AUDITION REQUIREMENTS Portfolio

Art Audition Portfolio Criteria Admission to the Art Institute is determined by demonstrated skills and aptitudes as evaluated at an audition, as well as a review of a portfolio of 8-15 art works brought at that time. The student’s academic and attendance record are taken into consideration as well. To be eligible for an audition, an applicant must be a resident of Brooklyn, currently enrolled in the 8 th or 9 th grade and must have applied to the Art Institute by selecting it on their high school application form and MUST show up for the audition with an art portfolio.

We would like to see the following works of art:

1.Self-Portrait (black & white or color) Do a self-portrait by looking into a mirror. Shade your portrait to make it look three-dimensional. Add a background if you wish.

2.Room Interior (black & white or color) Pick an interesting view of a section of a room. Your finished piece should create the illusion of three-dimensional space.

3.Still-Life (color) Set up a simple still-life that is lit from one side by either window light or artificial light. Your still-life could include two pieces of fruit, a bottle, an object such as a cup, basket, or bowl, and a draped fabric such as a dish cloth, napkin, or towel. Create an interesting arrangement with these objects. Be sure to use the entire space of the page. Shade the objects to make them look three-dimensional. Complete this work in a color medium of your choice (such as cray-pas, pastels, paint, or colored pencils).

Your other 3 portfolio pieces are your choice. Do not include art works copied from other artists or photographs. The work you include should be high quality works that show your skill in drawing, composition, imagination, and use of the medium. They should indicate that time and effort was put into their creation. You may bring digital work including a flashdrive with any animations, movies, etc.

Photography is ok but not too many!

Suggestions for the Portfolio It is recommended that all art works be no smaller than 9”x12”. All your work should be in a portfolio of some kind (a folder or envelope is acceptable). Each work of art must also have your name and school printed on the back.

Please be mindful of presentation. NEATNESS COUNTS!!!!! Make sure work is presentable, wrinkle and crinkle free. Portfolios will be reviewed on the premises and returned to students before leaving the testing room. Every student should bring pencils, erasers and any other media they might use.

WHAT WE WILL BE DOING DURING THE AUDITIONS 1.Your children will come in, sit down and be welcomed 2.Each student is given a number. 3.Each seat has a short questionnaire. Applicants fill in the information on the front page in ink. 4.We explain that their portfolios will be evaluated and they will be interviewed while they fill in the questionnaire and do the essay (I’ll get to the essay in a minute) and as they draw. 5.Students are given directions about what they will be drawing. (I will show you examples in a moment). They have ample time for two drawings while portfolio evaluations and interviews are happening. If they need more time, we will provide them with more time. 6.The applicants will be asked to write an essay comparing two works of art which we display for them with the name of the work, the artist and the year. They have to consider: Use of color to create mood Light and shadow Background space How the artist has portrayed the subject 7.After the teachers evaluate each portfolio and interview each student, the proctor will return the portfolio to the student upon completion of the interview and evaluation. 8.As students finish their audition, the will be escorted back downstairs

What they will be asked to draw Hand crushing lined paper (SHADING IS A MUST!!!) a.Hold paper in one hand. Do not overcrush so paper does not show. b.Follow the contour edges of the forms (how do the lines fold around the crushed paper) c. Major creases in the hand, and the holes and lines in the paper be included. d.Shade at least the hand to make it look three dimensional. e.Use the entire space of their page. The drawing should be at least life size.

The Figure Next we will position 2 of our own students in the room on stools or chairs so that the applicants can draw the figure. The proctors will indicate the placement of the figure on the page so that the entire space of the page is used. If they start too large, keep the figure in proportion to the head even if they can’t fit the entire figure on the page. The proctors may show a student example of a drawing, explain in depth or quickly draw a sample for better understanding.