Simple portfolio tips for art school applications for Art Foundation courses
Go to open days.
An open day is a great opportunity to explore an area and get a feel for the course. At the interview stage, many tutors make a point of asking if you have attended any and it looks bad when you say you haven’t. Make sure you attend them!
Go with a family member or a friend, and ask plenty of questions. Have a look at workshop facilities, the library, the studios, and the accommodation. Speak to tutors on the course and ask their advice on what they are looking for in a portfolio, and if they have any other specific entry requirements. Ask students about their experience on the course, and ask them what they are planning to do next. On the journey home, write notes about your day, and the information you have learned when it is fresh in your mind.
Write an intriguing and honest personal statement.
Your personal statement is a chance for you to share your interests, hopes, and inspirations. Don’t be tempted to copy someone else’s - it will be obvious that it is not a reflection of you and your work. Don’t bother with fluffy, waffly language. Say what you mean, and be clear and concise. Mention artists, exhibitions, art movements and artworks that have inspired you, and more importantly, how these have influenced your own work. Talk about your ambitions for the future. Are you interested in pursuing degree level study? How would a foundation help you develop your skills? It’s an opportunity to explain what you want to learn, not a chance to boast about all the stuff you already know.
Check, check, and check again.
Remember to check entry requirements before sending off your lovingly crafted personal statement - some applications require 500 words, some require only 150, and so on. My advice would be to have a general statement that you can adapt to fit each application, rather than just one that you send everywhere. Remember to have a couple of sentences that mention the course specifically, and why you think you would be a good fit. If you’re dyslexic or need some extra help with your spelling and grammar, approach a friend or teacher to proofread your application forms. Grammarly is a useful tool for this.
You can apply to as many (or as few) colleges as you want.
As applications are not done through UCAS, you must apply directly to the course with the correct forms and entry requirements. Have a look at their website and make notes on what they’re looking for – is it an online portfolio link? Do they prefer postal or email applications? Perhaps they require a certain number of pages in physical portfolios, or want to see more life drawing than final pieces. Most importantly, make sure you write down every deadline in a calendar or diary, and send in your applications well ahead of time. Some of the forms take a while to fill out so allow yourself plenty of time.
Start strong, end strong.
Your portfolio should introduce your work straight away. The tutor will make up their mind within the first few seconds of seeing your portfolio, so make sure you make a good impression. There’s no formula for a good portfolio, so don’t copy other people’s - it should be a body of work that represents YOU. Are you a great painter? Make sure the tutor can see that instantly. Do you want to show your skills as an Illustrator? Start with a big image sequence that demonstrates your storytelling. Are you interested in exploring 3D mediums? Take a high-quality photo of your best sculpture and print it out big. Your first image is your first chance to show them why you’re great, so be bold.
Try splitting up projects thematically or chronologically. Try different ways of organising your sheets so there is intrigue and flow to your work. You can contrast textures, flip between colour and black and white, and show the progression of an idea from conception to the final piece. Some enlarged photocopies of sketchbook pages or original sheets of mood board research will help to show your development and research skills. You could separate projects with a few images of life drawing or still lifes in between. No matter how you choose to organise your work, make sure there is a range of observational drawing, research, development, and final pieces.
Presentation matters.
You want to show the tutors that you care about your work. Invest in a sturdy portfolio that will survive hours of train journeys and interviews. They can be expensive, but it’s a price worth paying if it means your work is protected from rough handling, rain, and public transport for years to come. Try Cass Art or London Graphics Centre for the biggest range of paper, portfolios and materials.
Go big. A1 portfolios are standard for Art Foundation applications. That means your work needs to be big too. If you’re printing photos of 3D work or final pieces, make sure they are high quality and printed properly. Include plenty of large scale life drawing that fills the paper, so that means no teeny tiny little figures bunched up in the middle!
Don’t bother with the plastic see-through sleeves that many portfolios come with. They split easily, squash textured pieces, and obstruct the tutor’s view of your work because they reflect glare from the sun or fluorescent lights. A simple and cheap way of displaying work is to mount pieces on to sheets of cartridge paper with small pieces of double sided tape in the corners and edges. Measure your work and mount it carefully. If corners start getting scuffed or untidy halfway through the interview process, it’s easy to re-mount the work on a fresh piece of paper.
On the back of your sheets, you could add a small caption if you wish. This is particularly useful when displaying photos of 3D work or abstract pieces that need some context. Keep it small and neat, perhaps written on a white address label in neat black pen. An example caption might be:
Final piece from project ‘The Figure’
Mixed media sculpture
67 cm x 80 cm
Relax and enjoy yourself!
Your interview is a chance to have a chat about your work and your artistic practice with a tutor. You don’t have to dress super smartly, but it’s always a good idea to be neat and presentable. Ask lots of questions, and show how passionate and interested you are in the course. Get to know the other applicants, and keep in touch. You’ll make friends for life at foundation, so why not start now?
Some important things to ask either at open days or after the interview:
How is the course assessed?
Are students able to progress internally to degrees offered by the university?
Do the tutors have their own artistic practice, and if so, what do they do?
Is there guaranteed accommodation?
How far away is the accommodation?
What kind of employment or further study do your students go on to do?
How many contact hours with tutors per week?
Will the students have a dedicated studio space?
What are the studio’s opening hours?
Are the workshop/printmaking/etc facilities available to use for all students?
How often do students have life drawing sessions?
Are there opportunities to go on trips within the UK or abroad?
Are there links with the wider industry? (for example: talks by artists, ‘live’ projects and briefs set by visiting tutors and organisations, opportunities to go on studio visits)
Good luck!
If you found any of this advice helpful, remember to share it with your friends / cousin / teacher / someone you met at a party once. Sharing is caring. Peace xxx
