Portfolio Mentor?

[Dahhii]

I have been asked from the school I've been accepted into to provide a portfolio if possible. I've never made one and haven't really done any full on completed works, just sketches and doodles. I was wondering if there was someone who could help me in putting together a portfolio by helping me with ideas for pieces to include (different topics, mediums, etc.) and then could also help me by critiquing the pieces I create that way I could put together the best possible portfolio. Please let me know, thanks very, very much!

[Dahhii]

No one??

[Samuel Gray]

What you want to do is pick out the 10 best pieces you have done (recent ones). Try to have a variety of mediums and try to have big sizes. I recommend on having a still life, a self portrait, something completely out of your head, landscapes, whatever. Just try to have something very interesting to the viewer. Don't have any unfinished works if you can. Try posting your best pieces onto here and I will try to help you with your portfolio. I myself had to build a portfolio for many college acceptances so maybe I can give you a hand.

[Dahhii]

Thank you so much, I would definetly appreciate your help. It's going to be even more difficult for me though due to the fact that for the most part, I don't really work on getting completed pieces done, except for my art class at school, but most of those art high quality. I didn't really think I was going to try to be an art major, but I've always seemed to come back to it and the school I'm going to be attending in the fall, Point Loma Nazarene University, found out I was interested in their Art and Design program and asked me to send a portfolio. I don't really have any finished pieces I want to send,s o I will be sending whatever I draw up in the next couple of weeks. I'll definetly take your ideas though and start working on some pieces like what you've suggested and post up some stuff when I finish it. Since PLNU isn't an art school, they don't require a portfolio to enter as an Art major, they just prefer one, but I'm still kind of stressed about it.

[Dahhii]

Question!!

Can a portfolio contain drawings that used ref. photos to draw from, or only pieces that were draw from life/imagination?

[Linguini]

Sorry if this is late! I hope I can still help you. :D

I believe that a portfolio can contain both, although in my experience, colleges have tendency to want to see things drawn from observation. They may not like students relying solely on reference pictures because the object in the picture is already "flattened" for you.

http://www.artschools.com/articles/portfolio/ This website divides art in your portfolio into three groups: observational, personal , and home exam. Since PLNU probably doesn't require the home exam, I would try to include one of each of the other two groups.

I agree with 1337; a lot of sketches or unfinished works in your portfolio may make it seem like you aren't that dedicated and may make your portfolio in general look unfinished. I also would recommend many mediums to show that you are diversified. Graphite for sure, I would think, ink, coloured pencil, acrylic, watercolour, etc. Maybe include some computer graphics if you do those types of works. Try and include a variety of subjects as well. A portrait, a figure, architecture, a street scene, still life, etc. And also incorporate elements and principles of design and art. You know, colour, shape, line, texture, balance, contrast, etc.

Good luck and have fun at college in the fall!