Preparing for an art major

I heard in order to major in art, you must provide the college with a portfolio. Is it too late for me to start creating my creating my portfolio in freshman/sophomore year? Also, I’m not taking an art class at my school. Do I have to in order to major in art? I’m currently a freshman in high school.

Its not too late at all. You do not have to take art classes, but if you really love art, you probably should for your own interests and portfolio development.

Thanks, this was helpful!

Not at all! Take art classes in your school; most HS art teachers will help aspiring art majors assemble a portfolio. Also look around for summer camps at local colleges or consider traveling for one if you can. My D had nothing as a sophomore, no art classes that year, and did not decide she wanted to pursue art until her junior year. She had only a few pieces until last summer, went to a summer portfolio camp at Temple U. and finished another couple of pieces in art class this fall. She went to National Portfolio Day in November and had her portfolio accepted by 6 schools! Most schools actually want to see your most recent work, though my D included a large surrealist painting she did as a sophomore. I can highly recommend the Temple camp, it is pretty inexpensive and they offer scholarships. My D finished a dozen great pieces in 2 weeks.

If you are not getting help from your school art teacher, try to attend a National Portfolio Day next fall (there are still a few in January too) and just ask what you need and look at the stuff other students are bringing. There are also arts-focused college fairs around the country where you can get advice.

Thanks, this was really helpful! ^^

@honestmom‌ Can you tell me how the Temple bootcamp works? I see that they have a morning and afternoon session. I couldn’t find the starting times, but read that each sessions runs about 6 hours. Are you in the city? If not, what did you do with your time? I’m the Mom. Sounds like a fantastic program.

As a graphic designer in highschool, I had REALLY poor portfolio going into senior year. None of the pieces I made 8th grade~Junior year even made it into my final portfolio. After many hours of creative work and design books later I managed to whip up some scholarship worthy work around August through February.

A couple things I did regret not doing before senior year was: go to National Portfolio Days, Pre college programs(THIS SO BAD, helps you progress so well), ask for artist opinions on my work (not peers), and drawing(like a must to top colleges), applying to YoungArts and Scholastics art scholarships(yearly)

Also, start visiting colleges to find your best fit. By the way art school is extreeeeeeeemly expensive so try to get as many scholarships as possible. You might get accepted to your dream college but if you don’t have to funds for it, it leaves a pretty terrible feeling in your stomach. So look for scholarships!

Goodluck, you have a lot of time. Senior year comes fast believe it or not!

@PERplexD My D went to the summer bootcamp and commuted by train each day. DH and I both work full time so she had to get there on her own and we did not want her driving into the city every day. We live near a SEPTA station so that was not too bad. Made her feel very grown up. The Temple station is close to Tyler. The classes went from 9 am until 4 pm each day. They brought in live models (male and female) so students learned to do body studies, which most portfolios need to have. They also worked on still lifes, self portraits (Temple requires one, not all colleges do) and close ups of body parts. On the last day they have a show of all the student work and a reception for students and parents. Everyone my D met and got to be friends with was accepted at Tyler.

Thank you! This was very helpful. I didn’t think about her taking the train.

@PERplexD my son also went to Tyler portfolio bootcamp. We live in MA so he lived there for the 2 weeks. Temple arranges for the Tyler students to live in the dorms at UPenn & take them via shuttle bus to Tyler every day. The UPenn program had students attending different programs around Philly. They provided meals & evening & weekend activities. He produces a lot of great pieces during those 2 weeks most of which ended up in his portfolio. He was accepted to all 6 schools he applied to and is now a freshman @ Tyler. He loves it!

I highly recommend taking as many art courses as you can. Not that it’s necessary but because you will want to be the best you can be.

Sketch everyday and practice drawing from observation as much as possible.

Expose yourself to other areas as well like sculpture, digital, animation, etc. You may be multi-talented.

Think about your portfolio in your junior year - consider a bootcamp on portfolio development or get good advice on what reviewers want in a portfolio.

I think if you are creating art everyday for the next couple of years and still enjoy it, you will make a great artist.

Op,
You are not too late. The animation programs that DS applied generally wanted recent works with the oldest work being 2 years prior. He started taking more serious classes starting winter of soph yr. He did summer precollege at Otis. Risd was too expensive. Definitely go to national portfolio day in jr yr and sr yr (or soph yr?) to start getting feed back.