Compare College Art Portfolio Requirements

Your portfolio will be judged on 4 cornerstones of admissibility: refinement, creativity, technical proficiency, relevance. Portfolio pieces should display creativity and artistic range. Sketchbooks are a welcome addition and are considered a single piece. Examples of entertainment art are highly recommended and can include characters, environments, vehicles, and props. Other artists' work is not considered an appropriate reference source, with the exception of pieces created in 3D from 2D concepts. Artwork created directly from a tutorial is not considered an original piece and should not be submitted.

All mediums are accepted: this can include, but is not limited to; anatomical studies figurative and gestural pieces, hard surface and perspective renderings, traditional and digital paintings, sculpture, graphic design, 3D art animation, motion graphics, photography.

Since Gnomon provides placement in the industry, they expect a very high level of artistic skill. Candidates considered for acceptance into the BFA program must already convey an intermediate-level foundation in traditional art and/or design, or possess strong proficiency in computer graphics. Ideal candidates have received formal art training in the form of individual art courses or intensive self-teaching.

Since the cost of submission is high and this is a competitive school, we recommend having a professional look over your portfolio before you submit. Schedule a free consultation with Prima Materia to see if you're ready to apply to Gnomon.

LCAD wants to see variety and range, and an interest in the major you're applying to. Be sure to include works that are relevant to your major and review program-specific portfolio requirements on LCAD's website. All majors except Graphic Design need a portfolio that has a minimum of 9 life drawing.

*Different majors have different requirements, both in how many pieces you'll submit and what mediums they request to see. Be sure to attentively read what the specifics for each portfolio are.

A portfolio is not a required part of the application for Brown. Portfolios should be a strong supplement to your application, thoughtfully conceived and demonstrating above-average visual art talent. Include work that indicates your skill level in a variety of media. Class assignments, as well as work produced outside the classroom indicating your personal area of interest, are encouraged. A short statement about your interest in art may be included as well.

Your portfolio for Pratt does not need to be specific to the discipline to which you are applying, but they do require a minimum of two observational drawings or paintings, even if you’re a lens-based artist or fashion designer. Applicants should avoid including work that copies photographs, uses the grid system, or directly replicates any other artist’s work (including replicating anime drawings, cartoons, or video game character designs).

Your portfolio should be a selection of recent artworks that represent your artistic interests and demonstrate your technical skills and ability. Work should demonstrate the exploration of ideas and creative approaches to subject matter and materials.

For first-year applicants, a one-page “Statement of Purpose” describing:

- Your reasons for applying to an interdisciplinary studio art program.
- Your personal and/or academic background in art.
- The influences, experiences, common themes, and interests that have impacted your art practice.

‍

You can submit artwork in any style or medium (painting, drawing, sculpture, video, photography, digital art, installation, sound, etc.).

Before submitting your portfolio, you must select the program of study within CalArts that you want to apply to - each program has specific admission guidelines and may have a different set of requirements.

CalArts is looking for personal work that gives them a sense of who you are as an artist, rather than technical exercises (i.e. do not include generic class assignments, figure/life drawing, still life drawings) unless you believe they offer a view of a personal and/or unique approach. Some sketches and works-in-progress are acceptable. Drawings or paintings created digitally are accepted, however if your practice has physical elements it is to your advantage to also include a selection of work done directly with physical materials or methods. Applicants with multiple interests are encouraged to submit a variety of mediums.

RISD strongly recommends that you include some examples that involve drawing from direct observation (rather than from imagination, photograph or video). The work you select should reflect a full range of your ideas, curiosity, experimentation and experience in creating and making. You can include sketches, sketchbook pages to demonstrate research, and finished art. Include no more than 3 research / preparatory work.

‍Your art can be the result of an assigned project or a self-directed exploration.

UAL wants to see a variety of mediums, creativity, and experimentation. They want to see your artistic skills, personality, and creative potential, so don’t include only 20 life drawings. UAL wants to see artworks that are relevant to your major, but they also want to see a range of work to show you’re open minded and you’re evolving artistically. You can include initial sketches, contextual references, and finished pieces in your portfolio submission. You can submit up to 45 artworks, and there is no minimum.

If you're selected for an interview, be prepared to talk about your process and inspirations. Have your sketchbooks on standby so you can show the documentation of your creative process.

The kinds of things you'll need to include in your portfolio depends on the course you're applying for. You can review specific requirements on the college's website.

In an art portfolio, you'll need to include things like: preliminary sketches, observational drawings, finished pieces and final outcomes. Illustrations can be digital or hand drawn. We also welcome paintings or colour work, to show how you can use, mix, control and communicate with colour. You want to show a range of techniques and processes. If you do 3D work, then adding photographs of your work is a good way to showcase it.

Remember, it's about quality not quantity.

Be prepared for a live interview to talk about your art, inspirations, and processes.

University of Michigan wants to see an emphasize on experimentation, concept, and a range of media. Include class assignments and self-directed work. For every piece, answer the question, ​“Why did I create this?” in the artworks description. Your portfolio counts as 50% of the admission decision.

At this time, work generated using artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be included in your application portfolio.

There are two ways you can put together your portfolio: 1. With an Open Portfolio, which is made up of 10-20 images of your best artworks, OR with a Structured Portfolio, which includes 3 illustrative portraits of yourself / someone you know, 4 narrative images, 3 landscapes/interiors, plus any personal work. Sketchbook work can also be included in the portfolio by editing together your favorite sketches or pages.

OTIS wants to see creativity and technical ability, observational skills, and experimentation. Applicants are encouraged to have at least one series in their portfolio. A series is multiple works centered on the same idea or theme. 2-3 may be sketechbook pages. At least 3 of the images should be made in traditional (non-digital) mediums.

Your portfolio should not only represent your best skills in art but should also demonstrate the development of a personally unique idea or concepts that have inspired the work as a whole.

a. Work that moves beyond a recording of the world.

b. Having bodies of work – different ideas and thoughts about what they’re producing

c. Evidence of creative thinking – unusual use of materials, strong conceptual approach, awareness of art history or contemporary art history

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.

‍

Parsons college admissions want to see experimentation and breadth in your portfolio. Unlike other colleges, your portfolio does not need to specifically address the major to which you are applying. What’s unique about Parsons is they don’t mind seeing work from imagination. Each artwork will need a title, short description, medium, and measurements.

Use your portfolio to showcase your interests, skills, and creative potential. You may show SAiC work created across media or focus entirely in one medium. Work can range from observational to abstract. We have no media-specific limitations nor do we present portfolio assignments.

SAIC 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.