Walt Whitman High School
DEP
art
MENT
PREPARING YOUR ART PORTFOLIO
for college admission
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An art portfolio is used to assess a candidate’s talent, training, motivation and
self discipline. Your portfolio should reflect your strengths and interests in art
and demonstrate an understanding of the elements of art and principles of
design. Most art programs want you to include observational drawing in your
portfolio. Submit a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 pieces with at least
five drawings from direct observation and at least 3 figure drawings (Read
Category One, Two, and Three for specifics).
The most important detail of preparing your portfolio for college admissions is
to remember to give yourself plenty of time and have fun with it. It is almost
impossible to create quality work if you are nervous and under a time
constraint. Don’t wait until the last minute, and make enough work so you can
edit together the best portfolio for each school’s requirement. Be sure to
consult the catalog/ website/ admission office of each school that you are
applying to for their specific portfolio requirements.
The pieces you select should show diversity in technique and variety in subject
matter. You may show work in any medium (acrylics, photography,
watercolors, pastels, mixed media, etc.) and in either black-and-white or
color. Your portfolio can include classroom assignments as well as
independent art. You can also include your sketchbook.
Attend the annual Walt Whitman High School Art School Forum to present your
developing portfolio to college representatives. They give useful feedback
and constructive criticism providing you with direction in your portfolio
development.
Consider supplementing your art program by taking a course outside of
school to help further the development of your portfolio*.
Category One: Observational Art
Observational art is drawing or painting in a traditional method using a still life, figure
studies, self-portrait, interior studies, or landscape as the subject and rendering the subject
as accurately as possible. The image should not be taken from a photograph or the artists’
imagination but from real life. Size of the artwork should be approximately 18’’ x 24’’ or
larger in scale and fill the entire surface of the paper or canvas. Most work in this category
is done in pencil, charcoal, conte or other drawing mediums, but it can also include
watercolor, acrylic painting and collage.
Category Two: Independent Art
Independent / Personal art is the work done outside of a classroom situation and reflects
the artists’ unique interests in use of materials, subject matter and concept. Work can be
completed in any media including (but not limited to) drawing, painting, photography,
mixed media, digital/ computer art, film/video, ceramics, sculpture, animation and
performance art.
Category Three: Home Exam
The home exam consists of specific work that has been required by a particular college or
department. (Example: Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the past has asked that all
portfolios include a drawing of a bicycle and an interior.)
Important Considerations
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Do not include torn or poorly cared for work.
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Include your most recent work.
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Include only finished or completed works (avoid sending too many studies or
gestures.)
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If original work is being presented (not in digital format), matte all work in a
consistent format (white or black matte board).
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Include your name, date, title of work on the back of each individual artwork.
Digital Portfolio
Many art schools will ask you to send them a digital portfolio. To do this, you will need to
use a digital camera to shoot your artwork. Once shot, the digital images are uploaded to
the art school’s portfolio application. It is very important that you understand the specific
requirements of each schools digital submission process. The Art Department at Walt
Whitman High School is here to help you through this process. We can also arrange a time
to shoot your artwork here at school.
Presentation
Presentation of the portfolio is very important; consider this just like a personal interview.
Due to the cost of mailing and lack of storage, most colleges will generally want the
portfolio submitted in digital format. Original artwork, if requested, should be documented
in digital format prior to mailing in case the portfolio is lost in the mail or unfortunately
damaged. Follow each college’s guidelines to the best of your ability. Don’t hesitate to
call the admissions department of the school you are applying to if you have questions
regarding how to submit your portfolio.
Supplemental Art programs to consider:
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Summer portfolio development (2 week) course
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Corcoran College of Art and Design
www.corcoran.edu/continuing/pre_college.asp
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VisArts at Rockville, Metropolitan Center for the Arts @ visartscenter.org
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Pre-college program at School of Art and Design at Montgomery College
http://www.mcadmd.org/
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Yellow Barn at Glen Echo @ http://www.glenechopark.org
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Pre-college programs at other colleges and universities such as
Carnegie Mellon University, VCU, Rhode Island School of Design, etc.