<p>I've been looking around at countless art schools and read countless posts about how you need several drawings/paintings in your portfolio. I'm wondering, if you're applying for the school's graphic design program, do you still need to have several drawing pieces in your portfolio? I'm not particularly good at drawing so I'm a bit hesitant in submitting a lot of these pieces.</p>
<p>I'm planning on just submitting photographs and art pieces I've done digitally. What do you guys suggest on the diversity of the pieces I'm submitting? How many drawing pieces should I submit, is it even necessary? </p>
<p>I'm still a junior so I've got several months left before I have to apply. I'm considering applying to some drawing course just to get my feet wet, and maybe get some pieces included for the portfolio. Though I think that could be the weakest part of my portfolio. Are drawing/painting pieces really that necessary in a portfolio? What do you guys suggest?</p>
<p>silverpetal, I suspect that it would be very desirable for you to have some drawings/paintings in your portfolio -- things you are doing with your own hand and not via machine -- if you are applying to the stronger art programs. At RISD, everyone has to submit their own special 3 black pencil on paper drawings, for example, regardless of intended major (in addition to the portfolio). And my impression is that it would help at most art schools to include some drawings in your basic portfolio. Hence their reference to doing things "from life."</p>
<p>You are a junior, so why not take a drawing course? It wouldn't hurt you at all, and it might well help. And once you get into an art school, you are going to be taking drawing courses in your foundation program.</p>
<p>Mackinaw is right, Silverpetal. We hire graphic designers for our business. They definitely need good drawing skills at times. It will broaden your skill base and make you more desireable. Maybe people think that because you are going into graphic design, you don't need to draw well,which isn't the case. Contrary to what you think, graphic design is not just about lettering or logos. Also, you never know where your training will lead you or what requirements a job or your client will have. Most artists and designers should have basic illustration skills. Anyway, that is just my 2 cents based on what I have seen.</p>
<p>Good additional information, Taxguy. I might also mention that as I watch what my brother does -- he works in animation for Warner Brothers -- there, too, while some people come into this area almost totally on the computer side of things, and get into computer graphical animation (CGA) and the like, there is a real need for those who are fundamentally artists/illustrators and then use applied graphic and other design tools on top of their basic artistic sensibility. For him, for example, his abilities in the use of Adobe Photoshop are phenomenal -- my daughter and I were astonished by the tricks he could so, layering backgrounds, foregrounds, etc. -- but it's his ability to see things and draw things that makes these tricks work.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information, I suppose I can't escape trying not to have drawing pieces. How many pieces do you guys suggest on putting in the portfolio, versus the amount of digital work/photography pieces?</p>
<p>The "mix" in your portfolio depends in part on the quality of the overall pieces you have to present. I don't think you should have a fixed number in mind for each type. They do want to see diversity -- different media, different subjects, some subjects "from life," and so on. But they also want to see your best work, which usually means later work. If you can find a way to take a good drawing course between now and next December or so, you will probably produce a few pieces -- drawings, sketches, whatever -- that you will be able to show. Are you planning possibly on summer school? The precollege programs available around the country at many art schools including Art Institute of Chicago (which my daughter attended two summers), RISD, CMU, MICA, and elsewhere, are a good way to take intro to life drawing courses and also get advice on your portfolio. Signups for those courses are happening right now.</p>
<p>It's hard to say. Some admissions committees want few digital stuff because they want more drawings to show what you can do (RISD somewhat) , and some want to see some digitial stuff such as Carnegie Melon. My guess is that one-third digital and two- thirds drawing should be fine. Maybe your drawings full of color and have some time and motion stuff.</p>
<p>Though the spex may differ from program to program, I still get the sense that they are looking for "talent." Can you draw live/still life things that you see in real life? Can you represent 3D objects in 2D space well? Do you have a good command of perspective? Do you have good color sense? Can you do things in 3D? Can you draw objects/people in context (background, etc.). Have you worked in different media? Are you "creative"?</p>
<p>That's why I wouldn't apply any particular formula to the mix. But drawing is an essential skill, so the better you can do this the stronger your portfolio is likely to be.</p>