1. Why do I need an art portfolio? Represents the type of artist you are Highlights your artistic strengths It is your ticket into the school of your choosing. You can submit to earn scholarships for school!

2. What kind of work should I include? Original work from direct observation No copies of other people’s work! (No well known characters, no copies of well known art, absolutely nothing from another artist’s work) Admissions officers are well trained to quickly spot artworks that have been copied from photographs or that have been lifted from other resources. You need to prove that you can translate inspiration, proportions, texture, scale, etc into your three dimensional work Choose your best and most recent work (within the last 12 months)  Yes! No 

3. Have a variety of subject matter This demonstrates your willingness and interest to work with different topics. Include: realistic and abstract interpretations Admissions officers don’t want to see a portfolio of twenty self- portraits. A portfolio with only one topic comes across as narrow minded and limited.

4. (Typically) Every piece should be a finished work and presented neatly Be sure that everything in your portfolio is a work that has been 100% fully realized. Unless the school specifically requests to see images from a sketchbook, assume that they want to see finished works. This means no white backgrounds, no dirty fingerprints, no ripped edges, no half finished figures, etc. Some art schools will require that you submit your sketchbook along with your portfolio to help them understand how you developed your ideas. Dirty pages!  Don’t photograph unless it’s completed! 

5. Demonstrate versatility in a range of different media. This shows you have taken the initiative to learn and develop skills in contrasting media. It shows that you have more than one skill set, and can move fluidly from one media into the next. Include clay, paper sculptures, paper mache, carvings, etc…

6. Demonstrate good technical skills. Make sure that you have the basics down: anatomy, color, lighting, etc. A creative art piece without proper proportions is not going to impress.  Yes! Proportion distortion looks planned and fits with style. Craftsmanship is excellent No  proportion and craftsmanship need revision

7. Ask an art teacher for help before you submit! Typically, the college will ask for a certain number of works. An art teacher or someone in the art world can help you edit and choose your strongest pieces. The images below are a former 2D Art student’s. * She was applying for a scholarship and needed to submit work. * Look at how much just simple cropping does! Before After

8. - Photograph one work at a time (unless part of a series) - Avoid distractions in the background - Use extra lighting so details can be seen

9. What is National Portfolio Day? FREE event specifically for visual artists and designers. An opportunity for anyone who wishes to pursue an education in the visual and related arts to meet with representatives from colleges accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Representatives will be available to review your artwork, discuss their programs and answer questions about professional careers in art. High school students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors and college transfer students are encouraged to attend. http://mcad.edu/portfolioday It’s on October 11 th this year!!

10. Resources for art scholarships: Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Young Arts Program National Sculpture Society Find College Scholarships Design Sponge Scholarships

11. Photographing work - Photograph outdoors or using natural light where possible. For three-dimensional work, make sure you have additional lighting to avoid creating shadows. Turn the piece on an angle that is most interesting. Avoid distracting backgrounds Make sure the image is level with an even amount of border or white space around the edges – use a tripod!

12. Show the best angle or include multiple views

13. Always photograph using the PHOTO BOOTH STATION (or a similar set-up)

14. Your Turn!!! Today: Take a variety of photos of your Clay Signature Stamp Create a Google Slides Presentation, name it: (Your Name) CERAMICS Digital Portfolio Share this presentation with Ms. Gestner via google (jgestner@shakopeeschools.org)jgestner@shakopeeschools.org You must include a clear picture from the best angle and you must include an accurate credit line for each slide in your digital portfolio Please create the first slide of your Digital Portfolio for your Clay Signature Stamp An accurate credit line includes: Title of the piece year the piece was made Material/medium Size (in inches – height, width, depth)