How to Create a Porfolio Presentation for Art School

Artists at many points of their careers are asked to explain what it is they practise. Sometimes this caption is verbal, or may fifty-fifty be a formal written piece, though well-nigh often you'll be asked to testify a concrete portfolio of your artwork. You may be sending applications to schools, applying for a job, or entering contests and competitions. Brand a big impression with your art portfolio by presenting your creative and technical skills with a drove of artwork to guarantee acceptance.

I should preface, that my art school portfolio was accepted to a bang-up Academy art plan in Canada and the application process, like any, was gruelling.

Actually, of all the art schools I had access to, I put all my eggs in one basket and just practical to one schoolhouse! Luckily, my art portfolio was accepted and I even won the Entrance Award of $1000 which merely went to one art applicant per year! That was a few years ago now, and I've moved a lot since then and then I, unfortunately no longer have my fine art portfolio from that time to share.

Since and then I've had to submit other art portfolios for various art jobs, or freelance projects. I was art teacher at both secondary and University. Every bit as result I've helped prepare my art students for success by giving them great projects that can to be used to create an outstanding fine art portfolio.

Here are a few ways to consider how y'all tin make an impact with a great art portfolio that has the best risk of being accepted.

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What is an art portfolio?

The University of Arts London describes a portfolio as a collection of your work, which shoes how your skills and ideas have developed over a flow of time. Information technology demonstrates your creativity, personality, abilities and delivery, and helps to evaluate your potential.

Creative fields or careers such every bit style design, web blueprint, graphic design, fine art, digital media, require a digital portfolio or a concrete ane as the first footstep when applying.

What should go in my art portfolio?

The organisation you lot're applying to, should outline a set of requirements in the application procedure that each applicant will need to follow or carefully consider. In some cases, art schools may fifty-fifty share older art portfolio examples. Make sure y'all read through everything thoroughly, to get an idea of what they're hoping to encounter evidence of in your work. These might be:

Original Art Pieces

Some colleges/Universities crave you to send original, concrete, hard copies of your art. Make sure y'all scan or accept pictures of your pieces earlier you send your art portfolio!  Sometimes you may non even get your portfolio back, and if you practise it may not be for a long time, so be sure to make a digital and printed copy for yourself beginning. Information technology'due south also good to know what pieces you submitted as a reference for good work, for when you're accustomed. (Yes, when you're accepted). Something I regrettably didn't do with mine.

Non all organisations desire or need your original art, then don't send them if they didn't ask. It's not uncommon for art organisations to ask for your originals because it can reveal a lot about your process and techniques. Information technology's also great if your pieces have a specific texture or sure colours to it that tin can only be realised in person, the type of things that may not be sufficiently represented in digital format.

Don't include pieces that are likewise large to transport! Double check the mailing restrictions and don't go over the maximum.

Ideas & Processes

They may inquire for incomplete or works in progress. Often they'll enquire for some sketchbook pages, or a visual layout of your experimentations and idea process. They just desire to become a sneak superlative into your process for creating art, and insight into how you're able to develop your ideas from concept to reality.

Some Academy art programmes offering students the chance to share their work in an open studio or portfolio day where visitors tin take a look at things they're working on. Wait out for something like this in your local expanse or even your prospective university to get some ideas for building your own body of piece of work.

Should I include digital or printed piece of work in my art portfolio?

Fifty-fifty if your work is primarily digital or online art, you may need still demand to ship hard copies. Find a expert printer shop most you and ask to see the diverse paper qualities they have in stock. I recommend printing on semi-gloss or matte card stock using a light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation printer, or get information technology printed as giclee print. We recommend checking out The PrintSpace for many affordable and loftier quality options.

Whether your portfolio is digital, original, printed or online, it should accept a professional wait and feel. If you are printing photography, then I recommend a semi or loftier gloss impress on photograph paper. Yous desire the paper to exist flexible, but non flimsy, and you lot'll always desire the press to be at the highest quality.

If they ask for a digital version of your pieces, brand certain your paradigm size and pixels are big enough to exist clear and notice out what format your files demand to exist.

You lot may fifty-fifty exist asked to transport your images over on a memory stick, or fifty-fifty projector slides. (Yes, I take been asked to become images converted onto onetime fashion 70's project slides!)

How many pieces should I include in my art portfolio?

If you are asked to show a specific number of pieces, make all of them your best work.

Don't worry too much nigh having 20 pieces in at that place if they asked for ten-20. Having 10 solid pieces that are really awesome is better than having 20 pieces that are mediocre.

Just include your best work

Don't put artwork you're not very proud of. It'southward okay to bear witness pieces that are open for improvements, but in general you should exist proud of your entire collection. Pack information technology with work that'due south representative of the skills y'all have.

Try and await at your art portfolio from their perspective.

Practise you show testify of technical skill? Do yous clearly have an eye for detail? Does your work have a narrative or tell a story? Practice yous testify a broad range of skills, mediums and ideas? Consider these things when you decide what to include.

Read the prompts and assignments

Yous may exist asked to submit works based on a item assignment or outline. Some organisations let you to cull from a selection of multiple assignments. Other times you're free to select whatsoever i of your best pieces.

If you've read their portfolio requirements, and feel that they are a little loose or open for estimation, that's good! Run with information technology and make information technology stand out. Don't get overzealous with it, but have fun making it unique and representative of your personality and artistic fashion.

E'er think to yourself "Am I beingness represented in this? Are my technical and creative skills clearly, and strongly represented in this portfolio?" If not, consider making a few tweaks or changes.

Your portfolio should demonstrate a range of artistic technical skills, only should as well evidence creative ideas, originality, your passion and delivery.

Take creative risks

The organisation you lot're applying to is probable to receive hundreds of portfolios. Make yours stand out past using their art prompt and letting your creativity wing.

For example, if they inquire for a drawing of a manus – don't merely draw a hand. Retrieve about ways y'all can brand that paw interesting. Will the interest show in the positioning of the mitt? The content or context around the hand? What will the style say almost the mitt? The context of this mitt? The narrative being told? Remember outside the box!

To sign or not sign your artwork?

Signing your pieces is always a good thought no matter what format – originals, digital, photographs, sculptures… I prefer to sign everything. Find a detached place on the front to write a small signature or initial. You should always sign and write your name on the dorsum of each piece besides.

It's definitely worth practicing your signature or initials a few times before choosing the right one. Consider making a curt-paw version of your normal signature, or design your initials in an interesting mode to differentiate yourself from someone else that may accept the aforementioned initials.

Keep this signature consistent. Information technology's ok to modify your signature in the future equally your work evolves, but don't make drastic changes too often. Histrion Will Smith has said that he signs autographs differently every x years, then that if he ever sees his autograph on something he knows what decade it was from and what stage he was in. That'south a pretty absurd idea! But if you exercise keep your signature the aforementioned and your artistic manner changes along the style, it will exist easier for people to recognise that it'south your work if you've kept your signature the same.

What mediums should you include?

Drawings & Paintings

Most schools emphasis drawing submissions, because drawing skills are fundamental and tends to be a basic measure of someones observational skills and attention to detail. Paintings usually correspond a persons ability to use calorie-free and colour.

Endeavor using subjects that are normally overlooked or considered mundane. Be original, anything tin can be fabricated into a beautiful piece of work of art. Hither are a few drawing ideas to consider putting in your portfolio. The Cartoon Ideas Book past Frances Stanfield has and so many fantastic ideas too. Remember, stretch your creativity!

• • An observational cartoon or painting.
  • A nude figure
  • A human portrait
  • An animal portrait
  • An object or still life
  • A landscape
  • An interior
  • Something with cloth

Photography & Pattern

Information technology's not necessary for every slice to 'brand a statement', but you do want to be able to visually communicate an idea, rather than only draw a scene. Don't be afraid to experiment. Be innovative with your ideas, explore your materials and push diverse techniques.

Sculptures & Installations (Images)

If you take whatsoever pieces that take already won awards or publications, include them. It shows that your piece was potent enough win and already has groovy recognition by others.

Don't Copy

If you are looking for reference photos, don't utilize Google images. Using some Google images may exist considered as copyright infringement and you really don't want to go involved in that stuff. Just be rubber and exit information technology alone. Use stock complimentary images from websites similar the ones beneath or employ a cartoon reference book to get some ideas.

Utilize Royalty-Free Stock Image websites:

Unsplash

Completely free, download whatever images yous like. In fact, their tag line is "do whatever you want"

Epicantus

Daria uses her own photography for you to download and employ as yous wish. Costless for personal and commercial use.

Kaboompics

Complimentary images for anyone to use and it has lots of lifestyle and outdoor, landscape shots.

Testify your personality

Come up with your own unique ideas and evidence the decision makers your individuality by approaching subjects or subject matter in a fresh fashion. Use your artwork to represent your strengths, intellect, and creative experiences. Practice you!

Become inspired by other art portfolios

It's a good idea to have a look at other accepted portfolios to get some ideas on how can you improve yours. It's extremely of import non to copy someone elses work, simply use information technology equally inspiration for your own piece of work. Copying is just non cool, don't be that person.

There are videos of some talented young artists who have beautifully presented their accepted fine art portfolios, like this one by Cyan, or this one by Sharon, or this i by Conan.

How to package your fine art portfolio

There are many different fine art portfolio folders y'all could choose from to make your submission. Often the organisation y'all're applying to volition have some specifics in terms of your actual portfolio casing and packaging.

Some don't mind a uncomplicated card paper envelope, others want to see a professional black case. Beneath are a few really great and affordable options that y'all can chose from. But you can cheque out the Resources folio for more packaging ideas.

Professional art portfolio cases:

• Folder – A4 Black Portfolio Binder (£9.90)
• Carrier – A3 Black Portfolio Carrier (£24)
• Transparent Envelopes – A3 Clear Plastic Cello Bags for Prints (from £16)
• Clear Case – A2 Articulate portfolio bear instance (£6)
• Affiche Tubes – Expandable postal tubes (£8)

How to organise your art portfolio

Organise your pieces and put all your work in order. You want to brand it easy for the viewer to visually read your portfolio. You lot tin group your art past medium, style, subject field, technique, size etc. Your portfolio should tell a story and be piece of cake to cover.

Presentation is everything

Make sure your original fine art work, prints, or slides are completely gratuitous of dust and finger prints! Utilise a clean paper towel or cheese material to wipe away any unwanted marks. Paper and prints should be wrinkle, fold and smudge-gratuitous.

Label your artwork correctly

Some organisations take very specific ways they want you to label the pieces, whether that is a file name, or a written listing of artworks. Follow their instructions exactly.

Stay positive!

Yous are a great artist, and no dubiety you have great potential. All those "omg that'south sooooo good!" and "I wish I could depict/paint like that" comments aren't for aught. Am I right?

Trust your abilities to create neat work you're proud of and trust that y'all have what it takes to exist accepted into the school or job of your dreams. Keep to create great piece of work and observe alternative perspectives if yous arrive at a 'no'. Try until you get in, or endeavour something new. Keep practicing your skills and keep exploring new ones and guaranteed you'll grow every bit an artist. Inspiration is everywhere, you're bound to find information technology. So put information technology to good utilize, and create your best ever collection of artwork!

If you found this commodity helpful, share information technology with others. Sign up to our mailing list to get first access to new posts and fine art opportunities. Do you have art you'd like to share with united states? Expose your winning portfolio? Nosotros're on a featuring frenzy over on Instagram! We feature new artists everyday on @DarkYellowDot, so requite us a follow and tag your fine art posts with #darkyellowdot  or you tin can submit your art hither to be featured correct on our website.

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