What Font Should I Use to Title Art Pieces

Concluding Updated on May 27, 2021

What should be in an fine art schoolhouse application portfolio? How do yous present a portfolio? What gives you the best chance of being accustomed by the art schoolhouse of your dreams? This article explains how to make an fine art portfolio for college or university and is packed with tips from leading art and design schoolhouse admissions staff from around the earth. Information technology is written for those who are in the process of creating an application portfolio for a foundation course, certificate, associate or undergraduate caste and contains advice for specific art-related areas, such every bit Architecture, Fine art, Graphic Pattern, Illustration, Interior Design, Animation, Game Design, Film and other creative, visual fine art-based courses. It is presented forth with art and design portfolio examples from students who have recently gained credence to a range of art schools from around the world, creating a ix,000 word document that helps guide you through the application process.

What is an art school application portfolio?

In addition to meeting bookish requirements, Art and Design Schools, Universities and Colleges typically require a applied art portfolio every bit part of the awarding procedure (this is often accompanied by a personal statement and/or an fine art school interview – more on this soon). Then whatis this?

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

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

Simply as every fine art student is unlike (with individual strengths, experiences, passions and ideas) every art school has different requirements and expectations. While some universities and colleges take 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 keep. Fifty-fifty when criteria is clear, applicants may feel overwhelmed and wonder what to draw/paint/make/create, which mediums to apply and how to best select and present their work.

Producing an art portfolio is not to be taken lightly. Top fine art schools often accept 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 (at that place is unfortunately no guaranteed magic formula for creating a winning fine art portfolio) this commodity highlights tips from experienced admissions staff and makes 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 college or university

ane. Inquiry carefully and record the art portfolio requirements for a number of courses that interest you

Deciding which art or pattern school is for you is a big determination (our upcoming article 'how to discover the all-time art schoolhouse in the globe' will help with this). While you lot consider your options, information technology is appropriate to apply to a number of different schools, in example yous are not accepted into your start choice. In that location is no shame in applying to college or university and not getting in (many highly successful individuals are not accepted into their academy of first pick); only being left with no place to go because yous didn't apply to enough schools is an easily avoidable circumstance!

Create a list of art or design schools that you would exist prepared to attend and detect their admissions criteria (you lot tin search for art schools in California and New Zealand on this website – more areas coming soon). All university and college art portfolio requirements are different. Record the verbal admissions requirements advisedly, well in advance, as deadlines tin can be earlier than you lot expect and portfolios take a long time to prepare. Impress these out, highlight fundamental data and keep on-manus, so that you can refer to them as needed throughout the application process.

In particular, keep careful records of:

• Open Mean solar day times

• Application and Portfolio due appointment/southward. If you lot are currently studying Fine art at high school, cheque how the portfolio due dates compare to your own coursework deadlines and exam timetable. In some cases at that place may be issues with work needing to exist in two places at one (i.e. submitted for assessment at high school and delivered to an art school in hardcopy at the same time). This occurs particularly for students studying international qualifications or applying to art schools in different countries, and so you need to set up for this in advance. Marking the deadlines of the schools that you are applying to clearly on your calendar.

• Size and format of work required

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

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

• Labelling and presentation requirements. Many art schools accept 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 utilise online tools such every bit SlideRoom.

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

• Whether supplementary material is needed, for example, a personal statement or written essay (more than on this presently). Fine art schools typically have bookish requirements set past the academy or college as a whole, which may require a separate application form and a different deadline. You may also be asked to submit images of piece of work or objects that accept influenced your work or instructor recommendations, testimonials or reports (only include these if specifically requested).

• Requirements nigh what to draw / include. Many art and design schools go out applicants free to select what to include inside their portfolio. Unless specifically stated, the portfolio should incorporate primarily visual artwork, not art history assignments, artist analysis or extensive annotation. You may have to submit a combination of personal artwork, piece of work produced in high school classes and/or 'habitation tests', exams or assignments set by the fine art school you are applying to. In the RISD awarding portfolio, for example, applicants must respond to iii gear up assignments, such as 'discover and draw a bicycle, or an interior space'. Some stunning RISD bicycle drawings completed every bit role of this awarding portfolio process are shown beneath:

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

These drawings are completed entirely in graphite pencil or charcoal on white newspaper and may be realistic or abstract. They may be derived from the whole or part of the bicycle, arranged lone or with any other object/south or scene. These examples show the heady level of skill and inventiveness demonstrated past students applying to the Rhode Island School of Pattern.

As another instance, Parsons the New Schoolhouse for Design asks applicants to submit a portfolio as well as the 'Parsons Challenge'. In the past, this claiming has included instructions such equally:

Using any medium or media, explore something normally overlooked within your daily environment. Choose one object, location, or activity. Translate your discovery in 3 original pieces. Support each slice of art with an essay of approximately 250 words.

Once y'all take nerveless the requirements for the particular degrees you are interested in, the next step is to seek out existing portfolio examples.

two. Look at contempo student fine art portfolio examples to gain a visual understanding of what is expected

Seeing examples of real portfolios is ane of the all-time ways to understand the standard you are aiming for (and to gain your ain art portfolio ideas). Many university and higher art portfolio examples can exist found online or in campus libraries (some art schools retain hardcopy examples to help students the following year – these can be invaluable) and a big number of varied student art portfolio examples are featured in this commodity beneath. These illustrate the range of different portfolio styles that are possible and help to prove how submissions for particular specialisations or degrees might differ from one another.

If you lot experience daunted looking at other portfolios, it is worth stressing that is usually the best candidates who display their work (this is indeed the example inside this article). Do not despair if your technical skill is not as strong equally the work yous see: recall art portfolios are assessed upon a wide range of criteria (more on this below). If you have a great academic background, innovative ideas and a passion for the subject area, 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 do not have flawless observational drawing skill. Showcase your strengths and dorsum yourself.

A portfolio for art school past Grace Camille Lee:

These are some of the images that were submitted in Grace'due south awarding portfolio. About of these pieces are personal artwork; others were completed as part of a Foundation course (this is a one year grade that many Britain students take prior to starting university. A Foundation course can exist an excellent way to set an art college portfolio and is a common path to art school for students in the U.k.). Grace was offered a place at Kingston, Brighton and Goldsmiths – art schools in the Britain.

Greyness'due south School of Art publish a document containing examples of sketchbook pages from student portfolios (some of which are shown below):

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 by William Govoni:

This portfolio shows evidence of strong observational cartoon 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 of operations.

A university application portfolio past Kirsty Mackenzie:

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

A Kingston University application by Lily Grant:

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

3. Attend Open Days

Open days are the ideal time to notice out whether an art school is the correct place for you (read more well-nigh this in how to find the best art school in the world – coming soon). Open days are also a great opportunity to find out more about the admissions process and what is expected by a schoolhouse in terms of application portfolios. (As mentioned above, some art schools have past portfolios on brandish at the schoolhouse permanently – in the campus library, for example).

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

This is the about important section of this article, considering it is the expanse where people are about dislocated. All over the internet applicants beg to know: 'what should I include in a college art portfolio?' The reply is this: include a range of recent visual work (completed within the terminal year or ii) that best communicates your artistic skills and experiences, artistic ideas/originality and passion/commitment.

The detailed recommendations below explain this further:

a) Emphasise observational drawing

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

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

An observational drawing is a realistic representation of an object or scene that has been viewed direct in real life (as opposed to something that has been imagined or drawn from a photograph) – read more about how to produce corking observational drawings. It can be produced using whatsoever medium or combination of mediums such equally graphite pencil, charcoal, pen, ink and/or paint. For the bulk of applicants, information technology is highly advantageous to demonstrate the power to observe something in existent life and draw it accurately. It is recommended that observational drawing (or painting) from beginning-manus sources class a substantial function of your portfolio.

The aim is that y'all:

• Prove to admissions staff that you are able to competently tape shape, proportion, tone, perspective, surface qualities, detail, infinite and grade

• Draw in a personal, sensitive fashion, 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 than creative, expressive, gestural marking-making or the addition of not-realistic elements, textures, materials. In other words, communicate a strong sense of realism, but in a way that as well capture an essence of the subject, rather than an exact, rigid copy of a scene. It tin assistance to think about ideas and meanings backside a drawing – selecting a discipline that holds meaning or relevance for yous, rather than just selecting any random object to describe.

Clara Lieu, Visual Artist and Adjunct 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 work from directly ascertainment. This is easily downwards the number one, absolutely essential thing to do that many students fail to practice. Merely doing this ane directive will put you lot calorie-free years alee of other students.

Accomplished drawings are above all else, the heart of a successful portfolio when applying at the undergraduate level. You might exist a wizard in digital media, simply none of that volition matter if you lot accept poor drawings.

Szivesen, a portfolio reviewer, explains:

Most schools emphasize drawing from direct observation as their primary basis for the portfolio, no affair what aspect of fine art you desire to study. That's considering basic cartoon skills are fundamental and because cartoon is a little more probable to exist a uniform mensurate than other areas of art and blueprint.

Examples of observational drawings from a academy Foundation course application portfolio past Sinead Kirby:

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

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

Sometimes admissions staff fifty-fifty written report tiring of the standard 'life drawing' and that the freshness and originality of drawings like those above can be more than interesting.

Observational portraits in a academy Foundation portfolio past Emma Hooper:

Information technology is important to remember also that observational cartoon skill is often evident throughout your portfolio – even in works that are 'non-representational' and/or more creative and interpretative. In the works to a higher place, for example, we tin can see beautiful observation of human being form and attention to the way calorie-free hits a face up.

b) Explore a range of subject thing – 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, draw a landscape, still life, portrait, animal, human being figure, interior or exterior environment, hands and feet, or any other interesting everyday object – focusing, peradventure, on subject thing that is relevant for your degree (see more most tailoring your application to your particular focus expanse beneath) and, more importantly, subject matter that has some significant and relevance to yous. You should endeavour and avert common or cliché approaches and include a range of different interesting objects and scenes – and do not exactly replicate the work of some other creative person.

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

…if yous're not sure what to draw, draw the things in your room. Depict your easily, draw your feet, draw your canis familiaris. That's perfectly fine. Attempt not to get into whatever clichés or any traps of drawing all the same matter. We don't want to see a sketchbook total of horses. We don't desire to come across a sketchbook full of simply cartoons or anime. Prove that you are looking at real life; that you're looking at unlike bailiwick affair…

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

Please do non 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:

Exercise not copy your work from photographs or other sources. This means no fan art, no anime, no manga, zilch from another creative person's work. Admissions officers have seen hundreds, probably thousands of images from student portfolios. They are well trained to quickly spot artworks that have been copied from photographs or that have been lifted from other resources.

It is never, ever good to accept fan art in any portfolio. Past fan art, I mean drawings of celebrities and other characters that are not your own. That'south basically the kiss of death, and will immediately crusade people to see you equally goose egg more than a hobbyist.

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

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

Observational drawings completed as function of art schoolhouse application portfolios.

For more than tips virtually what to draw, read how to come up with bully ideas for an art projection.

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

Your art portfolio should testify a various range of skill and visual experiences. Demonstrate that you are able to utilise and experiment with a range of styles, mediums and techniques and can command, apply and manipulate mediums in a skilful, advisable 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 simply able to sketch only with a pencil. The former bidder demonstrates growth, diversity and a breadth of skill, equally well as an involvement in learning new things. The latter may be a 'one fob 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 paint / draw upon a range of different surfaces (see here for great ideas about things to depict or paint on if you are looking for new ideas), but don't include weaker work, merely 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 academy of art schoolhouse would prefer (despite common misconceptions, they rarely favour ane way of art-making more than another); cull those that align with your strengths.

• Experiment with a variety of tools, techniques, processes and art forms. Unless otherwise specified, an application portfolio may include drawings, paintings, photography, digital media, pattern, three-dimensional work, spider web design, animation, video and almost whatever 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 you are willing to experiment and try new fine art-making experiences, focusing on areas that interest you and highlight your strengths.

A portfolio by Kisa Sky Shiga, completed as function of a portfolio preparation course at Ashcan Studio of Fine art:

A broad range of mediums are shown in these three works past Kisa Sky Shiga, whose portfolio was accepted by RISD (Clothes Blueprint, iv twelvemonth Scholarship), Parsons (Mode Design, 4 yr Scholarship), Pratt (Fashion Design, iv year scholarship) and FIT: Fashion Institute of Applied science (Fashion Blueprint).

Printmaking in a university Foundation application by Henry Richardson:

In improver to a range of expressive drawings and paintings, Henry's portfolio is supplemented with dry signal 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 smashing mix of mediums, including oil paintings and ceramic sculptures, showing artistic skill in a range of 2 and iii-dimensional form.

A university Foundation application portfolio by Ayse Kipri:

This portfolio combines formal observational drawings with gimmicky collage and installation work. Ayse completing a Foundation caste in Fine art and Design at Camberwell College of Arts and is now studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins.

eastward) Include a range of varied, well-balanced compositions – bear witness an 'eye for aesthetics'

All work – even observational drawings – should bear witness that you understand how to compose an epitome well, arranging visual elements such as line, shape, tone, texture, colour, course and colour in an pleasing mode. 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 page unless this is an intentional, considered decision (see our Fine art student'due south composition guide (coming soon) which explains more about how the formal visual arrangement of artwork. Call back about the shadows, spaces and surfaces in and effectually objects. Recall carefully about cropping of images and positions of items within each piece of work.

• Select and utilise advisable colours, making sure that if multiple works are arranged on i page, the colours work well together too (more on this in the portfolio presentation section below)

• Brand sure the proportions and spatial relationships between different elements in graphic designs (such as text, images and space) are carefully considered

f) Include procedure / development work if permitted

Some art schools – particularly in the US – crave that every piece in your application be a finished, realised piece of work. Others – particularly those in the Great britain and NZ – beloved to encounter procedure, development or sketchbook piece of work. If an art or pattern school specifically states that this cloth is permitted, this is an excellent opportunity to flaunt your skills, commitment and depth of knowledge. The inquiry and processes undertaken to develop your work are often as important equally the final work itself and allow the selection panel to understand your work in context and encounter how it has been initiated and developed. Process and development piece of work helps colleges and universities to understand how you call back (the ideas and meanings behind pieces, for instance) and see that you are able to take an idea from concept and develop information technology through to a terminal resolution. It provides evidence that you are able to analyse / experiment / explore and trial different outcomes and make audio critical judgments.

Nosotros want to come across how you lot generate and develop ideas from your visual research. It is important that we see how they progress from the starting point right through to the conclusion of your ideas / projection. – Grays School of Art, Scotland.

Images of pages from your workbook/due south tin exist very helpful to the choice console. This could include: prove of ideas, thinking processes, experimentation and assay. – Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, New Zealand

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

• In depth investigations into subject affair (sketches / photography and other visual documentation of outset-hand 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 take been made – i.e. connections to artists and real world bug

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

A university Foundation awarding by Lola:

The sketchbook pages in this portfolio show the evolution procedure behind the finished portrait bottom right, making it clear that the projection has original first-hand sources and a strong personal connection.

A academy Foundation application past A Level Art educatee Heather Meredith:

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

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

Part of an As Art exam project, these images combine excellent technical skill with captivating and hit compositions. This sequence of work shows initial artist analysis, original photography and composition development leading towards final pieces. Violet chose to attend Ravensbourne, specialising in Media (Graphic Blueprint).

This video contains a good overview of what a portfolio might contain, particularly for universities that request process / evolution work:

For more tips about producing great process piece of 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 art project.

Note: If development work is not permitted as part of the portfolio itself, it is usually appropriate to bring this to the interview.

chiliad) Communicate creative ideas: be original

It is important to remember that artistic skill must exist accompanied by creativity, original ideas and some grade of visual curiosity. In other words, technical skill is no use if you are unable to think of how to put this to apply in a unique, interesting way. Someone who is able to generate original and captivating ideas that rip into your eye and soul is far more than appealing than someone who produces dull, anticipated, yet technically excellent artwork. Although skill is an first-class asset – and a sure level is necessary – applicants to colleges and universities and fine art schools should not aim to be glorified 'photocopiers', but rather the creators of heady, unexpected visual outcomes. To accomplish this within your portfolio, it may assist to:

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

• Make art well-nigh something (visually communicate ideas) rather than simply 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'south. Aim for artwork that is new, fresh and virtually something that matters to you. Don't replicate any of the portfolios y'all encounter on this page or elsewhere. Your portfolio should exist individual to y'all. Let your portfolio reflect your strengths, interests and experiences and represent who you are.

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

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

… stand up out from the crowd by pushing the boundaries of a prescribed curriculum, personalising a theme or projection to demonstrate their invention and inventiveness. Work that reflects an applicant's own enthusiasms, thought processes and ideas is ever of involvement to the selectors. – University of Dundee, Scotland

It'south no skillful promoting house styles, every bit that makes all students' work look the same. If a student is showing a work from a course, it's important that it also shows a personal theme. – Helen Heery, University of Salford, United Kingdom

A portfolio assignment past Amelia Eaton:

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

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

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

A university Foundation application by Anna Clow:

This original A Level Fine art project and was completed during Anna'southward final year of high schoolhouse. Where many students pigment or draw conventional portraits, Anna has created innovative, exciting works that combine dolls, human course 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 past Halim Ki, completed during a class at Ashcan Studio of Art:

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

Some peachy tips are contained in this video by the Academy of the Arts London about the importance of ideas, enthusiasm and creativity – providing some first-class thoughts, peculiarly for those who might not have gained a potent Art instruction at high schoolhouse:

h) Communicate passion, delivery and enthusiasm

Universities desire people who will represent their school well – who volition keep to practise groovy things that volition reflect positively upon their place of study. They want passionate, keen students who will cope with the workload and who intend to actually keep and make use of their degree. This means that you must convey a sense of passion, commitment and enthusiasm within the portfolio (likewise as during the interview – more on the art school interview before long). To practice this, you can:

• Ensure that 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 involvement in the arts.

During the process of reviewing portfolios, the Ruskin staff ever look for work that goes across the mere fulfilment of School curricula. We search for highly motivated activity, over and above any project-based work, and for a breadth of engagement, a sense of purpose and a force of opinion in the way the portfolio is edited. Of import for united states is to be able to discovering a sense of the temperament laying behind the piece of work, and sense the deeper interests that inform the portfolio. We are non interested in finding a particular formula or a specific way, merely in signs of energy, ambition, critical reflection and creativity. – Ruskin School of Art, United kingdom

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

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

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

Cocky-initiated projects (artwork created independent of classroom assignments/exercises) are especially encouraged. – UCLA Section of Art, United States

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

i) Tailor your application to arrange your degree

Portfolio guidelines for dissimilar areas of Art and Design are often similar, simply it tin be wise to modify your portfolio so that information technology is appropriate for the caste y'all are applying for. Rather than creating a completely dissimilar fix of images for each specialisation or major, however, a submission can be tweaked slightly, so that it showcases relevant strengths and an involvement in the area you are applying for (for instance, submitting observational drawings of metropolis scenes or edifice interiors for an architecture application etc (although this is not necessary – more on architecture portfolios below).

As an example, digital based degrees may similar to see prove of technological awareness and capability and the ability to piece of work with a range of digital platforms, alongside traditional non-digital techniques. This might include time-based interactive piece of work (flick, 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 above, such equally observational cartoon. As with all recommendations in this article, y'all should refer to the university or college you are applying to for precise requirements.

Graphic Pattern Portfolios:

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

A university Foundation application portfolio past Jacob Wise:

This portfolio shows an obvious strength in graphic design. Along with evidence of strong observational drawing skill, the work is supplemented by original posters that evidence a proficient understanding of composition – with competent arrangement of line, colour, space, text and form. "The Bauhaus motility, Russian constructivism and the Swiss international graphic way are a source of massive inspiration for my work with the utilization of precipitous edges, bold shape, color and precision".

Architecture Portfolios:

• Many students assume that an compages application portfolio must be filled with drawings of buildings or architectural designs. This is almost always notthe instance (every bit with all other recommendations fabricated in this article, y'all should bank check the requirements of the detail course you are applying for). Admissions staff typically wish to encounter evidence of creativity with a range of media and stiff observational cartoon skill (as described in the first part of this article), including the ability to correspond space, perspective and 3D form. This can be achieved through exploration of completely unrelated subject matter, such as still life, landscapes and human grade. If you lot have a selection, still, drawing buildings, manmade structures, interior/exterior spaces, furniture and/or mechanical parts and and then on, may assistance to demonstrate an interest in architectural design.
• Architecture schools usually exercise Non crave formal technical drawings (instrumental or computer generated plans / orthographic projections etc) and if these are accepted every bit role of the application portfolio, they are often express in quantity, and so that yous include a sufficient range of manus-generated work. You are notexpected to sympathize how to pattern a building – this is what you learn upon the course.
• 3-dimensional sculptures, installations, casts and/or model constructions can be smashing to include, as these communicate spatial awareness 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 broad range of mediums (printmaking / photography etc) are typically accepted.
• Annotation: Some universities and architecture schools specifically request that the portfolio is nonfilled with Design Engineering science work, preferring to see work that has been produced every bit office of loftier school Art courses. (Although some loftier school Design Engineering science courses provide excellent preparation for architectural degrees, Art courses typically offer a stronger grounding in observational drawing and limerick).

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

Note that fifty-fifty the bottom cartoon – an observational drawing of lights mounted upon a steel bar – communicates a clear interest in architectural form.

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

Irence was awarded a 4 twelvemonth scholarship and was accepted into RISD Architecture. These works communicate a clear interest in iii-dimensional space and architectural form.

An compages portfolio example by Ken Liang, completed under the guidance of Evangelos Limpantoudis from the Compages School Review who helps students gain admission to meridian architecture schools from effectually the globe:

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

Fashion Blueprint Portfolios

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

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

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

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

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

Game Art Portfolios:

• Storyboards
• Original character designs

Product Design Portfolios:

• Subjects similar product design often require potent applied, analytical and advice skills, as well as the technical and conceptual ideas and self-motivation required past other art-related degrees. This ways that evidence of working with materials and in both 2D and 3D can be beneficial.

Movie Schoolhouse Portfolios:
Filmmaking may combine many dissimilar skills including performing arts, music, literature and writing. As a upshot, portfolio requirements may exist quite dissimilar 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 brusque as admissions staff volition not have fourth dimension to view long reels of footage, and/or captured as 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 weblog (see why Art students should have their ain website and how to make ane)
• Mode, costume or set design
• Storyboards
• Website blueprint and multimedia work
• Bear witness of involvement in theatre or performing arts
• Screenplays and creative writing may as well be appropriate

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

Once y'all take planned what you will include in your portfolio, you should fix bated a period of time to produce this. If you accept not taken loftier school Art classes, preparing a folio will take a lot of work – almost half-dozen months to consummate a portfolio from scratch (remember it is platonic to create more piece of work than is needed, and so that you lot tin can carefully edit and remove the weaker pieces). See if your loftier school Art instructor can help (even if you don't take Art). An experienced teacher will often have a long history of helping / observing students utilize and may accept a skillful knowledge of what helped successful candidates in the past. If your ain art teacher is not experienced with helping students apply to university – or you feel you need more aid preparing your portfolio – observe out if in that location are local courses or workshops that address how to brand a portfolio for art school. Portfolio grooming classes are often run past the universities / colleges themselves. These may be relatively cheap weekend workshops or be yearlong, such as Foundation or Art portfolio courses. Making a portfolio can feel less daunting when you produce piece of work with a class of others and seeing others produce piece of work tin be motivating and inspirational.

Y'all will probable accept to utilize a considerable portion of your vacation and vacation fourth dimension to create work or improve existing pieces – equally well every bit generate personal work outside of your curriculum or complete 'home tests' or assignments if required.

The about important item of preparing your portfolio for college admissions is to remember to give yourself plenty of time and accept fun with it. It is well-nigh impossible to create quality work if you are nervous and under a time constraint. Don't await until the last minute, and brand plenty work and so you can edit together the best portfolio for each school you programme to utilise to. – Kavin Buck, School of Arts and Architecture at the Academy of California Los Angeles, United States

When it 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 downwardly to 12 pieces. Non only will you lot have more to choose from, an admissions counselor during a portfolio review can help you decide what to submit for a concluding application. So don't limit yourself, but create! Katie, Admissions Counsellor, Parsons, United States

A Academy Foundation application portfolio past Nina Cavaviuti:

This quote from Nina illustrates the challenge in preparing a portfolio outside of an Art class: "I have had to gear up a portfolio around a fulltime caste course and a weekend job. Non being in a school environment where you are constantly supervised has meant I have had to work independently, I have learnt to take advantage of my environment and to utilize time effectively, such as using daily travel as an opportunity to create observational drawings and attending regular life drawing classes to improve my technical drawing skills."

half dozen. Select and Review Work

One time you lot have completed a meaning body of piece of work, seek feedback and modify / improve / redo pieces. Don't leave this until the last minute, because you will run out of time if changes are needed. Build in reflective time – fourth dimension to set it aside and come dorsum to it with fresh eyes.

This excellent video by Paul Stanford, Caput of Section of the Foundation Form in Fine art and Design at Kingston University, shows the evaluation of an average student portfolio to be offered a identify. It highlights the importance of editing a portfolio advisedly and eliminating weaker work, also as catastrophe a portfolio well, so that the final impression is a skilful one.

Towards the middle of the portfolio, Paul begins to notice technical deficiencies – 'a scrap of a boring drawing, you might say' – 'it's not a great life drawing, is it?' – a reminder that students should only submit piece of work that plays to their strengths. The student's skill gear up equally a whole and estimated potential is evaluated, with observational drawing skill just one part of this equation.

Most people become too close to their own work and cannot run across it objectively. Bring an unbiased person (not friends or family) to assist with your final portfolio selection, ideally someone who has a groundwork in art or design. When selecting work, aim for quality over quantity, avoid repetition and include multifariousness of subject matter, skill and medium.

Read the school's suggestions for portfolio submission carefully. Near will say "ten to xx pieces" and I can tell yous that more than is ofttimes not better. If yous take 10 really potent works to submit, and and then the quality level noticeably drops, better to show ten uniformly skillful works than a whole range. – Anonymous answer on Yahoo

Be selective. …don't submit piece of work that you lot are not proud of just for the sake of having variety. – Virginia Commonwealth University

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

It's practiced to commencement with lots of work and then be super selective with what you put in the portfolio… – Charlotte Melt

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

At this consequence, brace yourself for harsh words. It's not uncommon for students to be told at National Portfolio 24-hour interval that they essentially have to kickoff over from scratch because their portfolio is headed in the wrong management. Reviewers volition exist candid and straight most the quality and type of work that their school is looking for, so don't exist discouraged if you become a tough critique. Rather, be glad that you got the feedback you needed to get yourself headed in the right management. – Clara Lieu, Rhode Island Schoolhouse of Blueprint, The states

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

What Should be In a Portfolio? This video from the Academy of Arts London explains how a skillful portfolio should accept a sense of journeying or 'story unfolding'. It is a good video that helps y'all understand which pieces to select. It is a skilful 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 important. The organisation and arrangement of your portfolio has a direct bear upon upon the style the piece of work is perceived. A skilful layout helps to communicate an center for composition, a professional arroyo, shows your commitment and want to attend a academy or college: it leaves a positive, memorable impression. Poorly cared for piece of 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, and so first impressions count.

This video about preparing a portfolio past University of the Arts London contains some great reminders about presenting a portfolio. In item, they advise that you should 'put goose egg in your portfolio that you can't talk about' and organise it so that information technology is easy to navigate. It also explains that while a portfolio should non be crammed full of everything a student has produced, it should not be over-edited: 'pared downwards so much that we can't actually encounter lilliputian glimpse of potential'.

Advisedly photograph piece of work for digital submissions and any work that is three-dimensional/sculptural or that exceeds size specifications for hardcopy submissions (see our guide to photographing art similar a pro – coming soon). Reread portfolio presentation requirements carefully to brand sure that you present exactly what is required by the admissions departments of each of the schools that y'all 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 easily.

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

From my ain feel, I find A3 is the well-nigh ideal (both in educational activity and across). A3 marks the perfect balance because yous can sufficiently display your artwork effectively, while making it easier to send. – Recent U.k. art school bidder from the StudentRoom.

Choose a flat type of art portfolio case or folder that opens and close easily, while protecting work and so that it doesn't get creased. (Avert rolling work upward, as it will be hard to get it to lie flat). The portfolio example may be a spine-mounted leather fine art portfolio (usually found in all adept art retailers – run across examples on Amazon) or a articulate not-reflective clear file folder, for example. It doesn't need to be overly expensive: avert extravagant folders and cull i that is unproblematic, clean and applied.

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

Take all sheets securely spring in such a mode as to let all sheets to lie 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. Canvass metal or other heavy or precipitous materials should not be used for portfolio covers. – School of Architecture, University of Auckland, New Zealand

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

Go along the presentation format uncluttered and relevant. Avoid over decorating your portfolio as this tin can backbite from the content. – University of the Arts London, United kingdom

b) Social club the piece of work in a logical and aesthetically pleasing style.

Commencement and stop with a great piece of piece of work, so that you create a great initial and final impression. Space other slap-up work evenly throughout your portfolio (avoiding a dodder of weaker work). Call up about grouping similar work together, by medium, subject field or mode – perhaps equally a serial of projects – or chronologically. An assessor must exist able to 'empathise' your portfolio and run into any connections between pieces (for example, show the creative journey between development work/sketchbook pages and final outcomes). Aim to make it appear coherent, rather than a whole lot of scattered, disconnected pieces.

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

Call back almost 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, especially the relationship between sizes, colours and format of piece of work.

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

c) Avoid unnecessary repetition

If you are asked to submit a specific number of images, ensure that each of these is a different slice of 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 yous want to submit unlike angles of 1 piece of work, it is ordinarily best to digitally submit these on i canvas, or as one image. Read the guidelines of the item university or college y'all wish to apply to carefully to find out what is expected.

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

Exercise not include particular photos of work in your portfolio unless you lot consider them absolutely necessary. Nether no circumstance should more than 2 detail shots exist included. – Yale School of Art

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

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

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 you are applying to is able to view work digital fabric in detail format (video / CD etc). Check carefully what blazon of new media presentations they accept and accompany this with a printed hardcopy version (screenshots etc) and a note about the programmes used, in example difficulties ascend.
• Label all digital files sensibly, such as firstname-lastname-application.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 prototype or video footage is cropped to a sensible length (admissions staff usually have tight fourth dimension 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 (run across how to create your own website).
• As with physical submissions, think carefully about the organisation and grouping of images.
• Save a tape of all digital submissions as a backup!

f) Label piece of work clearly merely unobtrusively

• Apply small, clear writing to characterization work in a fashion that doesn't backbite from the artwork. If labelling guidelines are not given (sometimes a split up sail 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 as required. Avert decorative font and excessively big headings.
• Proof for spelling errors and inaccuracies (get someone else to cheque this too). Make certain all links to digital moving images work.

Want more assist with applying to Art school?

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

Amiria has been an Fine art & Blueprint teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the class blueprint and cess of student work in two loftier-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (Beginning Form 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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