<p>Hello!</p>
<p>I'm planning to apply to Columbus College of Art and Design's college preview. (If anyone attended in the past, opinions would be greatly appreciated!)</p>
<p>They want a three piece portfolio. Since it'd be a rather limited view of my art, I obviously want to pick stronger pieces- does the media matter? What should I look for in terms of realism? Does a sketchbook count as a piece, or is that overkill? </p>
<p>I'm totally new to all of this, any basic advice would be awesome.
Thanks!</p>
<p>From what I’ve learned, it really depends on the school. I thought any art school would appreciate a variety of different medias and such, but when RISD came to visit my school, the representative actually said that we should just include our best works only, regardless of what is generally recommended in terms of balance and variety. You should look more into Columbus on your own, because what they want may be very different from what other colleges want.</p>
<p>Ohhh. I am curious about portfolios for art school too.</p>
<p>Do you already have experience in drawing, painting, art in general?</p>
<p>Because I don’t know how to draw, paint, do graphics or anything.</p>
<p>Where should I begin? If I don’t even have any pieces of anything?</p>
<p>Why would you want to apply to an art school if you don’t do art? ._.;</p>
<p>I want to learn how to do certain things. I mean I like the idea of drawing but… I never tried too hard because I am bad at it… I was hoping Graphic/ Web Design would have drawing but minimal?</p>
<p>How committed are you to art? If you’re just starting this after already entering a community college, it sounds a bit more like a passing interest or hobby than a passion. Going to a pure art college is a pretty big decision…</p>
<p>Anyhow, lots of colleges accept graphic design portfolios, but I think many want to see at least a few drawing pieces as well. Foundation-work is always important in art. You’re probably going to want to take up a few extracurricular art classes to work your way up.</p>
<p>I have been looking at a LOT! of majors in the past 5-6 months actually. </p>
<p>After high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so my dad suggested I go to
a trade/technical college and learn something.</p>
<p>So I went into, Interior Design, but that didn’t work out too well after 1 semester.</p>
<p>Then I moved here, to California.</p>
<p>Ever since, I have been looking at what majors I really want to look into, what kind of things I don’t want to do.</p>
<p>Graphic Design, I haven’t taken the time to learn by myself within the few years I have been interested in it. I just didn’t really think about going in to it because I actually wanted a career that pays a lot.</p>
<p>Now, I realized I really should do something that interests me instead of going into something I will regret.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say its a passing interest or hobby. I had my eye on Graphic Design the whole time, just never really thought it would be worth it.</p>
<p>So I was thinking, since I am in a CC anyways, should I take the AA degree for Graphic Design there? Just to get some artwork I can put into a portfolio?</p>
<p>Portfolios are important, but, to be honest, I think that’s the wrong perspective to approach this from. If you’re planning to enter an art college for graphic design, you’re telling me that this is what you want to do for the rest of your life. You should be learning graphic design and art at your cc solely because you love it and want to improve at it. Portfolio pieces are just examples of your best work. If you keep practicing and learning and taking graphic design classes, you’ll naturally be coming out with better and better pieces. As a current senior with an art portfolio in-progress, I can tell you that simply convincing yourself that you’re working on “portfolio pieces” doesn’t magically make your work any better. If you’re not putting your all into each and every piece and into learning regardless of a portfolio deadline, then you need to ask yourself if you’re really serious about art.<br>
If you only have 2 years left, you shouldn’t even need to ask. You should be signing up for as many classes as you can, and then practicing even more by yourself at home. Many of the people you’re up against have been doing art their entire lives, day in and day out, putting their all into it. It shouldn’t even be a question whether or not you should be signing up for classes. Two years is very little time. If you really apply yourself, though, you’ll be amazed at the progress you can make.<br>
I learn at a private art studio. At the beginning of this summer, a college student attending a cc just like you started coming as well. He’s on an even tighter schedule than you are - he’s already in his 2nd year, and is doing his transfer apps right now. I’m not going to mince words - this guy was HORRIBLE. He started out at the beginning of summer unable to draw anything that remotely looked like anything. The little kids at the studio were noticeably better than he was. I have no doubt that you draw better than he did at the start of summer. But this guy literally stayed at the studio every day for 12+ hours throughout the entire summer. He spent more time in the studio than he did at home. I myself went 9-10 hours a day and he was always there before me, and he always left after me. By the end of summer, he was nearly caught up to the rest of the seniors making portfolios in terms of foundational skill. Once the school year started, all of us started coming less and less due to school. This guy? He’s still at the studio daily, for at least 6 hours a day on weekdays and literally 15+ hours a day on weekends. There’s this little time-stamp packet for us senior portfolio kids where we sign in and out, and his page is just like this mess of black marks. He’s not only caught up, but surpassed most of the senior kids who’ve been drawing their entire lives.<br>
I think you’ve given up way too early. If you’re bad at drawing, get better at it. Two years isn’t the time to make a nice portfolio, it’s the time to get amazing at art, firm up your foundations to mastery level, and come out with so many stunning pieces you should have trouble picking between them when it comes time to make a portfolio. If you really want to go into graphic design, apply yourself. I mean it. When you’re a professional, it’ll be your life - you’ll be working 8+ hours a day. If you can’t do that now, how can you expect yourself to do it later?<br>
I promise you; if you work your bum off now, the results can be amazing. Lots of kids have been drawing their entire lives, but for what, 3 hours a week at an art studio? That’s maybe 150 hours a year. You tank it for two weeks drawing 12 hours a day, and you’ve just drawn more than they have in an entire year.<br>
I know I’m being long-winded, but if your mindset is just…make a portfolio, you’re not going to get anywhere, you really aren’t. Art chooses people who really care about it and work for it. If you want to apply to an art college and you want to keep going with it, you need to be an artist now, and not later. You don’t just magically become one by getting some kind of degree. That’s not what an artist is. That’s not what art is.</p>
<p>Haha wow!!! That was some REALLY great information! I apologize if I made you misunderstand what I meant by the post but portfolio is partially my biggest concern BECAUSE I have no art work, but that isn’t what is wanting me to do Graphic Design or NOT take Graphic Design.</p>
<p>I truly want to learn Graphic Design literally, but I never knew about a portfolio thing so I was kind of stumped. </p>
<p>I have drawn a few things before in my life, I even drew pokemon when I was a kid and recently I was on this game forum and had a pokemon drawing contest and I decided to give it a shot, I actually shocked myself:) I would have to give it like a 7-8 out of 10~~~</p>
<p>I did also post those pokemon pictures on the forum for criticizing and got some good advice and feedback.</p>
<p>I believe in myself that if I try, I can do it.</p>
<p>My mom always said I had artistic ability but I never trust it.
I used to take painting/drawing classes when I was little, I took some art classes in jr. high and high school.</p>
<p>So I am not completely “LOST” at drawing but I just … think I am not that great.</p>
<p>I do believe that I can start off with basic art classes, put it in my portfolio-to-be
for temporary uses and while I get better, I would be replacing them.</p>
<p>I can dedicate myself to something for quite a long time actually.
If I truly love something, I can go ~~~ awhile haha.</p>
<p>I really want to take some Graphic Design classes maybe next semester and see
how it goes before I devote myself to applying to a Art College.</p>
<p>Thanks so much !!! you’re advice helped me think a lot more!</p>