CREATIVE OUTLOOK: THE PORTFOLIO

Preparing Your Artwork for Admission to a Visual Arts College

by Sheri McKenzie, Vice President for Enrollment Services, California College of the Arts

Are you are considering applying to a visual arts college? As you begin to prepare for the application process, you will discover that the portfolio requirement is an important part of your application. Here is what you need to know to successfully present your creative work.

WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO?

A portfolio is a collection of your best and most recent artwork that highlights your art experience. No matter how long you have been creating work, if you have a collection of your own art, then you have enough for a portfolio. The portfolio is simply a visual archive of your artistic accomplishments that demonstrates your ability and potential as an artist. Every visual arts college has its own specific portfolio requirements. You should research the portfolio requirements for each school to which you are planning to apply. Generally, colleges expect to see 10 to 20 examples of your work.

HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR PORTFOLIO

• Start early. The more time you allow yourself to create, the more work you will have to choose from when preparing your portfolio. Ultimately the quality of work is more important than quantity.

• Challenge yourself. Take advantage of resources available at your school, in your community and on your own time. Supplement your high school art experience with outside opportunities. Challenge yourself to take advanced/AP art as well as art history classes. If your school doesn’t offer art classes, consider your local community colleges and community center workshops.

• Maximize your summers. Summer programs are a great way to build your portfolio. Many art colleges offer pre-college programs that provide an opportunity for high school art students to study art or design while earning college credits. These programs enable participants to develop strong portfolio pieces for college admission. Most summer programs offer housing and scholarship opportunities.

• Include observational drawings. Most art colleges prefer that the majority of drawings submitted in the portfolio be derived from direct observation, which means drawing or painting from still life, figure models or landscape. Many colleges prefer observational drawings rather than drawings from photographs or from your imagination (such as fantasy characters or anime). If you work in another medium (such as photography or video), be sure to include examples of your best work.

• Explore ideas in your work. Strong portfolios typically include work that demonstrates solid technical skills and reflects thoughts and concepts. Include work that speaks to your personal experiences, your culture, your feelings and so on.

GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR ARTWORK

• Get outside opinions of your artwork before the year in which you plan to apply. It is important to show your work to others and to ask for critiques with enough time to benefit from the feedback. This will help you be aware of your progress as well as areas that may need further development. Teachers, other artists, mentors and college representatives can offer this type of informal review.

• Practice discussing your work. Don’t be afraid to talk about your work and what it means to you. Select a couple of pieces to discuss. Think about when and why you created the work, what the work is about and what media - (pen, pencil, paint, clay, video, etc. - were used. Share what you like about the pieces, what can be improved, and which piece is your favorite. This is good practice because when you are in college, you will be expected to talk about your work.

• Meet with college representatives. Admissions counselors meet with students on campus, visit many high schools and community colleges and host special events for prospective students. The college counselor at your high school may have a schedule of upcoming visits by college representatives. Also, be sure to check college Web sites to find out how to make an appointment with an admissions counselor and to check what campus events are scheduled. Counselors will review your artwork during these visits. Your portfolio may even be approved for admission!

• Attend a National Portfolio Day. National Portfolio Day events take place all over the country, and dozens of art colleges participate. At these events prospective students bring their portfolios and meet with admissions representatives from many different schools. They will review your work, offer guidance in the preparation and presentation of your portfolio and provide information about programs of study, admission requirements, scholarships and financial aid. This may be another opportunity to have your portfolio approved for admission on the spot! National Portfolio Day events are free and open to the public. For more information, see www.npda.org

By taking advantage of opportunities to study art, and making time to create, asking for feedback on your work from professionals, and researching college art programs, you’ll establish the foundation for a strong representation of your work. This process will help you to develop a clearer understanding of your experiences, skills, and intentions—serving you as an artist and as a candidate for admission to college art programs.