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Wazza Bears AustraliaHello
I have applied to UniSA to do a Art degree. I got a letter today,if I want consideration for the Feb offering i need to submit a portfolio. I have 3 oil paintings I have done. 1 is framed so I don't know how to put that in. Do you think my bears would go down well with them in my portfolio or would they think they are just to crafty? I was thinking of submitting a couple of bears and some pics. i was also thinking some snapshots of my website as well as a pic of my banners and logos. ( As they ask for any art work that I have done from painting to graphics)
Help how do I present it all? Do I just put it all in a bag and just label the bag or do I go and buy a huge portfolio shoulder bag to put it all in.
I really need help. I really want to get in. And I just want to make the best presentation possible. I will cry if I don't.
HELP
Peta, let me ask my friends at my ATC trading site for their advice. Many of them attended art schools, are professional artists, or even own galleries, so they'll know how to advise! I'll get back to you when I can.
I have a BA in Graphic Design and was a designer for many years. I have two huge portfolios and lugged them around to many interviews. One is large for the posters and fold out pieces. The smaller is for logos and smaller printed pieces. My background is design and print, not web. So everything I have is either a photograph or an actual printed piece. I was an Art Director for many years and interviewed people based on their portfolio. Your portfolio will make or break you in one second.
Get a black portfolio with handles, the leather-ette type ones with removable black pages. Mount samples of your work on those pages so they are easily removed for looking at, such as a fold-out brochure. Or if it's just a photo of a piece you've designed, use spray mount so it won't slip. You can also get the huge pages that have clear sleeves so you can remove printed pieces from it.
Your logos should work in black and white as well as color. Have them together with the pieces they have appeared on; such as stationery, promo pieces, letterhead, forms, etc. You can have a page dedicated to just logos then have their sets following on separate pages.
For dimensional objects have them professionally photographed and mounted in the portfolio. Have the oil paintings professionally photographed. And I mean somebody that knows how to shoot products, not just take a nice photo.
If you have something that is web based, burn it on a CD and include a nice pocket in the portfolio so it can easily be loaded on a laptop.
Each page or your portfolio should be a work of art and your absolute best. If you aren't sure about it, leave it out. You should be able to take one page out of your portfolio and be able to represent your skills, creativity and professionalism.
Let me know if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help!
Here's what I've gotten in response so far, from my friends at illustratedATCs.com, most of whom are fine-art oriented (vs. graphic design oriented):
It's a while since i did my portfolio, but i attended college for a year to build it up. One of the main focus's of the course was drawing skills, so i had quite a few still lifes and life drawings in there, in a mix of medium too, pencil, ink, watercolour, acrylics, pastels etc. Sketchbooks were another major factor, apparently they like to see how your mind works when working on a project.
Hope that helps, and good luck to your friend
I almost forgot I had to go through that once or twice.
The key is to objectively pick your best work, show a variety and make sure you show that you have the basics down. The hardest part is being objective (you may want to enlist a friend or teacher to help); I wanted to put in my favorite pieces because they were emotional, but my teachers said to use a piece that showed I could draw.
Here's a little story that may or may not help (If she is going straight from high school it may not matter at all).
I had done many years of art at the community college before I decided to transfer to an art school. I had many classes and credits that transfered. In my portfolio I included more figure drawings than still life drawings (simply because I thought they were better), and the admin head decided I needed to take freshman drawing. My attempts to get the class waived did not go through. So there I was planning my senior project for the coming year while taking a freshman drawing class. You never know what the school will want to see.
It may be a good idea to for her to ask the portfolio review board of that school what they want to see!
Also..get several professors to help with the portfolio, as they all will have different suggestions to make!
More replies, the first from a superb fine artist and gallery co-owner:
I'm too full of caffiene at the mo to read what's been said so far, but one of the things I look for when I look at someone's portfolio is consistency. I am not interested in how many different styles a person can do and I want to know that style, skill, technique and craftsmanship are present in each portfolio piece. Avoid the trap that many people fall into - being over-eager to show everything they can do.
Do not ever put in something that you question because you need to pad the portfolio. It will stand out like a poop in a punchbowl.
Eight to ten items is always a safe bet, too little and it looks like you are either not very prolific or creative, too much and the attention span gets thinner and people get resentful.
I would guess they'd want to see skills and personality. I agree that sketchbooks are really important as this is where the thinking is. The order of work in the portfolio can help feed the information. I remember my college interview [many years ago] I slotted open sketchbooks between relevant pages of my portfolio so it all seemed to flow as they were looking through.
I also agree that she should ask someone in the field to have a look through.
Real Deal BearsHi Peta, congratulations on gaining the first step to getting into Uni. :clap: :clap: :clap:
As I have been through it, I know what a headache it can be just to get this far.
I agree that drawings and sketch books are very important to have in your portfolio.
They will also be looking for passion, someone they think will go the distance, so try to look as professional as you can and invest in a proper portfolio.
A good thing I think for you to have is not only one of your bears, but to show them how the bear was conceived, from sketch to finished product.
Don't feel like you have to compete with those straight out of secondary collage, as here in Oz they allocate so many places for mature age students.
I hope I haven't repeated too much that has been said before, as I am still half asleep and just wizzed over the other posts.
Still need more coffee.
Good Luck, and you go girl and show them how talented you are. :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Very interesting posts Shelli, I've thought of diong some kind of art school nd its great to see what's expected. I must say tho to read it it's very intimidating! hehe.
Thats a great suggestion Chris, not just pictures of bears but the whole process of getting from idea to finished product- a lot of people have no idea how much work there is to it and the creative process.
I think it would be worth investing in a professional looking Portfolio, not just for how it will look to the people who review it, but even for your own confidence, looking the part helps you feel the part! Good luck Peta, how exciting!
Back Road BearsIntimidating, that's for sure!! But very exciting for you, Peta!!
Jennifer made some excellent recommendations as did Shelli's 'connections'.
I laugh when I look back at my portfolio from my senior year of high school. How I got accepted into any art courses in college is beyond me! I'm certainly NOT one to give any advice. But if I could get accepted I'd say just about anyone with the desire, ambition and sign of talent has a really good chance!
As it's been said.... YOU GO, GIRL!!!
Wazza Bears AustraliaHi girls, I knew you would come through for me. What a wealth of info. Firstly Thank you so much Shelli for doing what you did. and everyone else. i have taken some info from each of you and putting it together in my portfolio. i went and bought a big portfolio cover. its like a huge bag but flat and I bought a display book with plastic sheets. i am going to put my oil paintings in it. I will write some info on them. In a little display box I am going to put my bear that I made for the Toby awards, with some info. In the display folder I am going to write a bit about myself, passions, goals. with that I'm also going to add pics of my bears, graphs I have designed, sketches I have draw and the latest project I am working on which I think will be 3 years in the making. At the moment its in sketch form. I have a long hair daschund and I want to make him in fur and make him so realistic, look, movement and posing. So that he is the twin of my little Toby. So all in all I think I have planned out my portfolio, and as I won't be there when they look at it I will explain in writing what each thing is and my inspiration on doing it. So Thank you all so MUCH. I was really in a panic last night and did not sleep.
Thanks again. Love you all
Peta
