8 STEPS TO BUILDING A KILLER ART SCHOOL PORTFOLIO
The tradition of art in India has a vibrant history with different cultures making their contributions over the years. In recent decades, many young individuals have decided to invest their future in the field of design studies, whether through painting, sculpting, graphic design, photography, fashion design, and so on. The most important part of an application to art colleges is the portfolio.
What is a Portfolio?
Your portfolio will be a collection of pieces that demonstrates your talent, ability, vision, thinking and experience. A good portfolio is an adequate glimpse into the artist’s personality as well as their work ethic – a visual diary that can capably communicate his or her ideas manifested in creations that require a culmination of creativity, lucidity, and innovation. On a holistic level, it voices your professional aspirations as an artist or a designer.
Portfolios can be built according to your area of interest
Fine Arts
Ideally, a fine arts portfolio should include a minimum of twelve pieces and a maximum of twenty. These can include images of the students’ drawings, paintings, prints, sculptures, collages, and artwork in a range of other mediums.
A portfolio that is well-balanced should demonstrate both the students’ technical skills as well as their ability to come up with innovative conceptual ideas.
It is also essential that a fine art portfolio should have some pieces that show the artistic process and complement the finished piece.
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Design
Similar to fine arts portfolios, design portfolios should also include about 12-20 images. A comprehensive design portfolio should include 2D and 3D artwork, graphic design samples, typography, and/or web or interactive media work, as well as other materials the students may have worked on, such as drawings, sketchbook pages, prints, paintings, photographs, sculpture or collages.
They can display both print or on-screen work, including single-image, sequence-based or time-lapse. Again, students should make it a point to highlight their abilities in ideation as well as technical expertise. For design portfolios, especially, it is important that evaluators get a clear demonstration of how you think and communicate your ideas though a visual platform.
Architecture
Students coming in for architecture often hold the assumption that their portfolio must be filled with drawings of buildings or famous architectural design. As our years of experience would show, that is in fact not true. This myth forgoes the reality that interviewers typically wish to see, and even highly consider, evidence of creativity and versatility in terms of the subjects a student decides to render in their observational drawings. Criteria that are most important include spatial symmetry, use of perspective and ability to show dimensions in their study.
3D works should include sculptures, installations, casts, and model constructions. Aside from giving evidence of spatial awareness, these pieces can also assure evaluators that you have an interest in working with 3D forms. To have an edge over competitors, architecture students should aim towards including artwork in a wide range of mediums.
That being said, building the perfect portfolio is definitely not a cake-walk! It takes meticulous effort and planning – a process that can stretch out over months, and even years. Here are some steps you should consider before you get started-
- Early bird catches the worm!
The first question on everyone’s mind would be, “When should I start working on my portfolio?” The answer is as soon as possible! From a sketchbook with a series of observational sketches to the pieces you created for a decoration board at school, anything you have worked on over the years can be a part of your portfolio. Many art students take at least a year to start building their portfolio. However, the components for it can be found in your previous body of work as well. So, the first step is to makes sure that you have kept all of your pieces in mint condition. You never know which one you might just need to add the perfect touch to your final portfolio
2. Know the schools you are applying to
Next up is deciding where you are interested in applying! You could either choose to study in well-reputed art schools abroad, or maybe even have your heart set on a top art and design institute right here in India? No matter what you decide while considering these options, make sure to apply to a number of different schools – including your dream school as well as some safety options in case you are not accepted into your first choice. After you have made a list of art schools that you would like to attend, look for their admissions criteria (through official websites or your education counselor). Each one of them will have different portfolio requirements and it is important that you are ready for every curveball that may come your way.
3. Keep it original
Aside from the fact that plagiarism is a complete no-no, you should also keep in mind that even art that is ‘inspired’ by artist’s work should carry a semblance of originality. Your artwork should be a reflection of your interests and talents. Focus on your areas of expertise which will eventually become the key to convincing art schools that they should choose you over other applicants. The production of original artwork is a stellar means of standing out from heaps of portfolios universities receive. Choose a common subject our theme, one that you are truly passionate about, and build your portfolio around it. This way, you will grab the evaluator’s attention and also leave a mark on their memory.
4.Don’t be afraid to spice it up
One mistake students often make is that they end up playing it too safe. A portfolio without experimentation or challenge does not pique the interest of evaluators. You may be highly skilled in the technicalities of sketching and drawing, however, if there is no attempt at trying something new there is not much in your portfolio that is going to stand out or make a lasting impression. Let go of your inhibitions and bring that “WOW” factor. Make use of unusual media, avant garde designs and patterns, ambitious color palettes and unique engineering. Think of it as your one chance to make it or break it, show your determination on the canvas!
5. Let your core skills shine!
As much as it is encouraged that students make daring choices for their portfolio, evaluators still need to take into account their core skills. They will be looking into how you form shapes, give them dimension and incorporate highlights and shadows. For students of architecture, perfection in terms of lines and symmetry are of the utmost importance. Observational drawings are a great way showcasing these skills as it puts focus on your ability to interpret lived-in spaces and your attention to detail. Professional reviewers can often tell the difference between drawing from a photograph or real life. So be sure to get out and about for some inspiration.
6. Your focus should be on the process.
Miley Cyrus once sang about how the climb is more important than the time it took to get there or even the final destination. We would like to agree with her, especially when it comes to curating a stellar portfolio. Process pieces are like windows to your mind. It is a good idea to include some of these, especially for your more ambitious work. Art institutions like Parsons and NID often focus on the process as it helps them learn about the candidate’s potential for conceptualization and innovation. Where you end up in the context of where you started, can reveal a lot about to you as well as your work ethic – things that art schools will be interested in seeing!
7. Get your portfolio reviewed
Once you have compiled at least 10-12 of your original pieces and assembled them in a portfolio, it is time to get the pieces reviewed from a trusted source. Countries like the USA organize events such as the National Portfolio Day making it easier for students to get their work critiqued by experts. India Portfolio Day was launched in 2016, allotting centers in major cities where prospective candidates of national art and design institutes can hand in their portfolio. While positive feedback can give a boost to your confidence, you should also be prepared for some harsh albeit honest judgment. Criticism should be seen as a tool for improvement rather than a reason for giving up. Many students go for a second and third review, returning with better comments from each session. This takes us back to our very first point of starting early – it leaves a much needed scope for improvement..
8.Think about the big picture!
In the duration of this arduous process, there is a chance that you may feel that your art is getting restricted to the specific requirements of a prospective college; or criticism that you have been consulting along the way. If you find yourself in such a headspace and feel like your creativity is being entrenched upon, take some time off to think about why you started making art in the first place. There are many ways to amalgamate your passion with the criteria of different admission requirements, but first confirm why you want to study art at the university level before diving head-first into the application process.
In 2019, going to an art school is becoming a more popular option among high school aspirants. With increasing globalization, it seems studying art is a more achievable dream than ever before. At the same time, the field has become more competitive and having a good sense of why art matters to, and communicating that through your portfolio can go a long way. It shows your commitment, and informs the admissions board that you have something special to bring to the table.