<p>I have a few questions about NPD for those who have gone, or parents of those who have gone. First most of the things I would like to take are on canvases, some of which are pretty large (36 x 24). Would I be better of photographing these and bringing them in a portfolio book, or lugging them around with me? Second Im not sure exactly what pieces I should bring. Im planning to apply as a transfer illustration student. Several schools have completely opposite guidelines for your portfolio. For instance, Ringling wants pretty much all drawings from observation, especially figure drawing. RISD wants you to show that youll fit into your major, so they mostly want illustrations. Should I bring different portfolios to show?</p>
<p>You could bring some of everything. I see people lugging around canvasses larger than yours. Use a portfolio case. You dont need an expensive one, just get a red paper/cardboard type. Bring your doodling, sketchbook, scratch books, and yes everyone like to see figure drawing. Bring a friend or parent to stand in place for you because the lines are long.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately portfolio cases can’t really fit more than two canvases (just tested it out), and I’m not sure if those red ones come in 24 x 36. The one I have right now is 22 x 31. Do you think I should just strap the canvases together and have my flatter stuff in a portfolio?</p>
<p>I remember seeing this kid with his Dad bringing in huge canvases. They had rigged up a luggage cart with some kind of box attached to it with a bunch of bungee cords keeping things together.</p>
<p>I’ve been to a couple both with my D and also as a chaperon for other kids. I’ve seen kids with LOTS of larger pieces - they find floor space where there are no exhibitor tables set up and lay their work flat on the floor or prop them against the wall. Then they would stand in the line with their smaller stuff in a portfolio and then take the reviewer over to the area of the room that had their larger stuff. Some reviewers were willing to walk over, and some were not. The rooms we were in were usually too small for the number of kids, so be prepared to be crowded. Wear comfy shoes and ladies, leave the purse at home. Use a light backpack to carry your stuff, bring snacks and water, because once you get there you won’t want to take a break and miss critique chances. Put a large variety of things in your portfolio, schools want to see that you are not a one-trick pony, no matter what your major is. D is now an illustration major, and her portfolio consisted of digital work, life drawings, illustrations, and photographs. Be prepared to talk about your work, they ask questions like “What inspired you to do this?”, “Where do you get your ideas from?” etc. Do not forget your sketchbooks, many reviewers will ask to see them.</p>
<p>As TheresaCPA says, bring a friend/parent to stand in line. The more “popular” schools will have LONG lines - RISD, SAIC, SVA, Pratt. If you are absolutely set on one of these, get in those lines first. Have your stand-in, get in one of the other lines. Then when you are done with the first line, you go and meet them in the line they are in. Make sure you go to the schools you are most interested in first. After that, go to as many schools as you possible can, even if you don’t think you’re going to attend any of those schools. You’ll find representatives from schools with only a few people in line will devote more time to you because they know there’s not 50 people behind you that they have to get thru as well. Remember you are there for the critique, and the more you get, the better. Some schools will accept your portfolio on the spot, but will NOT guarantee merit scholarships or acceptance into the school. Use that backpack to gather as many brochures and information as you can, even from schools that you only have a marginal interest in. You never know where you will end up applying!</p>
<p>Wow! Thanks for the great advice redbug! I’m definitely bringing snacks, etc. I think I might bring lunch since registration is at 10:30 and the reviews start at 12.
Hmm…I don’t know if I’ll be able to recruit anyone to stand in lines for me. I’m going with a friend who’s applying to schools this year too, so she’ll be standing in line for herself lol. I think I may go to two portfolio days this year, so that I won’t be so stressed to get to every school I wanted to. The one closest to me is in Philly on the 31st, but there is one in Baltimore on Dec. 5th. That would give me time to make my portfolio better and get some more helpful advise I think.
As for diversity of work, how diverse do you mean? I plan on bringing figure drawings, paintings (mostly illustrations), pastel drawings, etc. As I said earlier, I’m applying as a transfer student, which means I’m applying directly to the illustration department.
I’m actually really reluctant to bring my sketchbook, since it’s personal and was never meant for people to see. But everyone says I should so…</p>
<p>While the schools like to see sketchbooks, I would say that they are not absolutely critical. My daughter was always (and still is) very protective of her sketchbook. It killed her to have to send it in to Cooper where that was a carved-in-stone requirement. </p>
<p>She didn’t really use her sketchbook to plan her other work – that’s just not how she works. If she did a thumbnail drawing for a piece, it would be on a scrap of paper which she invariably lost. She did have some color studies of some pieces, and some incomplete or partial works that showed how she processed things (mentally, that is) and she showed them that. For instance, she took a botanical art class where she had done a graphite drawing of a pinecone, that she then turned around and did in colored pencil. </p>
<p>She took notes on the critiques. Different schools wanted to see different things in her portfolio. She is an illustration major and I remember the guy that critiqued her at NPD last year from Pratt was the head of the illustration department there and he asked her to add some ‘situational drawings’ to her portfolio. Some pieces some schools really really loved and then other schools really didn’t like the same piece. So ask the schools which pieces they liked and note those.</p>
<p>She did have some schools accept her portfolio on the spot. Other schools gave her the option to have them accept it there or formally submit it later on. </p>
<p>Last year we went to two NPDs and each time took three people to stand in line. That’s the way to do it. She got to a large number of schools – and we’re in the NY area, so the NPDs were VERY crowded.</p>
<p>I have seen people with refrigerator boxes full of large canvases – hauled around on a dolly - -I’ve seen people bring in pieces of furniture to show for NPD. Just remember you’ll be on your feet all day and depending on the weather, it can get really stuffy and HOT in the rooms they have for the reviews.</p>
<p>G-mom is right, what one reviewer likes, one may not. Since you are thinking about transferring to MCAD, make sure you see them first. My D went 2 years, and they had the same reviewer there (which turned out to be her admissions counselor), who was awesome. The first year he told her what to work on, the second year he accepted her portfolio on the spot. Be as diverse as possible, putting in your strongest work. Go to both if you can swing it, it will not hurt and only help. Try hard to get someone to go with you, if just to help you carry and organize - non-art friend, parent, significant other. I loved going to NPD, wish I was closer, I’d volunteer to be your sherpa!</p>
<p>Unfortunately MCAD isn’t coming to my portfolio day. :(. One of the admissions counselors has contacted me and said that they can give me advice on work I have posted online (flickr, etc.). So as soon as I photograph my stuff I’ll be doing that.</p>
<p>My daughter will be attending the NPD in Philadelphia on Oct 31. This will be her first experience presenting her work in person and she is not sure what to expect. Hopefully someone can answer a few questions that we have at this point. She has gotten a late start on building a portfolio as she only decided in July to become an art major. Therefore she probably has only 12-15 pieces that she would consider portfolio quality. Is that enough?? Also, with each school having different portfolio requirements, is it necessary to research and meet those requirements as to number/types of artwork presented during these reviews? Should the artwork be matted? Finally, is it frowned upon to get a review from a school that she has no intentions of applying to? I was thinking that the more feedback she gets, the more she will know what to work on. I would also assume that it is not necessary to have already submitted an application before getting a review. Thanks for any info you can provide.</p>
<p>It’s not such a formal process that you need to get anything matted. She can even bring works in progress and ask for feedback and advice. It’s fine to speak to schools that she’s not applying to - they will hope to change her mind about that!</p>
<p>Attending a NPD is a great exercise in becoming comfortable in presenting and talking about your art, as well as learning to hear constructive criticism of your (daughter’s) work. Art schools don’t expect you to be an expert at any of this - they’re there to give you advice and assess, based on your work, what your potential is to be successful at their school. NPD’s are a bit chaotic and noisy, but fun. You’ll most likely have to wait on line to see most admissions officers, but here’s a tip: since you’re undecided on where to apply, wait on a couple of short lines - the folks there are likely to spend more time talking to you, and you’ll come away feeling it was worth it. There are MANY wonderful art schools in the IS, besides the brand name ones. Also, do pay attention to portfolio requirements by school. Most will ask for 10-15 pieces total, and you still have time to add to and edit your work. good luck!</p>
<p>Not necessary to have submitted an application anywhere. Many kids come during their sophomore and junior years of college for the critique and feedback. Make sure she brings sketchbooks if she has them, and then you stand back and watch.</p>
<p>The agenda for the NPD in Philadelphia states that registration begins at 10:30 and the reviews begin at 12:00. What is involved with registration? Is it a good idea to arrive before 10:30 to avoid a wait? I suppose if you register early, you will still have to wait until 12 to speak to any reviewers. On the other hand, if you register later, the lines for registration and for each school would be longer. Also, how many different schools should my daughter expect to be able to talk to in one day?</p>