<p>I'm not sure if this is the best forum for this question....</p>
<p>Lately I've been thinking that I should possibly submit an art supplement along with my application when I apply to schools next year. I'm not planning on majoring in art or anything, but my biggest extracurricular commitment is that I do computer generated art to raise money for a humane society, and I've done some work for websites. I don't have many 'talents', but this is one thing that I've worked very hard at, though I don't have any fancy awards or recognition.</p>
<p>Heres the problem with the art I've done...its all dogs. With the exception of one bird. Lol.</p>
<p>I attribute that to the fact that the websites I drew for were both dog oriented, and with the fundraising I do for the animal shelter, it has a certain target audience, with most of them asking for pictures of their pets.
Theres nothing edgy or creative in there. Just stuff other people have asked me to draw. I think they look nice, but none of my drawings are particularly artistic, I guess.</p>
<p>I have a few questions for people who have experience/advice with arts supplements</p>
<p>What are they looking for in supplements? Talent? Creativity? Skill?</p>
<p>Should I try to expand my 'gallery', with some different subject matter? Should I stay true to what I've been doing this entire time? Or would it look silly to send in an entire supplement filled with boring dogs, even if they are drawn well?</p>
<p>if you cared about the dog shelter and you think your 'project' was good and it was 100% you, then send it in. It also shows your personality, you like to contribute and that you like dogs</p>
<p>(I will preface this by saying that I sent a vocal music supplement, not a visual arts one, but they are essentially the same.)</p>
<p>I might be a little careful.</p>
<p>If you want to send a real ARTS SUPPLEMENT, like the official CommonApp Arts Supplement, then you need to put your art onto a CD. Most schools ask that you send no more than 20 slides/files, and that they show a contrasting display of your talents. In terms of music, people always say that CDs need to be "CONSERVATORY QUALITY" to be worth sending, and I am sure that the same holds true for visual art. If you want to send an ARTS SUPPLEMENT, then you need to be sure that what you are producing is truly above and beyond.</p>
<p>Also note that the CommonApp Arts Supplement asks for resumes and recommendations related to your artwork. The rec needs to be from someone who has taught you the art form. I think that what you do sounds awesome, but unless you're prepared to do all of that, you might want to send it as nice supplementary material and not an Arts Supplement.</p>
<p>If you're using the Common App online, you can provide a website link where colleges can look at a sample of your work. But you do have to have recs and experiences and things like that.</p>
<p>I don't think I would send in an art supplement unless your work is really outstanding (not saying it isn't, of course). But just think of it this way: your average art supplement won't save you from getting rejected if you're getting rejected anyway. And if you're going to be accepted at a school, your art supplement probably won't have been the deciding factor. </p>
<p>I took art classes out of school for a few years and I had a bunch of pieces, but I didn't send them in because I didn't think they were essential to my application. Like, I felt that ad coms should be able to get a picture of me without a bunch of paintings, you know? So I didn't use a supplement but hey, I got in anyway :)</p>
<p>Plus you can always talk about this commitment in your actual application (they give you space) even if you don't have the artwork to back it up.</p>