Beginner Portfolios

Polenth · May 20, 2013

I'm hoping to put together a basic portfolio over the next couple of years. The sort that might be taken to an interview for an early art course, rather than a professional level one. But I haven't ever seen one, as no one really puts those online. I've seen general advice like including a range of stuff, but that's pretty woolly.

So I'm curious what people who went the education route put in their first portfolios. What size pictures? How many? What subjects and media? Anything like that.

Alessandra Kelley · May 21, 2013

I went to art school years and years ago. The tech has changed a bit, but they still seem interested mostly in seeing a prospective student's interests and efforts.

My portfolio was a slide sheet of works and some detail shots, twenty actual physical slides with silver tape over them to hide the photo backgrounds.

These days one would want good jpeg files.

It helps to look up art schools' portfolio requirements. Or it would if they had clear, well designed, readable websites. Yeesh (she said after spending awhile looking them up). Most of them have had remarkably awful websites, very artistic, but opaque and uninformative.

These are the current terms at several reputable places, including the school I went to, which has nice, clear requirements:

The following are portfolio requirements for admission to each undergraduate program. Please note: **** discourages work that is copied or rendered directly from photographs, magazines, or other artists' works. Also, if any work in the portfolio is the result of collaboration, please include the names and roles of those who participated in the completion of the piece.

Submit 10–15 pieces of your best and most recent work. We will review your portfolio and application materials for merit scholarship once you have been admitted to ****.

When compiling a portfolio, you may concentrate your work in a single media or show work in a breadth of media. The portfolio may include drawings, prints, photographs, paintings, film, video, audio recordings, sculpture, ceramics, fashion designs, graphic design, furniture, objects, architectural designs, websites, video games, sketchbooks, scripts, storyboards, screenplays, zines, or any combination of the above.

Freshman applicants should submit a portfolio of 8 to 12 pieces. Portfolios can include drawings, paintings, photographs, digital media, design, three-dimensional work, web design, animation, video, and other digital media. Transfer applicants should submit a portfolio of 8 to 12 pieces in the area of interest.

Submit approximately 20 images representative of your most recent work. The faculty is interested in what motivates or inspires each individual applicant, and looks for evidence of this in both the portfolio and the artist statement.

BFA applicants

Submit examples of personal work, not class assignments. We want to know what your interests are and how you represent them in your practice. Your work can be in any medium; we are interested in a variety of media integrations.

Rachel Udin · May 21, 2013

I know for my area, the things you need are:
(keep in mind this may be incomplete)

3 types of drawing: Structure, gesture, and contour drawings.
A self portrait. (Which was also required.)
something that shows the ability to do tonality.
Also nudes/figure drawing.
And then the others are your concentration in the field. (Such as photographs, etc). I think... not so sure about this one.

If you can show a range (of what you can do) and a solid style, I think you get a higher chance... But that's more for interviews. Often clients are literal, so showing them that you do say... cats may may them think you can't draw, say a dog or a sofa... So have a range.

Polenth · May 21, 2013

The level I'm looking at isn't going to be art school or specialised. But it sounds like around 15 pieces would cover most things.

thebloodfiend · May 21, 2013

Each semester, I'm required to put together a portfolio. I've made four so far, with only two of them actually looking professional.

I put everything in there, from drawings, to photography, to models, to digital work, to hand drafted stuff. About 20-30 pages.

Size was 8"x8" for both, leaving .5" for binding.

You should start strong and end strong. Some people flip to the back, expecting the artist to put their worst work there. Don't do that. The work should speak for itself.

If you're interested, I can send you a PM with a link to my latest portfolio. I work in photoshop and indesign, fyi. Printed at kinkos this time b/c I was short on money. Kind of sucked, but what can you do when arch school drains your wallet?

Polenth · May 22, 2013

Links are welcome. I think I have a basic plan. As there doesn't seem to be a standard size, I'll likely go for A2, as that's a size that fits easily on my easel. That'd give an option between showing the originals and showing photos, depending what is asked for.

The gesture drawings Rachel mentioned sound interesting. It'd be different from anything else I do, so that's worth a try.

Gale Haut · May 22, 2013

You should post a sample of your work when you're done. I enjoy looking at your stuff, Polenth.

Polenth · May 22, 2013

Gale Haut said:
You should post a sample of your work when you're done. I enjoy looking at your stuff, Polenth.

Thank you! I'll probably have some stuff on my website after next week, as the family is going away, so I can start getting photos of things. My website's painfully out-of-date in the art section.

(I've also got a course in mind to apply for, so I'll let people know if I get in. The advice is appreciated, as it's given me some ideas.)

Polenth · Aug 30, 2013

Well, things are moving on. I have an interview next week for A-level art. I haven't taken photos of my work that I'm happy with yet, but that won't impact the interview, as I'll take the originals in. Whether I get in or not, I'll update with what I took in my portfolio once I manage to get decent photos.

Alessandra Kelley · Aug 30, 2013

Good luck!

Gale Haut · Aug 30, 2013

Fingers crossed!

Polenth · Sep 27, 2013

The A-level course has now begun, so I'm officially an artist or something. I took six pictures when I went for the interview.

- Charcoal still life
- Chalk pastel human
- Chalk pastel animal (the original of the picture I used for my collection cover)
- Acrylic still life
- Acrylic abstract/plants
- Animal collage (an octopus from old book pages)

I took my sketchbook too, but I didn't need to show it.

Though I'll note it was a course aimed at older students, so they generally expect the art and experience to be more variable. Not that I'm saying I'm terrible, but it wasn't the same level of competition and art GSCE wasn't required.

I found this site useful, as it deals with a lot of stuff for the GSCE/A-level range (or you can just look at the pictures): http://www.studentartguide.com/

Beginner Portfolios

Polenth

Mushroom

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

Rachel Udin

Polenth

Mushroom

thebloodfiend

Cory

Polenth

Mushroom

Gale Haut

waxing digital artistic

Polenth

Mushroom

Polenth

Mushroom

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

Gale Haut

waxing digital artistic

Polenth

Mushroom