Building your PORTFOLIO for a
High School interview!
pictured, an artist's portfolio
Below is a List of suggestions and ideas.
An art portfolio is a collection of your work, your thoughts and your experiences.
Now, in the age of social media, a digital portfolio can be a student's self created web-site with a variety of photograps of their best art work. If you are applying to a High School and planning on creating your own web site, you MUST have your parent's permission to create an on line web site of your artwork.
For some schools a portfolio can be a collection of artwork that you carry to your interview, actual, real works of art, specially selected by you to show to others. It can be in a fancy zip up black case with handles or it can be in a decorated stiff cardboard folder with string ties. It can be in a ring binder with clear file pages.
The most important thing is to show variety, and to keep your portfolio neat, organized, and free of garbage and clutter; personalize it!
A digital web site-portfolio should be attractive, neat, clearly labeled and easy to use.
Artwork
Include pieces that show your effort to use as many different art mediums as possible! Pencil, colored pencil, charcoal, conte crayon, ink, watercolor, oil pastel, chalk pastel (be sure to spray it with fixative!) acrylic paint, oil paint, fabric, collage or wood. You name it!
Suggested pieces of to put in your portfolio.
Everyone has different creative abilities and tastes. What you put in your portfolio depends on your collection.
1. Still life pencil drawings
2. Color, drawn or painted still life pictures
3. Land Scape
4. City Scape
5. Line design art such as “Henna Designs”
6. Animals
7. Realistic drawing of the human figure (even if it’s not a great drawing!)
8. Portraits
9. Self portrait
10. Words (text) or lettering
11. Collage
12. Three-dimensional work – take photos of them if needed.
13. Photographs
14. Any textile, knitting, weaving, needle work
And importantly, bring your Sketch Book!
Try to draw from real life
as much as possible.
Draw less Anime, save that for later. Art programs want to see how you use different mediums, different styles, and how you create art inspired from things in your own life!
Your sketchbook is a glimpse of what makes you tick,
what thoughts make you special and how you think creatively about the world around you.
In your sketchbook include:
1. observation drawings of objects and nature,
2. your room,
3. people that you know,
4. brainstorm ideas and sketches,
5. diary notes,
6. poetry,
7. thoughts about your own drawings,
8. thoughts about other artists,
9. your dreams!
Lastly, have fun! The person reviewing your portfolio is NEVER looking for perfection. That’s why we are STUDENTS! They will enjoy your artwork, your favorite works and artwork that was difficult for you. They want to see how you take on a challenge!
pictured below: various examples of student artwork in their portfolios, ready for presentation.