Is there any value in a HS freshman attending National Portfolio Day just to get a sense of what it’s like and what sort of things are looked for in a portfolio? Does NPD also function as a kind of college fair?
Would it just be a waste of time for the kid? She doesn’t have an actual portfolio yet.
Thanks.
IF the NPD is very close to you then perhaps just to get a feel for art schools and what they may expect.
You can always look portfolios of successful candidates on line.
It IS inspiring and an education in itself. Enjoy the morning and then go have lunch .I wouldn’t hang around.
It may be overwhelming depending on the level of art education and not usually in a good way. There is AMAZING art shown at NPD. That does not mean your kid won’t have amazing art either. Or art done in a different way.
Spend too long and honestly you may come back with very mixed messages. Not all programs look for the same things. Fine art vs animation, design etc.
If you go, please give way to candidates who are there for their one shot at feedback at which is essentially their resume for college admission. It can be a long line, wanna get feedback kind of day…
You can pick up brochures etc. Keep a low profile.
In many respects it is like a college fair but much more serious for most participants. It is like taking your resume for the dream job to get feedback.
I see. That’s very helpful. Thanks @gouf78!
My D1 attended the huge one in Chicago her Junior year which was enormously helpful. There is a definite advantage to doing a dry run or two before senior year. D1 treated the senior year NPD’s as equivalent to an interview - this was her time to get on the radar of the admissions office w/r/t her work, academic record and test scores. Before that it was just gathering facts, getting feedback, understanding how NPD worked (especially the crowded ones with very long lines), and figuring out which schools seemed the most interesting and were most receptive to her style of art. She was able to knock two prospects off her list in that first visit.
@gouf78 has great advice here - don’t spend too much time. Your daughter will be new at this and will just be starting her course of study as a high schooler. She’s not where these other kids are, obviously, but in a few years she might be with hard work and patience. A LOT happens in those few years in terms of maturity, artistic development, etc. If she remains more in “input” than “output” mode - feeling out the atmosphere, observing the other kids, getting an idea of how crowded the day is, thinking of potential strategies for future visits - then the day will be an unqualified success. If she’s able to visit with a rep or two at a relatively uncrowded table, so much the better.
She should also visit the websites of her schools of interest over the next few years to see what the portfolio requirements are. Many will emphasize observational work (rather than drawing just from imagination), no copying off other artwork, etc. Usually the host school will have a visit day right before NPD so attending that will provide significant guidance and info. as well.
Good luck to her!
Thanks @Mamelot!
Did your D1 bring a sketchbook or any samples during the dry run to get feedback, or was it strictly just her observing others?
@scholarme she brought her sketchbook and an iPad which contained photos of her other work.
Your daughter will want to bring along her work by the time she’s a junior. While most of the students there will be seniors, there should be a sizable number of juniors as well who are getting early feedback.
I wouldn’t say it’s not worthwhile but like others have said it may be overwhelming. DS didn’t know about Portfolio Day when he was a freshman but we did go to the one in Boston his Soph yr. (We live close by.) It was very worthwhile. He didn’t spend time on the longer lines for schools like RISD but had his sketches evaluated by other schools which much shorter lines. He got a chance to see what others’ work was like and learned that he needed to drastically change his style to get away from manga and anime. When he returned as a Junior he had more real portfolio pieces to be critiqued by schools he was considering.
"He got a chance to see what others’ work was like and learned that he needed to drastically change his style to get away from manga and anime.’
This cracks me up because the first thing my D heard at NPD was “If I NEVER see anime or manga again it will be too soon.” And she came home and totally rid her portfolio of every scrap. It was the biggest 180 I’ve ever seen.
(She still loves it–but it just doesn’t go in a portfolio for art school)
My D1 was told the same thing - no manga/anime. It’s not a unique style and it’s WAY overdone.
My D went her junior year, and it would have been helpful to go sophomore year. Just bring sketchbooks and get in some lines that are not too long - lesser known schools, especially liberal arts schools, usually have shorter/no lines. I remember a gentleman from SMU who was so happy to talk to anyone - he had no one in his line - while the SAIC and RISD lines were unbelievable. He gave her some great feedback.
I think the best info you can get in freshman and sophomore year is to hear from each school what they are looking for in the portfolio. Some might be quite specific and say they want 2 drawings from observation, 2 quick sketches of nude models, a certain number of pantings, etc. Others may say they want to see originality in your work and want to see a cohesive theme or point of view. Also find out if the school is conceptually based (contemporary art) or if it mainly teaches representational art. You can ask them what they consider their school’s strengths. Find out about work space and private studios (some offer this to all seniors, some don’t have the facilities.) Best thing you can do is stand to the side and try to observe the art that you see being presented.
@scholarme,
Your kiddo can just bring a sketchbook to NPD. Can be totally rough and totally unfinished. Ds did not want to bring his rough figure drawings and really edited what he brought to NPD, but these pros can tell a lot just by line weight and fluidity so DS was disappointed that he had only brought more “finished” work.