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Terminal Updated on May 27, 2021

What should be in an fine art school application portfolio? How practise you present a portfolio? What gives you the all-time chance of being accepted by the art school of your dreams? This article explains how to make an art portfolio for higher or university and is packed with tips from leading art and blueprint school admissions staff from effectually the world. It is written for those who are in the process of creating an awarding portfolio for a foundation class, certificate, associate or undergraduate degree and contains advice for specific fine art-related areas, such as Architecture, Fine Fine art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Animation, Game Design, Film and other artistic, visual fine art-based courses. It is presented along with art and design portfolio examples from students who take recently gained acceptance to a range of art schools from effectually the earth, creating a 9,000 give-and-take certificate that helps guide y'all through the awarding procedure.

What is an fine art school application portfolio?

In add-on to meeting academic requirements, Fine art and Pattern Schools, Universities and Colleges typically crave a practical art portfolio as part of the awarding process (this is oftentimes accompanied by a personal argument and/or an art school interview – more on this shortly). Then whatis this?

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

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

Just as every art student is different (with individual strengths, experiences, passions and ideas) every art schoolhouse 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 leave students uncertain about how to keep. Even when criteria is clear, applicants may feel overwhelmed and wonder what to draw/paint/make/create, which mediums to utilize and how to best select and present their work.

Producing an fine art portfolio is not to exist taken lightly. Peak art schools often take very small percentages of applicants. Understanding how to produce a swell portfolio is crucial. Although information technology is impossible to generate a list of criteria that are appropriate for all applicants in every circumstance (in that location is unfortunately no guaranteed magic formula for creating a winning art portfolio) this commodity highlights tips from experienced admissions staff and makes general recommendations to aid y'all produce the best university or art college application possible.

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

1. Enquiry carefully and record the fine art portfolio requirements for a number of courses that interest y'all

Deciding which art or blueprint school is for you is a big decision (our upcoming article 'how to find the best art school in the globe' will help with this). While you lot consider your options, information technology is advisable to apply to a number of different schools, in instance you are not accustomed into your first option. There is no shame in applying to college or university and not getting in (many highly successful individuals are not accepted into their university of first choice); just being left with no place to become because you didn't apply to enough schools is an easily avoidable circumstance!

Create a list of art or pattern schools that you would be prepared to nourish and find their admissions criteria (you tin 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 exact admissions requirements carefully, well in accelerate, as deadlines can be earlier than you expect and portfolios accept a long time to prepare. Print these out, highlight key information and keep on-manus, and then that yous can refer to them as needed throughout the application process.

In particular, keep careful records of:

• Open Twenty-four hour period times

• Application and Portfolio due date/southward. If y'all are currently studying 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 exist issues with work needing to exist in 2 places at i (i.e. submitted for cess at loftier school and delivered to an art school in hardcopy at the aforementioned time). This occurs particularly for students studying international qualifications or applying to art schools in different countries, so y'all demand to prepare for this in advance. Mark the deadlines of the schools that y'all are applying to clearly 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 as well welcome (some schools require simply finished pieces, particularly in the US; others love to see development work too).

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

• Labelling and presentation requirements. Many fine art schools take 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 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 awarding criteria for yous. For instance, some colleges may accept international portfolios via email, instead of delivered in person.

• Whether supplementary material is needed, for instance, a personal statement or written essay (more on this soon). Art schools typically have academic requirements set by the university or higher as a whole, which may require a separate application form and a different deadline. You lot may also be asked to submit images of work or objects that have influenced your work or instructor recommendations, testimonials or reports (merely include these if specifically requested).

• Requirements about what to draw / include. Many art and design schools leave applicants free to select what to include within their portfolio. Unless specifically stated, the portfolio should contain primarily visual artwork, not art history assignments, creative person analysis or extensive annotation. You may have to submit a combination of personal artwork, work produced in loftier school classes and/or 'home tests', exams or assignments set by the art school you lot are applying to. In the RISD application portfolio, for example, applicants must reply to 3 set assignments, such as 'observe and describe a bicycle, or an interior infinite'. Some stunning RISD bicycle drawings completed equally part of this application portfolio procedure are shown beneath:

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

These drawings are completed entirely in graphite pencil or charcoal on white paper and may be realistic or abstract. They may be derived from the whole or office of the bicycle, arranged lonely or with any other object/southward or scene. These examples testify the exciting level of skill and creativity demonstrated by students applying to the Rhode Isle Schoolhouse of Pattern.

Every bit another example, Parsons the New School for Blueprint asks applicants to submit a portfolio every bit well as the 'Parsons Claiming'. In the past, this claiming has included instructions such as:

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

One time y'all accept collected the requirements for the particular degrees yous are interested in, the next footstep is to seek out existing portfolio examples.

2. Look at recent educatee fine art portfolio examples to gain a visual understanding of what is expected

Seeing examples of real portfolios is i of the best ways to sympathise the standard you are aiming for (and to gain your own art portfolio ideas). Many university and higher art portfolio examples can be found online or in campus libraries (some fine art schools retain hardcopy examples to help students the following yr – these can be invaluable) and a large number of varied educatee art portfolio examples are featured in this article below. These illustrate the range of different portfolio styles that are possible and help to bear witness how submissions for item specialisations or degrees might differ from i some other.

If you lot feel daunted looking at other portfolios, it is worth stressing that is usually the all-time candidates who display their work (this is indeed the case inside this commodity). Do non despair if your technical skill is not as strong as the piece of work yous see: remember art portfolios are assessed upon a wide range of criteria (more on this below). If you have a dandy academic background, innovative ideas and a passion for the subject, you can trump someone with technical skill who is lacking in creativity and personal drive. You might exist surprised to realise how many famous artists do not take 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 function of a Foundation form (this is a one twelvemonth grade that many UK students accept prior to starting academy. A Foundation course tin can exist an excellent way to ready an art college portfolio and is a mutual path to art school for students in the UK). Grace was offered a place at Kingston, Brighton and Goldsmiths – art schools in the UK.

Grayness's 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 development of ideas.

A Kingston University application past William Govoni:

This portfolio shows evidence of strong observational cartoon skill and competence in a range of dissimilar mediums. The inclusion of blueprint drawings makes it clear that William is a well-rounded candidate with a wide skills base.

A university application portfolio past Kirsty Mackenzie:

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

A Kingston University application by Lily Grant:

These captivating compositions bear witness a breadth of skill and a contemporary approach to portraiture that is combined with observational cartoon skill.

3. Nourish Open Days

Open up days are the ideal time to observe out whether an fine art school is the correct identify for you lot (read more about this in how to observe the all-time art school in the world – coming before long). 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. (Equally mentioned higher up, some art schools take past portfolios on brandish at the school permanently – in the campus library, for example).

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

This is the virtually of import section of this article, because it is the expanse where people are most confused. All over the internet applicants beg to know: 'what should I include in a college art portfolio?' The answer is this: include a range of contempo visual work (completed within the final yr or two) that all-time communicates your artistic skills and experiences, creative ideas/originality and passion/commitment.

The detailed recommendations beneath explicate this further:

a) Emphasise observational drawing

Most art and blueprint courses require applicants to take a sure level of observational drawing skill. This is essential not just for Art specialities, but for many others, such as Architecture and Fashion Design. Even degrees that practise non seem to obviously focus upon cartoon commonly welcome the inclusion of this within an application portfolio. For example, Ringling College of Art and Design states:

For majors without as much drawing involved, the submission of drawing in your portfolio is always welcome but non required.

An observational drawing is a realistic representation of an object or scene that has been viewed directly in real life (as opposed to something that has been imagined or drawn from a photo) – read more about how to produce great observational drawings. It can be produced using any medium or combination of mediums such as graphite pencil, charcoal, pen, ink and/or paint. For the majority of applicants, it is highly advantageous to demonstrate the power to notice something in existent life and draw it accurately. It is recommended that observational drawing (or painting) from outset-hand sources form a substantial part of your portfolio.

The aim is that y'all:

• 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 fashion, rather than in a mechanical manner (i.due east. not a laborious copy of a photograph – drawings from photographs are specifically discouraged). This might involve more creative, expressive, gestural mark-making or the addition of non-realistic elements, textures, materials. In other words, communicate a strong sense of realism, but in a way that likewise capture an essence of the field of study, rather than an verbal, rigid copy of a scene. It can help to think well-nigh ideas and meanings backside a drawing – selecting a bailiwick that holds pregnant or relevance for you, rather than but 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 university or college portfolio like this:

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

Achieved drawings are in a higher place all else, the heart of a successful portfolio when applying at the undergraduate level. You might be a wizard in digital media, but none of that will affair if you lot accept poor drawings.

Szivesen, a portfolio reviewer, explains:

Most schools emphasize drawing from direct ascertainment equally their primary basis for the portfolio, no matter what aspect of art you want to study. That'due south because basic cartoon skills are fundamental and because drawing is a little more likely to be a uniform measure out than other areas of fine art and design.

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

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

It is worth remembering that you don't need to attend a formal life drawing class to complete observational figure drawing (although attending such a class can exist an fantabulous experience for artists and fine art students and is highly recommended if available). The drawings beneath past Curelea Loana Andreea (part of a academy Foundation grade application) show captivating examples of observational effigy drawings that could take place in a home or classroom setting:

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

Observational portraits in a university Foundation portfolio by Emma Hooper:

It is important to recall likewise that observational drawing skill is often evident throughout your portfolio – even in works that are 'non-representational' and/or more artistic and interpretative. In the works above, for example, we tin can see cute observation of human class and attention to the way light hits a face.

b) Explore a range of subject affair – brand fine art nearly (and of) lots of interesting things
If y'all are wondering what you should draw: the possibilities are limitless. You may, for instance, draw a mural, still life, portrait, beast, human figure, interior or exterior environment, easily and feet, or any other interesting everyday object – focusing, perhaps, on subject matter that is relevant for your degree (see more about tailoring your awarding to your item focus surface area below) and, more than chiefly, subject thing that has some meaning and relevance to you. Yous should try and avoid 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 College of Art and Blueprint, suggests:

…if yous're not sure what to draw, depict the things in your room. Depict your hands, draw your feet, draw your domestic dog. That's perfectly fine. Endeavor not to get into whatsoever clichés or whatever traps of drawing all the same thing. We don't desire to run across a sketchbook full of horses. We don't want to see a sketchbook full of just cartoons or anime. Show that y'all are looking at real life; that you're looking at unlike subject matter…

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

Please do not copy directly from some other artist, or include such things every bit anime, tattoo designs, dragons, unicorns, etc.

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

Do not copy your piece of work from photographs or other sources. This means no fan fine art, no anime, no manga, nothing from some other artist's work. Admissions officers accept 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 skilful to have fan art in any portfolio. Past fan art, I hateful drawings of celebrities and other characters that are not your own. That's basically the kiss of death, and volition immediately cause people to see you every bit nothing more than a hobbyist.

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

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

Observational drawings completed equally role of art school application portfolios.

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

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

Your fine art portfolio should show a diverse 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 control, apply and dispense mediums in a skilful, appropriate and intentional way. Someone who is able to create acrylic paintings, sculptures, prints and pencil drawings, for example, is infinitely more flexible than someone who is only able to sketch but with a pencil. The sometime applicant demonstrates growth, diversity and a breadth of skill, too as an interest in learning new things. The latter may be a 'one trick pony'.

Recommendations:

• Choose a range of mediums that highlight your artistic strengths. Utilize moisture and dry mediums (graphite, charcoal, ink, pastel, acrylic, watercolour, oil, ceramics, moving-picture show etc and other mixed mediums) and paint / depict upon a range of different surfaces (run into here for cracking ideas nigh things to describe or paint on if you are looking for new ideas), merely don't include weaker work, just for the sake of roofing a greater range of mediums.

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

• Experiment with a variety of tools, techniques, processes and fine art forms. Unless otherwise specified, an application portfolio may include drawings, paintings, photography, digital media, blueprint, three-dimensional work, web blueprint, animation, video and near any other type of artwork. This does not mean you should endeavour to include every different technique or art form possible (this would create a scattered and incohesive portfolio) simply that you lot 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 past Kisa Sky Shiga, completed as part of a portfolio grooming grade at Ashcan Studio of Art:

A wide range of mediums are shown in these 3 works by Kisa Sky Shiga, whose portfolio was accustomed by RISD (Wearing apparel Design, 4 year Scholarship), Parsons (Manner Design, four twelvemonth Scholarship), Pratt (Fashion Design, four year scholarship) and FIT: Fashion Found of Technology (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 out indicate printmaking – providing evidence of a broad range of skills and a commitment 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 academy Foundation application portfolio by Ayse Kipri:

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

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

All work – even observational drawings – should show that you understand how to etch an prototype well, arranging visual elements such as line, shape, tone, texture, colour, form and colour in an pleasing mode. Compositions should exist 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 (run into our Art student's limerick guide (coming soon) which explains more almost how the formal visual organization of artwork. Think nearly the shadows, spaces and surfaces in and effectually objects. Recollect carefully about cropping of images and positions of items within each piece of work.

• Select and apply appropriate colours, making sure that if multiple works are bundled on ane folio, the colours work well together likewise (more than on this in the portfolio presentation section beneath)

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

f) Include process / development work if permitted

Some art schools – particularly in the US – require that every slice in your application be a finished, realised work. Others – especially those in the United kingdom and NZ – honey to see process, development or sketchbook piece of work. If an art or design school specifically states that this material is permitted, this is an excellent opportunity to flaunt your skills, commitment and depth of cognition. The inquiry and processes undertaken to develop your work are often equally important equally the last work itself and allow the selection panel to understand your piece of work in context and see how it has been initiated and adult. Procedure and development work helps colleges and universities to empathize how you think (the ideas and meanings behind pieces, for example) and encounter that you are able to take an idea from concept and develop it through to a last resolution. It provides testify that you are able to analyse / experiment / explore and trial different outcomes and brand sound critical judgments.

We desire to see how you generate and develop ideas from your visual enquiry. It is important that nosotros see how they progress from the starting point right through to the conclusion of your ideas / project. – Grays School of Art, Scotland.

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

Evolution work might include sketchbook or workbook pages that show:

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

• Investigations into mediums, materials and techniques and technologies

• Development of concepts, compositions or details

• Written analysis aslope visual work and note discussing ideas behind your piece of work

• Show of links to the historical, gimmicky and/or social context in which works have been fabricated – i.e. connections to artists and real world issues

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

A university Foundation application by Lola:

The sketchbook pages in this portfolio show the development process behind the finished portrait bottom correct, making it articulate that the project has original showtime-hand sources and a strong personal connexion.

A academy Foundation application by A Level Fine art pupil Heather Meredith:

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

A academy Foundation awarding portfolio by Violet Volchok, who was offered a identify on courses at Kingston and Ravensbourne, Britain:

Part of an AS Art exam project, these images combine excellent technical skill with captivating and hitting compositions. This sequence of work shows initial creative person analysis, original photography and composition evolution leading towards final pieces. Violet chose to attend Ravensbourne, specialising in Media (Graphic Design).

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

For more than tips about producing smashing process work, you might detect 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 non permitted as part of the portfolio itself, information technology is unremarkably advisable to bring this to the interview.

1000) Communicate artistic ideas: be original

Information technology is important to remember that artistic skill must be accompanied by inventiveness, original ideas and some form of visual marvel. In other words, technical skill is no utilize if yous are unable to think of how to put this to use in a unique, interesting fashion. Someone who is able to generate original and captivating ideas that rip into your heart and soul is far more than highly-seasoned than someone who produces slow, predictable, yet technically excellent artwork. Although skill is an excellent nugget – and a certain level is necessary – applicants to colleges and universities and art schools should not aim to be glorified 'photocopiers', only rather the creators of heady, unexpected visual outcomes. To achieve this within your portfolio, information technology may help to:

• Exist experimental – try unlike things and push techniques, materials and technology in innovative and unexpected ways

• Brand art almost something (visually communicate ideas) rather than simply laboriously describe a scene – demonstrate your intellectual potential.

• Be yourself – reveal your personality and interests. Never submit art that is an imitation of someone else'due south. Aim for artwork that is new, fresh and most something that matters to yous. Don't replicate whatsoever of the portfolios you see on this page or elsewhere. Your portfolio should be private to you. Let your portfolio reverberate your strengths, interests and experiences and correspond who you are.

On the whole, greater accent is put on prove of your visual curiosity, thought generation and exploration, and your free energy, engagement and contextual awareness, than on high level technical skills and stop. – Edinburgh Higher of Art, Scotland

…[A proficient 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 project to demonstrate their invention and creativity. Work that reflects an applicant'southward own enthusiasms, idea processes and ideas is always of interest to the selectors. – University of Dundee, Scotland

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

A portfolio assignment by Amelia Eaton:

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

A Fine Art portfolio by 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 Art.

A university Foundation application by Anna Clow:

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

A Fashion Blueprint portfolio by Halim Ki, completed during a class at Ashcan Studio of Fine art:

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

Some dandy tips are independent in this video past the University of the Arts London about the importance of ideas, enthusiasm and inventiveness – providing some first-class thoughts, specially for those who might not accept gained a potent Art teaching at high school:

h) Communicate passion, delivery and enthusiasm

Universities want people who volition represent their schoolhouse well – who will go on to exercise bully things that will reflect positively upon their place of study. They want passionate, keen students who will cope with the workload and who intend to actually proceed and make use of their degree. This means that yous must convey a sense of passion, commitment and enthusiasm within the portfolio (as well as during the interview – more on the art school interview before long). To do 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 exterior of the classroom. This helps to requite an indication of your current involvement and interest in the arts.

During the procedure of reviewing portfolios, the Ruskin staff e'er look for work that goes across the mere fulfilment of School curricula. We search for highly motivated activity, over and in a higher place any projection-based work, and for a breadth of engagement, a sense of purpose and a strength of opinion in the way the portfolio is edited. Of import for the states is to be 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 detail formula or a specific style, only in signs of free energy, ambition, critical reflection and creativity. – Ruskin School of Art, United Kingdom

Personal art is the work done exterior of a classroom situation and reflects the artists' unique interests in use of materials, field of study affair and concept. Work can be completed in whatever media including (but not limited to) drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, digital/figurer art, film/video, ceramics, sculpture, blitheness and performance art. – Kavin Cadet, School of Arts and Architecture at the Academy of California Los Angeles, United States

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

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

Self-initiated projects (artwork created contained of classroom assignments/exercises) are especially encouraged. – UCLA Department of Art, Usa

Ultimately, it'south all about passion and ideas, and so if you include the kinds of things that you're well-nigh excited nearly, that you're most proud of, then chances are your portfolio submission will brand a strong impression. – Ringling College of Art and Pattern, United states

i) Tailor your awarding to suit your degree

Portfolio guidelines for different areas of Fine art and Design are often similar, but it tin exist wise to alter your portfolio and so that it is advisable for the degree you are applying for. Rather than creating a completely different set up of images for each specialisation or major, however, a submission tin exist tweaked slightly, 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 case, digital based degrees may like to run across evidence of technological awareness and capability and the ability to work with a range of digital platforms, aslope traditional non-digital techniques. This might include time-based interactive work (picture, animation, video, website design).

The post-obit list gives some guidance about the sort of material that maybe helpful for specific areas, in addition to the items discussed to a higher place, such as observational drawing. Every bit with all recommendations in this commodity, you should refer to the academy or higher y'all are applying to for precise requirements.

Graphic Pattern Portfolios:

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

A university Foundation application portfolio by Jacob Wise:

This portfolio shows an obvious strength in graphic pattern. Along with prove of stiff observational drawing skill, the work is supplemented by original posters that bear witness a good understanding of limerick – with competent organisation of line, color, infinite, text and grade. "The Bauhaus movement, Russian constructivism and the Swiss international graphic style are a source of massive inspiration for my piece of work with the utilization of sharp 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 well-nigh always notthe instance (as with all other recommendations made in this commodity, you lot should check the requirements of the particular grade you are applying for). Admissions staff typically wish to encounter testify of creativity with a range of media and stiff observational drawing skill (equally described in the starting time part of this article), including the ability to stand for space, perspective and 3D form. This can exist achieved through exploration of completely unrelated subject area matter, such as withal life, landscapes and human form. If you have a choice, notwithstanding, drawing buildings, manmade structures, interior/outside spaces, furniture and/or mechanical parts and so on, may help to demonstrate an interest in architectural pattern.
• Architecture schools normally practise Non require formal technical drawings (instrumental or reckoner generated plans / orthographic projections etc) and if these are accepted as part of the application portfolio, they are often limited in quantity, and then that you include a sufficient range of paw-generated work. You are notexpected to empathize how to design a building – this is what yous larn upon the course.
• Iii-dimensional sculptures, installations, casts and/or model constructions can be keen to include, as these communicate spatial awareness and an interest in working with 3D grade. These might include conceptual models made from cardboard, paper, wire, wood and other constitute materials, for example.
• Artwork in a wide range of mediums (printmaking / photography etc) are typically accepted.
• Note: Some universities and compages schools specifically request that the portfolio is nonfilled with Blueprint Applied science work, preferring to run into work that has been produced equally role of high school Fine art courses. (Although some high school Design Technology courses provide first-class grooming for architectural degrees, Art courses typically offer a stronger grounding in observational drawing and composition).

Examples of observational drawings submitted every bit function 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 application portfolio past Irence Grand, completed while studying at Ashcan Studio of Art:

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

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

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

Fashion Design Portfolios

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

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

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

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

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

Game Fine art Portfolios:

• Storyboards
• Original character designs

Product Design Portfolios:

• Subjects like product design oft require strong applied, analytical and advice skills, as well as the technical and conceptual ideas and cocky-motivation required past other art-related degrees. This means that testify of working with materials and in both second and 3D can be beneficial.

Film School Portfolios:
Filmmaking may combine many different skills including performing arts, music, literature and writing. As a result, portfolio requirements may be 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 short equally admissions staff will non have time to view long reels of footage, and/or captured as a storyboard with screenshots). These may be submitted on DVD or flash drives or equally URL links to YouTube, Vimeo or embedded on a personal website or blog (see why Art students should take their ain website and how to make i)
• Manner, costume or set design
• Storyboards
• Website design and multimedia work
• Show of involvement in theatre or performing arts
• Screenplays and artistic writing may also be advisable

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

One time you lot have planned what you volition include in your portfolio, yous should gear up aside a menstruation of time to produce this. If you have not taken high school Fine art classes, preparing a folio volition have 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, so that you can carefully edit and remove the weaker pieces). See if your high school Fine art teacher can help (even if you lot don't take Art). An experienced teacher will ofttimes accept a long history of helping / observing students apply and may have a proficient knowledge of what helped successful candidates in the past. If your own art teacher is non experienced with helping students use to academy – or you experience y'all demand more help preparing your portfolio – find out if there are local courses or workshops that address how to make a portfolio for art school. Portfolio training classes are oft run past the universities / colleges themselves. These may be relatively inexpensive weekend workshops or be yearlong, such every bit Foundation or Art portfolio courses. Making a portfolio can feel less daunting when you produce work with a class of others and seeing others produce work tin can exist motivating and inspirational.

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

The most important particular of preparing your portfolio for higher admissions is to remember to give yourself plenty of time and take fun with it. It is almost impossible to create quality work if you are nervous and nether a time constraint. Don't look until the concluding minute, and make enough work so you lot can edit together the all-time portfolio for each school you program to apply to. – Kavin Buck, School of Arts and Architecture at the University of California Los Angeles, The states

When it says put together a portfolio of 12 pieces, it doesn't necessarily mean just brand 12 pieces. It'due south easier to just make, make and make and then narrow it down to 12 pieces. Non only will you have more to choose from, an admissions counselor during a portfolio review can assist you lot decide what to submit for a final application. And then don't limit yourself, simply create! Katie, Admissions Counsellor, Parsons, Usa

A University Foundation application portfolio by Nina Cavaviuti:

This quote from Nina illustrates the challenge in preparing a portfolio exterior of an Fine art class: "I accept had to gear up a portfolio effectually a fulltime degree course and a weekend job. Not being in a school environment where you are constantly supervised has meant I have had to piece of work independently, I accept learnt to take advantage of my surroundings and to utilise fourth dimension finer, such as using daily travel as an opportunity to create observational drawings and attending regular life drawing classes to improve my technical drawing skills."

6. Select and Review Piece of work

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

This excellent video by Paul Stanford, Caput of Department of the Foundation Grade in Fine art and Design at Kingston Academy, shows the evaluation of an average student portfolio to be offered a place. It highlights the importance of editing a portfolio advisedly and eliminating weaker work, also every bit catastrophe a portfolio well, so that the last impression is a practiced i.

Towards the centre of the portfolio, Paul begins to detect technical deficiencies – 'a bit of a deadening drawing, yous might say' – 'information technology's non a cracking life drawing, is it?' – a reminder that students should only submit work that plays to their strengths. The student'southward skill set up as a whole and estimated potential is evaluated, with observational drawing skill just one part of this equation.

Almost people get besides close to their own piece of work and cannot run into it objectively. Bring an unbiased person (not friends or family unit) to help with your concluding portfolio selection, ideally someone who has a background in art or pattern. When selecting work, aim for quality over quantity, avoid repetition and include variety of subject thing, skill and medium.

Read the school'due south suggestions for portfolio submission advisedly. Nearly will say "10 to 20 pieces" and I tin tell you lot that more is often not better. If y'all have x really strong works to submit, and so the quality level noticeably drops, better to testify ten uniformly good works than a whole range. – Bearding respond on Yahoo

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

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

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

Some institutions offer the opportunity to have your portfolio reviewed before submission (a 'preliminary portfolio review'). 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 you should arrive early to ensure that you are able to speak to the schools of your first choice.

At this event, caryatid yourself for harsh words. It'south not uncommon for students to be told at National Portfolio Day that they essentially take to commencement over from scratch considering their portfolio is headed in the incorrect direction. Reviewers will exist candid and direct nigh the quality and type of work that their school is looking for, and then don't be discouraged if you get a tough critique. Rather, be glad that you got the feedback you needed to get yourself headed in the right direction. – Clara Lieu, Rhode Island Schoolhouse of Blueprint, United States

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

What Should be In a Portfolio? This video from the University of Arts London explains how a proficient portfolio should have a sense of journey or 'story unfolding'. It is a good video that helps you lot understand which pieces to select. It is a good reminder to prove a range of artistic skills and techniques and well equally communicating your personality, interests and a sense of your own experiences.

vii. Organise, photograph and nowadays your art portfolio

Presentation of your portfolio is very important. The organization and arrangement of your portfolio has a direct impact upon the fashion the work is perceived. A good layout helps to communicate an eye for composition, a professional approach, shows your delivery and desire to attend a university 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, then get-go impressions count.

This video about preparing a portfolio by University of the Arts London contains some great reminders about presenting a portfolio. In particular, they propose that you should 'put nothing in your portfolio that you can't talk well-nigh' and organise it so that information technology is easy to navigate. It besides explains that while a portfolio should not be crammed total of everything a student has produced, information technology should non be over-edited: 'pared downwards so much that we tin't actually see footling glimpse of potential'.

Carefully photo work for digital submissions and any piece of work that is three-dimensional/sculptural or that exceeds size specifications for hardcopy submissions (see our guide to photographing art like a pro – coming soon). Reread portfolio presentation requirements advisedly to make certain that y'all present exactly what is required by the admissions departments of each of the schools that you are applying to (especially size and weight restrictions).

Hither are some general portfolio presentation tips:

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

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

From my own experience, I discover A3 is the most ideal (both in pedagogy and beyond). A3 marks the perfect remainder because y'all can sufficiently display your artwork effectively, while making it easier to transport. – Recent UK fine art school bidder from the StudentRoom.

Cull a flat type of art portfolio case or folder that opens and close hands, while protecting work so that it doesn't get creased. (Avert rolling work up, as it will be hard to get it to prevarication apartment). The portfolio instance may be a spine-mounted leather fine art portfolio (unremarkably found in all good art retailers – encounter examples on Amazon) or a clear non-reflective articulate file folder, for example. Information technology doesn't need to be overly expensive: avert extravagant folders and cull one that is simple, make 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 Art at Cornwall College. "Simple mounts and a tidy end are fine." – The Contained

Accept all sheets securely bound in such a way every bit to allow all sheets to lie flat when the portfolio is open. Exist able to exist easily and safely handled. There should be no exposed metal binders, staples or similar fittings. Sheet metallic or other heavy or precipitous materials should not be used for portfolio covers. – Schoolhouse of Compages, University of Auckland, New Zealand

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

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

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

Start and end with a swell piece of work, and then that yous create a peachy initial and final impression. Space other smashing work evenly throughout your portfolio (fugitive a clump of weaker work). Call back about group like work together, by medium, subject or style – perhaps as a serial of projects – or chronologically. An assessor must be able to 'understand' your portfolio and run into any connections between pieces (for example, show the creative journey between evolution work/sketchbook pages and final outcomes). Aim to make information technology appear coherent, rather than a whole lot of scattered, disconnected pieces.

Narrative is an important 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 ability in the shortest amount of fourth dimension. – The Guardian.

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

Add greater contrast, crop tighter to make more dramatic compositions. Add a fiddling more intense color. Y'all'd be surprised how much stronger your piece of work can look with just a few careful additions. – Karen Kesteloot, a portfolio evolution jitney 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 piece of work. Where a certain number of sheets are asked for, it may be possible to mount smaller works onto a single sheet. If you want to submit different angles of one slice of work, it is usually best to digitally submit these on one canvass, or as one image. Read the guidelines of the item university or college you lot wish to apply to advisedly to find out what is expected.

In that location is no virtue in quantity alone and candidates should not include multiple colour variations of prints, for example. Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland

Exercise non include particular photos of work in your portfolio unless yous consider them admittedly necessary. Under no circumstance should more than two detail shots be included. – Yale School of Art

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

• Make sure work is thoroughly dry out and that pages will non stick together
• Make sure 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 not direct facing other artworks in the portfolio. Existing smudges tin 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 big enough to run across details clearly
• Don't mount things with distracting borders (it is not usually necessary to mount or mat your work); faming work is unnecessary. Let the work stand up on its own. A clean, professional and minimal way is unremarkably platonic, as 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 you are applying to is able to view work digital fabric in detail format (video / CD etc). Check advisedly what type of new media presentations they accept and back-trail this with a printed hardcopy version (screenshots etc) and a note nearly the programmes used, in instance difficulties arise.
• Label all digital files sensibly, such as firstname-lastname-awarding.pdf rather than 4690243fxz.pdf
• Ensure images reverberate the true 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 unremarkably 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 person backdrop to your application (see how to create your own website).
• As with physical submissions, remember carefully almost the organisation and grouping of images.
• Relieve a tape of all digital submissions every bit a backup!

f) Label piece of work clearly only unobtrusively

• Utilise small, clear writing to characterization work in a way that doesn't detract from the artwork. If labelling guidelines are non given (sometimes a split sheet containing details of each image is required), label work in the corner or on the contrary with the title, mediums, dimensions, dates and boosted info as required. Avoid decorative font and excessively large headings.
• Proof for spelling errors and inaccuracies (become someone else to check this as well). Make sure all links to digital moving images work.

Want more than aid with applying to Fine art school?

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

Amiria has been an Fine art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the course design and assessment of student work in 2 loftier-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Available of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Compages (First Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Instruction. 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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