Arts and Creative Writing Supplements

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I have a few questions about sending drawing and creative writing supplements for those colleges that allow them. Firstly, with regard to drawing, the supplement:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/Art_Supplement.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/Art_Supplement.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>requires that I "have an instructor who is familiar with your work send us a letter of recommendation". However, since I'm homeschooled, I learnt drawing myself, although I've been doing it for so long that I still think my art is good enough to send. Is a letter of recommendation still required?</p>

<p>Also, how long should the creative writing supplement be? Is it best to send part of a longer story, or a full short story? Can you send poetry? And, if I got a book published, could I send part of that?</p>

<p>Thanks :).</p>

2

<p>If the art piece has won awards, I suppose you can send it even without a letter of recommendation. However, I strongly suggest getting a recommendation; find a local professional artist or art teacher to review your art, it doesn’t necessarily have to be an intructor if you explain. But make sure you understand that if you are sending art in, most likely, it will be judged with a fine arts perspective. It has to be stellar, not just “good” enough to send in.
If you get a book published, you should not have to send it; putting it on your resume is good enough. The creative writing supplement you send in should be relatively brief; remember, it takes tons of time to review all the supplements with all the applicants.
Poetry is creative writing.</p>

3

<p>OK… how good is “stellar”? Sorry, I know it’s a noobish question, but could you give me some examples of what would be considered just “average” and what would be considered “stellar”, please? (It’s obviously hard for me to objectively look at my own drawings, lol :))</p>

4

<p>That’s okay! It’s not noobish at all!
Haha and art being art, it is definitely really hard to say what is exactly “stellar.”
Well, for one thing, if you win major awards that are impressive (example is winning 1st place out of several hundred entries at local, regional, or national level), that’s a sure sign.
You’ll mainly want to work in a fine arts standpoint.
Find a professional art instructor to critique. Or join in on National Portfolio Day. Or schedule a visit an art school and see if you can bring in your work to get it looked over for encouragement and suggestions. They’ll be able to tell whether your art is worth it.
Also, try looking online to see if anyone posted art that they submitted as supplements.
Good luck, I hope I helped a little!</p>

<p>Edit:
Here’s someone’s art supplement. It’s not bad: <a href=“http://dagneo.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/art/jaguar-107793138[/url]”>http://dagneo.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/art/jaguar-107793138&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This is an example of a not-so-stellar supplement (there’s poor value scale, little depth in consideration for where to draw the viewer’s eye in, etc.) <a href=“http://ashlbee.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/art/My-Friend-Sebastian-103062308[/url]”>http://ashlbee.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/art/My-Friend-Sebastian-103062308&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>But I’m not an expert lol, I’m just in AP 2-D Art and have training in critique in terms of the AP criteria, which is close to what colleges look at since it’s at a rigorous “fine arts” perspective.</p>

5

<p>Python–here’s another fairly recent thread on this subject:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/667643-just-how-good-should-your-art-art-supplement-3.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/667643-just-how-good-should-your-art-art-supplement-3.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Thanks ^^. I’d say my art is somewhere in between those two, although again, it’s only a rough guess (sorry for the late reply btw, my Internet connection went down).</p>

<p>Are animal drawings often sent? I was considering sending a drawing of a horse. I’m much better at drawing them than other animals - comes from a long-standing obsession with them ever since I was little, lol :).</p>

7

<p>That’s totally fine as long as it’s realistic :]
Also, hahaha I love to draw horses! They’re gorgeous.</p>

8

<p>OK, I’ll probably draw that, then :). All those hours spent doodling unicorns in the back of my notebook might actually prove useful, lol :D</p>

9

<p>Oh, I forgot; there’s one other thing - I know I’m not meant to send the original copies, but does this mean that I should send colour photocopies, then (not just black-and-white ones?)</p>