kirsty Mackenzie:

These two images are from the Elam Fine Art portfolio examples shown on the University of Auckland website. This portfolio comprises of piece of work that Kirsty completed in high schoolhouse.

A Kingston Academy awarding past Lily Grant:

These captivating compositions evidence a latitude of skill and a contemporary approach to portraiture that is combined with observational cartoon skill.

3. Attend Open Days

Open days are the platonic time to detect out whether an fine art school is the right place for yous (read more than nigh this in how to find the all-time fine art school in the world – coming soon). Open days are as well a great opportunity to find out more about the admissions process and what is expected by a school in terms of application portfolios. (As mentioned above, some fine art schools have by portfolios on display at the school permanently – in the campus library, for case).

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

This is the well-nigh important section of this article, because it is the area where people are most dislocated. All over the net applicants beg to know: 'what should I include in a college art portfolio?' The answer is this: include a range of recent visual piece of work (completed within the last year or two) that best communicates your creative skills and experiences, creative ideas/originality and passion/commitment.

The detailed recommendations below explicate this farther:

a) Emphasise observational drawing

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

For majors without equally much drawing involved, the submission of cartoon in your portfolio is always welcome only non required.

An observational cartoon is a realistic representation of an object or scene that has been viewed direct in real life (equally opposed to something that has been imagined or drawn from a photo) – read more most how to produce great observational drawings. It can exist produced using whatsoever medium or combination of mediums such equally graphite pencil, charcoal, pen, ink and/or pigment. For the majority of applicants, information technology is highly advantageous to demonstrate the ability to detect something in real life and draw it accurately. It is recommended that observational drawing (or painting) from beginning-paw sources form a substantial part of your portfolio.

The aim is that you:

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

• Draw in a personal, sensitive way, rather than in a mechanical manner (i.eastward. not a laborious copy of a photograph – drawings from photographs are specifically discouraged). This might involve more than creative, expressive, gestural marker-making or the addition of non-realistic elements, textures, materials. In other words, communicate a potent sense of realism, simply in a way that likewise capture an essence of the subject, rather than an exact, rigid re-create of a scene. It can aid to think about ideas and meanings behind a cartoon – selecting a subject that holds significant or relevance for you, rather than just selecting any random object to draw.

Clara Lieu, Visual Artist and Adjunct Professor at the Rhode Isle School of Design, explains the importance of including original observational drawings in a academy or college portfolio similar this:

Create original work from direct observation. This is easily downwardly the number ane, absolutely essential thing to do that many students fail to do. Just 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 lot might be a magician in digital media, only none of that volition matter if you have poor drawings.

Szivesen, a portfolio reviewer, explains:

Most schools emphasize drawing from directly observation as their primary basis for the portfolio, no matter what aspect of fine art you want to study. That's because basic cartoon skills are fundamental and considering drawing is a footling more likely to be a compatible measure than other areas of art and design.

Examples of observational drawings from a university Foundation course awarding portfolio by Sinead Kirby:

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

It is worth remembering that you lot don't need to attend a formal life drawing class to consummate observational effigy drawing (although attending such a class tin exist an first-class feel for artists and art students and is highly recommended if bachelor). The drawings beneath by Curelea Loana Andreea (function of a academy Foundation course application) show captivating examples of observational figure drawings that could take place in a home or classroom setting:

Sometimes admissions staff even written report tiring of the standard 'life cartoon' 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 past Emma Hooper:

Information technology is important to remember also that observational drawing skill is ofttimes evident throughout your portfolio – fifty-fifty in works that are 'non-representational' and/or more creative and interpretative. In the works to a higher place, for instance, nosotros can see beautiful observation of human form and attention to the fashion light hits a face.

b) Explore a range of subject field 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 instance, draw a landscape, still life, portrait, creature, human being figure, interior or exterior environment, easily and feet, or any other interesting everyday object – focusing, maybe, on subject matter that is relevant for your degree (run across more most tailoring your application to your particular focus expanse below) and, more importantly, subject matter that has some meaning and relevance to you. You should endeavour and avoid common or cliché approaches and include a range of different interesting objects and scenes – and do not exactly replicate the work of another artist.

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

…if you're non sure what to draw, draw the things in your room. Draw your hands, draw your anxiety, describe your canis familiaris. That's perfectly fine. Endeavor non to become into whatever clichés or any traps of drawing nonetheless thing. We don't want to see a sketchbook full of horses. We don't want to meet a sketchbook full of just cartoons or anime. Prove that you lot are looking at real life; that you're looking at dissimilar discipline thing…

In Ringling College of Fine art and Design's Game Fine art & Design portfolio requirements, they state:

Please do non copy direct from another artist, or include such things equally 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 means no fan art, no anime, no manga, naught from another artist'southward work. Admissions officers have seen hundreds, probably thousands of images from student portfolios. They are well trained to apace spot artworks that accept been copied from photographs or that have been lifted from other resources.

It is never, ever skilful to have fan art in whatsoever portfolio. By fan fine art, I mean drawings of celebrities and other characters that are not your ain. That's basically the kiss of death, and will immediately crusade people to see you lot equally 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 Art may trigger some ideas.

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

Observational drawings completed equally part of art school application portfolios.

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

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

Your fine art portfolio should evidence a diverse range of skill and visual experiences. Demonstrate that y'all are able to utilize and experiment with a range of styles, mediums and techniques and can control, apply and manipulate mediums in a skilful, appropriate and intentional way. Someone who is able to create acrylic paintings, sculptures, prints and pencil drawings, for instance, is infinitely more flexible than someone who is only able to sketch but with a pencil. The onetime applicant demonstrates growth, variety and a breadth of skill, as well equally an involvement in learning new things. The latter may be a 'one flim-flam pony'.

Recommendations:

• Choose a range of mediums that highlight your artistic strengths. Use moisture and dry mediums (graphite, charcoal, ink, pastel, acrylic, watercolour, oil, ceramics, film etc and other mixed mediums) and pigment / draw upon a range of unlike surfaces (encounter here for great ideas about things to draw or paint on if you lot are looking for new ideas), but don't include weaker piece of work, just for the sake of covering a greater range of mediums.

• Explore a range of advisable styles. Choose creative styles that showcase your skill, interests and strengths. Don't endeavor and guess what the university of art school would prefer (despite common misconceptions, they rarely favour one style of art-making more than another); choose 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, 3-dimensional work, web pattern, animation, video and almost any other type of artwork. This does non hateful yous should attempt to include every unlike technique or art grade possible (this would create a scattered and incohesive portfolio) but that you lot demonstrate that you 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 Heaven Shiga, completed as part of a portfolio preparation grade at Ashcan Studio of Art:

A wide range of mediums are shown in these three works by Kisa Heaven Shiga, whose portfolio was accepted past RISD (Clothes Pattern, iv year Scholarship), Parsons (Fashion Design, four yr Scholarship), Pratt (Way Design, four year scholarship) and FIT: Fashion Institute of Applied science (Fashion Blueprint).

Printmaking in a academy Foundation application by Henry Richardson:

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

A university Foundation application portfolio by 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 application portfolio by Ayse Kipri:

This portfolio combines formal observational drawings with contemporary collage and installation piece of work. Ayse completing a Foundation degree in Art and Blueprint 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 – evidence an 'eye for aesthetics'

All piece of work – even observational drawings – should show that you empathise how to etch an paradigm well, arranging visual elements such equally line, shape, tone, texture, colour, course and colour in an pleasing style. Compositions should be well-balanced and varied – with a range of viewpoints/scales included throughout the portfolio.

• Avoid drawing items floating in heart of a page 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 near the shadows, spaces and surfaces in and around objects. Think carefully about cropping of images and positions of items within each piece of work.

• Select and use advisable colours, making sure that if multiple works are arranged on one page, the colours piece of work well together besides (more on this in the portfolio presentation department below)

• Make sure the proportions and spatial relationships betwixt dissimilar elements in graphic designs (such as text, images and space) are carefully considered

f) Include process / development piece of work if permitted

Some fine art schools – particularly in the US – require that every piece in your application be a finished, realised work. Others – particularly those in the United kingdom and NZ – honey to see process, development or sketchbook work. If an art or design school specifically states that this fabric is permitted, this is an excellent opportunity to flaunt your skills, delivery and depth of knowledge. The inquiry and processes undertaken to develop your work are often equally important as the final work itself and allow the option console to sympathise your piece of work in context and see how it has been initiated and developed. Process and development piece of work helps colleges and universities to understand how you recollect (the ideas and meanings backside pieces, for example) and run into that y'all are able to take an idea from concept and develop it through to a final resolution. It provides evidence that y'all are able to analyse / experiment / explore and trial unlike outcomes and make audio critical judgments.

We want to see how y'all generate and develop ideas from your visual research. It is important that we encounter how they progress from the starting point correct through to the conclusion of your ideas / project. – Grays School of Art, Scotland.

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

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

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

• Investigations into mediums, materials and techniques and technologies

• Development of concepts, compositions or details

• Written analysis alongside visual work and notation discussing ideas behind your work

• Evidence of links to the historical, contemporary and/or social context in which works have been made – i.e. connections to artists and existent globe issues

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

A university Foundation application past Lola:

The sketchbook pages in this portfolio prove the development process behind the finished portrait bottom right, making information technology articulate that the projection has original first-paw sources and a strong personal connexion.

A university Foundation application by A Level Art student Heather Meredith:

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

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

Part of an Equally Art examination projection, these images combine fantabulous technical skill with captivating and striking compositions. This sequence of work shows initial artist analysis, original photography and composition evolution leading towards final pieces. Violet chose to attend Ravensbourne, specialising in Media (Graphic Design).

This video contains a good overview of what a portfolio might contain, peculiarly for universities that asking process / development work:

For more tips about producing dandy 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 projection.

Note: If development work is non permitted as part of the portfolio itself, it is normally advisable to bring this to the interview.

g) Communicate creative ideas: be original

It is important to call up that artistic skill must be accompanied past creativity, original ideas and some form of visual curiosity. In other words, technical skill is no use if you are unable to think of how to put this to use in a unique, interesting manner. Someone who is able to generate original and captivating ideas that rip into your heart and soul is far more appealing than someone who produces deadening, predictable, yet technically excellent artwork. Although skill is an excellent asset – and a certain level is necessary – applicants to colleges and universities and art schools should not aim to be glorified 'photocopiers', but rather the creators of exciting, unexpected visual outcomes. To achieve this within your portfolio, it may help to:

• Be experimental – try unlike things and push techniques, materials and engineering in innovative and unexpected ways

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

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

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

…[A good portfolio] demonstrates how you can recollect in innovative and contrasting ways, and shows originality, inventiveness and commitment to being 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. Piece of work that reflects an applicant's own enthusiasms, thought processes and ideas is always of involvement to the selectors. – University of Dundee, Scotland

It's no good promoting house styles, as that makes all students' work expect the same. If a educatee is showing a slice of work from a course, it's important that it likewise shows a personal theme. – Helen Heery, Academy of Salford, U.k.

A portfolio assignment by Amelia Eaton:

This is an example of a successful double-sided drawing project completed for RISD (Rhode Island School of Design). Communicating confident observational cartoon skills and assuming, well-balanced color, ideas nigh meat are communicated in a clear and captivating fashion. Amelia was accepted by RISD.

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

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

A academy Foundation application by Anna Clow:

This original A Level Art project and was completed during Anna'southward last year of high school. Where many students pigment or draw conventional portraits, Anna has created innovative, exciting works that combine dolls, human class and interior body parts. Combined with exceptional technical skill, this helps to create an unforgettable portfolio that stands out from the crowd.

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

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

Some great tips are independent in this video by the University of the Arts London about the importance of ideas, enthusiasm and creativity – providing some excellent thoughts, specially for those who might not have gained a strong Fine art pedagogy at high school:

h) Communicate passion, commitment and enthusiasm

Universities desire people who will stand for their school well – who will go on to do groovy things that will reflect positively upon their identify of study. They want passionate, neat students who will cope with the workload and who intend to really keep and make use of their degree. This means that you must convey a sense of passion, commitment and enthusiasm inside the portfolio (as well as during the interview – more on the art school interview soon). To do this, you tin:

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

• Include some personal, independent, 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 always look for work that goes beyond the mere fulfilment of School curricula. We search for highly motivated activity, over and above any project-based work, and for a latitude of engagement, a sense of purpose and a forcefulness of opinion in the way the portfolio is edited. Of import for usa is to exist able to discovering a sense of the temperament laying behind the work, and sense the deeper interests that inform the portfolio. We are not interested in finding a item formula or a specific style, simply in signs of energy, ambition, critical reflection and inventiveness. – Ruskin School of Fine art, United Kingdom

Personal fine art is the work done outside of a classroom situation and reflects the artists' unique interests in use of materials, bailiwick affair and concept. Work can be completed in any media including (but not limited to) drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, digital/reckoner art, motion-picture show/video, ceramics, sculpture, blitheness and performance fine art. – Kavin Buck, Schoolhouse of Arts and Architecture at the University of California Los Angeles, Us

Involvement in art must be more than casual. – Tom Lightfoot, Rochester Institute of Applied science, United States

Emma Rose, who works in the faculty of arts and sciences at Lancaster Academy, advises that students include some self-generated work – not simply the projects that have been assigned on courses. "Nosotros desire someone with that extra spark – perhaps you've gone off with a photographic camera to have interesting photos." – The Contained

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

Ultimately, it'southward all virtually passion and ideas, and then if yous include the kinds of things that y'all're almost excited virtually, that you're most proud of, then chances are your portfolio submission will make a potent impression. – Ringling College of Art and Design, United States

i) Tailor your application to suit your caste

Portfolio guidelines for different areas of Art and Design are often similar, but it can exist wise to modify your portfolio so that it is appropriate for the degree y'all are applying for. Rather than creating a completely different set of images for each specialisation or major, even so, a submission can be tweaked slightly, and so that it 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 application etc (although this is non necessary – more on architecture portfolios below).

As an example, digital based degrees may like to see evidence of technological awareness and capability and the power to work with a range of digital platforms, alongside traditional non-digital techniques. This might include time-based interactive piece of work (movie, animation, video, website design).

The following list gives some guidance about the sort of material that maybe helpful for specific areas, in improver to the items discussed above, such as observational drawing. As with all recommendations in this commodity, you should refer to the academy or college you lot are applying to for precise requirements.

Graphic Blueprint Portfolios:

• Graphic design print piece of work or web graphics
• Font pattern or utilize of typography
• Graphic illustrations
• Video graphics
• Interactive web media and any other related projects

A university Foundation awarding portfolio by Jacob Wise:

This portfolio shows an obvious strength in graphic pattern. Along with bear witness of potent observational drawing skill, the work is supplemented past original posters that show a adept understanding of limerick – with competent arrangement of line, colour, space, text and form. "The Bauhaus movement, Russian constructivism and the Swiss international graphic way are a source of massive inspiration for my work with the utilization of sharp edges, bold shape, colour and precision".

Architecture Portfolios:

• Many students presume that an architecture application portfolio must be filled with drawings of buildings or architectural designs. This is almost e'er notthe case (as with all other recommendations fabricated in this article, yous should bank check the requirements of the particular course y'all are applying for). Admissions staff typically wish to see testify of creativity with a range of media and strong observational drawing skill (as described in the first part of this commodity), including the ability to represent infinite, perspective and 3D form. This tin can be achieved through exploration of completely unrelated discipline matter, such as notwithstanding life, landscapes and human grade. If you have a option, however, drawing buildings, manmade structures, interior/outside spaces, furniture and/or mechanical parts and so on, may help to demonstrate an interest in architectural design.
• Compages schools usually do Non crave formal technical drawings (instrumental or estimator generated plans / orthographic projections etc) and if these are accepted equally part of the application portfolio, they are oftentimes express in quantity, so that y'all include a sufficient range of paw-generated piece of work. You are notexpected to sympathise how to design a edifice – this is what you larn upon the course.
• Iii-dimensional sculptures, installations, casts and/or model constructions can be great to include, as these communicate spatial awareness and an interest in working with 3D form. These might include conceptual models fabricated from cardboard, paper, wire, forest and other constitute materials, for example.
• Artwork in a broad range of mediums (printmaking / photography etc) are typically accepted.
• Note: Some universities and architecture schools specifically asking that the portfolio is nonfilled with Design Applied science work, preferring to see work that has been produced as part of high school Art courses. (Although some high school Design Engineering courses provide excellent grooming for architectural degrees, Art courses typically offer a stronger grounding in observational drawing and limerick).

Examples of observational drawings submitted every bit function of an awarding to the University of Auckland, Schoolhouse of Architecture, New Zealand:

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

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

Irence was awarded a four twelvemonth scholarship and was accepted into RISD Architecture. These works communicate a clear interest in three-dimensional space and architectural class.

An compages portfolio case by Ken Liang, completed nether the guidance of Evangelos Limpantoudis from the Compages School Review who helps students gain admission to top architecture schools from around the earth:

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 Academy. With no prior feel about art or blueprint, his portfolio became a vehicle for Ken to learn virtually the blueprint procedure, showing the procedure of evolution of architectural forms derived from conceptual models using fabric and dirt.

Manner Blueprint Portfolios

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

Part of a Kingston Academy Fine art Foundation awarding portfolio by Annabelle Holden:

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

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

Jinsoo was accustomed into Parsons Fashion Pattern (Scholarship), Pratt Fashion Design and FIT. Notation the outstanding observational drawing skill and clever linking of colours betwixt the dissever pieces within this portfolio.

Game Fine art Portfolios:

• Storyboards
• Original character designs

Product Design Portfolios:

• Subjects like product design frequently require stiff practical, analytical and communication skills, likewise as the technical and conceptual ideas and self-motivation required by other art-related degrees. This means that evidence of working with materials and in both 2D and 3D can be beneficial.

Film School Portfolios:
Filmmaking may combine many different skills including performing arts, music, literature and writing. As a effect, portfolio requirements may exist quite different 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 curt as admissions staff will not take 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 equally URL links to YouTube, Vimeo or embedded on a personal website or blog (meet why Art students should have their own website and how to make one)
• Fashion, costume or gear up design
• Storyboards
• Website design and multimedia work
• Evidence of involvement in theatre or performing arts
• Screenplays and creative writing may besides be appropriate

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

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

You will likely have to use a considerable portion of your vacation and vacation time to create work or ameliorate existing pieces – every bit well as generate personal work outside of your curriculum or complete 'home tests' or assignments if required.

The about important detail of preparing your portfolio for college admissions is to think to give yourself enough of time and have fun with it. It is nearly incommunicable to create quality work if you are nervous and nether a fourth dimension constraint. Don't await until the last infinitesimal, and make enough piece of work so you lot tin can edit together the best portfolio for each schoolhouse you program to apply to. – Kavin Buck, School of Arts and Compages at the University of California Los Angeles, United States

When information technology says put together a portfolio of 12 pieces, it doesn't necessarily mean just make 12 pieces. It's easier to just make, make and make and then narrow it down to 12 pieces. Not only volition you lot accept more than to cull from, an admissions counselor during a portfolio review can assistance yous make up one's mind what to submit for a final application. So don't limit yourself, just create! Katie, Admissions Counsellor, Parsons, Us

A University Foundation application portfolio by Nina Cavaviuti:

This quote from Nina illustrates the challenge in preparing a portfolio outside of an Art class: "I have had to fix a portfolio around a fulltime degree course and a weekend job. Non being in a schoolhouse environment where you are constantly supervised has meant I have had to work independently, I have learnt to take advantage of my surroundings and to use fourth dimension finer, such as using daily travel as an opportunity to create observational drawings and attending regular life drawing classes to meliorate my technical drawing skills."

half-dozen. Select and Review Piece of work

In one case yous accept completed a significant trunk of piece of work, seek feedback and modify / better / redo pieces. Don't get out this until the terminal infinitesimal, because you will run out of time if changes are needed. Build in cogitating time – fourth dimension to set information technology bated and come up back to it with fresh eyes.

This excellent video by Paul Stanford, Head of Department of the Foundation Course in Art and Design at Kingston University, 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, too as ending a portfolio well, so that the last impression is a good one.

Towards the middle of the portfolio, Paul begins to discover technical deficiencies – 'a chip of a deadening drawing, you might say' – 'it'southward not a groovy life drawing, is information technology?' – a reminder that students should but submit piece of work that plays to their strengths. The student'southward skill set as a whole and estimated potential is evaluated, with observational drawing skill only one part of this equation.

Most people get too close to their ain piece of work and cannot see it objectively. Bring an unbiased person (non friends or family unit) to assist with your final portfolio selection, ideally someone who has a background in art or design. When selecting work, aim for quality over quantity, avoid repetition and include variety of discipline matter, skill and medium.

Read the school's suggestions for portfolio submission carefully. Most will say "ten to 20 pieces" and I can tell y'all that more than is often not better. If you have 10 actually strong works to submit, and then the quality level noticeably drops, ameliorate to show 10 uniformly good works than a whole range. – Anonymous answer on Yahoo

Exist selective. …don't submit work that you are non proud of just for the sake of having variety. – Virginia Democracy University

Select projects that testify a range of media and subject thing, while still emphasizing your strongest work. – Carnegie Mellon University

It'due south good to start with lots of piece of work and and 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 as well able to attend National Portfolio Mean solar day, where they are able to receive feedback on their portfolio-in-progress from academy and college representatives. These are held all over the Usa and are highly recommended. Lines are long and y'all should go far early on to ensure that you are able to speak to the schools of your first choice.

At this event, brace yourself for harsh words. Information technology'due south not uncommon for students to be told at National Portfolio Twenty-four hours that they essentially have to start over from scratch because their portfolio is headed in the wrong management. Reviewers volition be candid and straight most the quality and type of work that their school is looking for, so don't be discouraged if you get a tough critique. Rather, be glad that you got the feedback yous needed to get yourself headed in the right management. – Clara Lieu, Rhode Island School of Design, United States

Accept constructive criticism and advice – don't exist offended (you lot'll demand to get used to this if you want to go to fine art school!) – Virginia Commonwealth Academy, United States

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 good video that helps y'all sympathize which pieces to select. Information technology is a good reminder to show a range of creative skills and techniques and well as 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 of import. The organisation and system of your portfolio has a directly impact upon the way the work is perceived. A adept layout helps to communicate an heart for limerick, a professional approach, shows your commitment and desire to attend a university or higher: 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 five minutes looking at your portfolio, so start impressions count.

This video about preparing a portfolio by University of the Arts London contains some great reminders about presenting a portfolio. In item, they advise that you lot should 'put nothing in your portfolio that you lot tin't talk about' and organise information technology and then that it is easy to navigate. It as well explains that while a portfolio should not be crammed full of everything a pupil has produced, it should not be over-edited: 'pared downward so much that nosotros can't actually encounter lilliputian glimpse of potential'.

Advisedly photo work for digital submissions and whatever piece of work that is three-dimensional/sculptural or that exceeds size specifications for hardcopy submissions (meet our guide to photographing fine art like a pro – coming soon). Reread portfolio presentation requirements advisedly to make certain that you lot nowadays exactly what is required past 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 elementary, professional person format that allows your work to be viewed easily.

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

From my own experience, I find A3 is the nigh platonic (both in education and beyond). A3 marks the perfect balance because yous tin can sufficiently display your artwork finer, while making it easier to transport. – Recent UK art school applicant from the StudentRoom.

Cull a flat type of art portfolio case or folder that opens and close easily, while protecting work so that it doesn't get creased. (Avoid rolling piece of work up, as information technology volition exist hard to get it to prevarication apartment). The portfolio example may be a spine-mounted leather art portfolio (usually found in all good fine art retailers – run across examples on Amazon) or a clear non-cogitating clear file binder, for example. It doesn't need to exist overly expensive: avoid extravagant folders and choose 1 that is unproblematic, clean and practical.

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

Have all sheets securely bound in such a manner every bit to allow all sheets to prevarication flat when the portfolio is open. Be able to be hands and safely handled. There should be no exposed metal binders, staples or similar fittings. Sheet metal or other heavy or sharp materials should not be used for portfolio covers. – School of Architecture, University of Auckland, New Zealand

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

Keep the presentation format uncluttered and relevant. Avoid over decorating your portfolio every bit this tin can detract from the content. – University of the Arts London, Great britain

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

Commencement and stop with a keen slice of work, and so that you create a cracking initial and terminal impression. Space other keen work evenly throughout your portfolio (avoiding a clump of weaker work). Think about group similar work together, past medium, subject or style – perhaps equally a series of projects – or chronologically. An assessor must be able to 'understand' your portfolio and see any connections betwixt pieces (for instance, show the creative journeying betwixt development work/sketchbook pages and final outcomes). Aim to make information technology announced coherent, rather than a whole lot of scattered, disconnected pieces.

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

Think virtually the composition of each folio – which images are facing each other, whether the colours piece of work well together etc. Consider the relationships between pieces, especially the human relationship betwixt sizes, colours and format of work.

Add greater dissimilarity, crop tighter to make more dramatic compositions. Add a little more intense colour. Yous'd be surprised how much stronger your piece of work can look with merely a few careful additions. – Karen Kesteloot, a portfolio evolution coach from PortPrep

c) Avert unnecessary repetition

If you are asked to submit a specific number of images, ensure that each of these is a unlike work. Where a certain number of sheets are asked for, it may be possible to mount smaller works onto a single sheet. If you want to submit different angles of one piece of work, it is unremarkably all-time to digitally submit these on one sheet, or as one image. Read the guidelines of the particular university or college you wish to utilise to advisedly to notice out what is expected.

In that location is no virtue in quantity lone and candidates should not include multiple color variations of prints, for instance. Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Pattern, Great britain

Do not include detail photos of work in your portfolio unless y'all consider them absolutely necessary. Nether no circumstance should more than than two detail shots be included. – Yale School of Art

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

• Make sure work is thoroughly dry out and that pages will not stick together
• Make sure piece of 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 directly 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
• Make sure photographs are focused, free of fingerprints, printed on matt (non-reflective) paper and are large enough to see details clearly
• Don't mount things with distracting borders (information technology is not unremarkably necessary to mount or mat your piece of work); faming piece of work is unnecessary. Let the work stand on its own. A clean, professional person and minimal mode is unremarkably platonic, every bit described above.

e) 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 fine art school yous are applying to is able to view work digital material in particular format (video / CD etc). Check advisedly what type of new media presentations they take and accompany this with a printed hardcopy version (screenshots etc) and a note well-nigh the programmes used, in case difficulties arise.
• Label all digital files sensibly, such as firstname-lastname-awarding.pdf rather than 4690243fxz.pdf
• Ensure images reflect the truthful colour and appearance of the artwork and are cropped correctly, without unrelated, disctracting background items
• Ensure moving image or video footage is cropped to a sensible length (admissions staff normally 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 ain website).
• As with concrete submissions, recollect advisedly almost the organisation and grouping of images.
• Save a tape of all digital submissions as a fill-in!

f) Label work conspicuously simply unobtrusively

• Utilise pocket-size, clear writing to label piece of work in a way that doesn't detract from the artwork. If labelling guidelines are not given (sometimes a carve up sheet containing details of each image is required), label work in the corner or on the reverse with the title, mediums, dimensions, dates and additional info every bit required. Avoid decorative font and excessively large headings.
• Proof for spelling errors and inaccuracies (become someone else to check this too). Make sure all links to digital moving images work.

Want more help with applying to Art schoolhouse?

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 sure that yous don't miss out on this article, please make sure that y'all are subscribed to our newsletter using the sign up course below!

Amiria has been an Art & Pattern instructor and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for 7 years, responsible for the course design and cess of student work in two high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (Get-go Course Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching. Amiria is a CIE Accredited 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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