Hi guys, I was wondering about the art portfolio for schools like Harvard and Stanford and such that accept art portfolios. This excited me a lot because art is a huge part of my life and I’d love the chance to show my art to the admissions team. I’m pretty confident with my work, but I’m not totally sure that it’s relevant to the fine art portfolio that the schools are asking for.
I was wondering if that style is okay? If you don’t have the time to look or don’t want to, it’s most realistic pencil art or watercolor art. Not too much conceptual art, and not to much “still life” or drawing with a “free” style, so to speak.
I would only include it if you had some form of still life work to include, and if all the work in the portfolio was the calibre of the girl with the flower crown. But I have no idea, honestly!
(I don’t mean to say you’re not an amazing artist, though! Your “worse” pieces are a fair sight better than most people’s best, but I know my teacher was like "if you plan on submitting something, you better be intending to get a 5 on the AP Art exam with it, otherwise it’s not worth it)
Okay, so here’s what Stanford says: “Students with extraordinary talent in the fine or performing arts—art practice, dance, music and theater—may submit an Arts Portfolio. The Arts Portfolio is a way for students intending to participate in the Stanford arts community to highlight their talents for the admission process. These materials are entirely optional and will be reviewed at the discretion of the Office of Undergraduate Admission and the fine arts faculty. Students who submit an Arts Portfolio are not required to major in the arts at Stanford. Similarly, students who do not submit an Arts Portfolio may still study or participate in the arts at Stanford.”
So they will accept a portfolio, even if you aren’t an art major, IF you have ‘extraordinary talent’ in your opinion. My guess is that it doesn’t hurt - but I would have an objective third party, like an art teacher, evaluate the quality of your work and whether it meets the definion of ‘extraordinary talent’ in their opinion.
I think your artwork is definitely good enough to submit in your portfolio–to some extent I agree with mytosies, but I also think it’s important to realize that AP Studio Art is a much more objective grading system based on technicalities of the artwork, whereas colleges are going to look more at the style and quality of the art (obviously you have to have certain technicalities down, but in the real world, art is art, and it has to deviate from the typical school of art to some extent or else it will look generic). You obviously have a varied portfolio that will exhibit skill in multiple different techniques, and you have a pretty unique style (I really like ‘Hummingbird’ and ‘I Saw the Light’).
Your art is good enough that you shouldn’t have any doubts about sending in a portfolio.
@bosnian Thank you, I really appreciate your input! Yes, your and mytosies both make very valid points. I’m glad you think so! My teacher also told me that it really can’t hurt to put in an art portfolio, if anything it will add more individuality to the application. Thanks for the feedback, and I’m glad you like my work!