<p>May anyone help me with critiquing or adding to my first portfolio. It is ten pieces long thus far.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>1st</a> Folio - a photoset on Flickr</p>
<p>There it is....</p>
<p>Where are you planning on applying? Different schools emphasize certain skills.</p>
<p>Uhh, as of right now I was looking at
Deep Springs
Reed College
Brown
RISD
U Chicago
Swarthmore
Wesleyan
UNC
UNCA</p>
<p>And possibly Cooper Union, mostly because I am interested in seeing the application (incase I want to transfer at some point.)</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>did you go to NPRD?</p>
<p>Ok, first thing I notice is little life drawing. Most any college wants to see life drawing skills - at bare minimum 5 out of a 20 piece portfolio - even if you are interested in other areas/styles of art. I'm not familiar with the art department of many of the universities you listed, but I know that RISD will want to see more.<br>
Your current work is creative and unique, which are definately qualities to have in a portfolio alongside a demonstration of technical skill. So, if you balance your portfolio between your current work, which is more about you and your personal vision, and life drawing (that can nonetheless be expressive and convey ideas - think about "vanitas" still lives) you will be on the right track.</p>
<p>One final thought, since your current work seems conceptually driven, admissions officers would likely appreciate a description that explains a bit about the ideas behind each work.</p>
<p>I am guessing that NPRD is the portfolio day. Unfortuantely none of what you see here was even completed prior to this portfolio day. </p>
<p>May schools ask for NO artist statement (Wesleyan) or for only a title (Brown), however when U Chicago asked for a bit on the pieces I included the two sentences that I have under each piece. Were they not telling enough?</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your help.</p>
<p>Fortunately RISD applications are over a month away, so if you could help me understand what sorts of "vainitas" I would need, that would be more than helpful. Still lifes? Portraits? If so should I still use my style in doing so? </p>
<p>I Suppose I could drive to a NPRD in the near future. Do you reccomend taht?</p>
<p>Go to the website and read the requiremnts for RISD, including three 16x20" graphite drawings that you send to them with your application,(one a bike, one an interior/exterior, and one of your choice). They are specific about what they want, and in what format, so don't overlook these details.</p>
<p>yes... I think going to a NPRD would help you at least see whether or not you're getting your ideas across in a method you want them to.</p>
<p>what's the possible major? I got a printmaking feel.</p>
<p>Yeah, I really enjoy the concept of print making, however the closest I have ever come is my one linolium print that I have done. Thank you for all of the help. </p>
<p>I knew the three drawings would be looming over me. I do have a month to complete them after I complete my other big application (Deep Springs), plus I have time while visiting (17th-22nd) to possibly even work on them. </p>
<p>Really, thanks again.</p>
<p>The descriptions you gave were interesting but don't add a ton of clarity to the viewer's understanding. How much does it matter to you that your viewers/admissions officers derive from it the same meaning that you intend? I can find in each piece lots of ideas, but I don't know if I am arriving at exactly what you mean. </p>
<p>You can send a concise Artist's Statement even if a certain college doesn't ask for it. It should be to the point if you want them to read it.</p>
<p>As for new work, my personal opinion (and I'm not a college admissions officer) is that you should try to mix your style with life drawing. The purpose of life drawing is to show skills in composition, perception of light and shadow, perspective, etc. so make a point of including those elements, and beyond that you can be creative. Oh, and I meant vanitas as an example of how a still life could be given a "deeper meaning" and not literally at all :P</p>
<p>I would also recommend NAPD to gather advice and find out which schools seem receptive to you (good fit). That helped me narrow down my college search.</p>
<p>Thank you ever so much. It seems as if I must have to drive down to Sarasota or Miami (from Charlotte, NC). I suppose it is too late to send in an artist statment to schools I have applied to allready? Also I think it would be in my intrest to not include it to a school that states "DO NOT send in an artist statement".
Once again thank you for your advice. I will certainly get on some life drawings for RISD and any other schools that seem of intrest. Do you have any schools that you reccomend that appreciate conceptual art. I also seek to have a nice undergraduate education as well, as I am rather sure that I would like to either have the opportunity to double major, or at least have a solid background in learning, as I truely have a passion and joy for it.
Also, I really do not enjoy divulging the entirety of my meaning, and sometimes even appreciate confusing the interpreter in order to further drive the interpretive aspects of art, and to concede all true meaning to them as well.</p>
<p>Thank you once again.</p>
<p>You are off to a great start. </p>
<p>Don't get too involved with explaining your work. Good art creates questions, but does not necessarily resolve them. Your work is intriguing enough for me to be willing to look a little closer and put the pieces together. For the most part, the titles work nicely with the work and fills in a few blanks an admissions person might like if time is a consideration. Nice job.</p>
<p>If I may interject a personal opinion/criticism? I hate the sticky note on the Topographic Map of a Migrant. The concept could/should be embedded within the the text on the forehead. The idea of a to do list that evolves into something else can be stated with more subtlety. The message does add some clarity, it's just that I hate the sticky note itself. It detracts from what is interesting about the work and makes it the subject matter. It ought not to be so prominant because it is not interesting. </p>
<p>Your traditional drawing skills are below average - based on one sample, but that's a matter of instruction and experience and no one will find fault with your potential. It wouldn't surprise me if these skills blossomed overnight (with effort of course). It happens regularly.</p>
<p>The one piece you offer would succeed better as a simple contour line drawing. When exploring tonal values with charcoal, explore quality of light. Your sample is very flat, and you are dependent upon using line to establish form. Try to minimize the dependence on using line, and use contrast to define edge instead. Using a white Conte crayon on black paper is a good way to begin. Focus first on establishing the highlights. Then build the midtones. A goal for you might be two drawings with pen/pencil/charcoal. If you can produce two quality pieces that would be enough - unless a school requires otherwise.</p>
<p>There is every reason to believe you will continue to grow and produce art that is exciting and intriguing. Best of luck to you. Work hard and it's all out there for you. I would be very confident in your ability to sudceed, personally and professionally.</p>
<p>Thank you ever so much for all of your help.</p>
<p>I do appreciate your criticism on Topographic Map of a Migrant. I initially put it there because I needed to keep the two pieces together, and it was sticking on my portfolio binder, when I wrote the note I have not a clue. I felt that it also had something to do with the piece, so I kept it. </p>
<p>Do you have any other more specific instructions on what is included? Should Teenage Nimrod Riot be excluded then [It is humorous because whilst a fellow Deep Springs applicant told me it was my best work, I too feel that it is sorely lacking. It was actually more subtle at one point, but my art teacher told me to go back and make more sweeping highlights to enliven the work and have it match the rest of my pieces]? I will bring your comments to my art instructor and ask her to help me over the next month to help me with this. Up until now I have been rather independent in my art class, and I appreciate where I have gotten myself, however now I understand that I really do need assistance with direction</p>
<p>I truly do appreciate all the help you are giving me, perhaps in a couple of weeks I might post a pen/pencil/charcoal drawing (probably a pencil drawnig, as that is what RISD seeks out)</p>
<p>Thank you once again in both your kind words and your criticisms.</p>
<p>your artwork shows little technical ability and if you lack the fundamentals, then you will really struggle in art school usually most college want to see some observational drawings as well</p>
<p>
[quote]
The violence and cold humor have sculpted his outside self, yet within he lies cold, dead, and content. A fish out for market.
[/quote]
There are schools that are into stuff like this, and it actually is possible to make a career for yourself without observational drawing skills. Don't fall into that trap though. I think an artist should be able to make work that speaks for itself. A simple clear idea usually reaches more people and does better. Drawing is visual thinking, if you choose not to develop your drawing skills you're abandoning the strongest way to develop observational skills.</p>
<p>What I'm saying is, you can get into some art schools with the portfolio you have. But you have to decide if you really want to do nothing but collages forever, and if that's going to pay the bills.</p>
<p>If you want help with your observational drawing you should try conceptart.org.</p>
<p>Thank you for the suggestions on drawing. I by no means hope to make a sole carreer out of "collage work" however was aiming to have a some what coehsive concentration. It just so happens that I felt that this style helped portray what I sought to get across, whether it demonstrated techincal ability or not.</p>
<p>I understand that I need to include some drawing pieces in my portfolio. Also thank you for the suggestion of conceptart.org. Whilst I may not neccesarily aspire to reach the styles of most of the artists, I certainly respect and commend the craftsmanship that their art requires. I need to hone my craftsmanship and I understand this. Knowing this I sought to create pieces that would both demonstrate my ability to see a more coehsive piece not only in the individual pieces, but also the grouping, no? If I had attempted to do entirley drawing based pieces, my portfolio would have miserably failed into a pool of mediocraty no? Hopefully I can take these suggestions and add a few technically superrior pieces.</p>
<p>Once again, thank you for the suggestions, and please do keep them coming.</p>
<p>It depends on the school. Some schools really like to see a cohesive vision, I think saic is one of them. Others will think it's interesting if you demonstrate several abilities. Usually the schools that want you to be cohesive are the kind of schools that make you choose a major before you apply. I didn't apply to any of those schools because I'm more indecisive. </p>
<p>It's really good that you're so open to suggestions. If I think of anything else I'll tell you.</p>
<p>Also,
My top choice stated this in the email the sent me for the second round application:
Optional: Any creative work of your own that would allow the committee to get a better idea of who you are—in past years, applicants have submitted visual artwork, music CDs, writing samples, baked goods, etc. Think carefully before submitting supplementary material, as mediocre submissions can work against a candidate. Many successful applicants submit only the items that we require.</p>
<p>Can my portfolio feasibly hurt or help me? Should I include it? (It is a hyper-competitve liberal arts college that accepts only 11-15 students a year)</p>
<p>//your artwork shows little technical ability and if you lack the fundamentals, then you will really struggle in art school usually most college want to see some observational drawings as well//</p>
<p>Don't take this comment to heart. It is clear that you have a creative and expressive mind, and your work does have very good artistic merit. Any college will teach you the fundamentals. You may or may not struggle to learn them, but learn them you will, and you will succeed.</p>