College Prep: How to Build an Impressive Art Portfolio

College prep time is upon us. The deadlines for some college applications are quickly approaching, and many (if not all) of these universities, depending on the program, will request an art portfolio as part of your application process.

Here are a few tips to ensure that you build an art portfolio that gets noticed!

Show variety with your artwork

This first tip is key: demonstrate the breadth of your work. An art portfolio with five portraits in the same style doesn’t exactly show the admissions board that you can take on different, more challenging assignments. You want to convey the potential for growth into a well-rounded student and artist so, include a variety of art styles in your portfolio.

Be yourself

What makes your style you?

Figuring out your unique technique takes time. But if you can get across to the admissions board that the art pieces included in your portfolio are your signature style, then it’ll give the judges a good first impression of who you are, and what you’re looking to get out of the program.

Get direct

Pro tip: include direct observations in your portfolio. What does that mean?

Drawings or portraits of scenes or landscapes that you observed in real-time, rather than more abstract art pieces.

Why is this important? There’s a good chance that the art forms you’ll be practicing in class will entail direct observation. So, showing that you’ve already practiced it is a great way to impress.

With these three tips in mind, your art portfolio will transform into a monumental display of talent. And believe us, colleges will take notice.

For more information about building the your college art portfolio, please contact us at Hunakai Studio of Fine Arts! We offer a High School Portfolio Development course where you can develop the skills needed for admissions and create a competitive portfolio today!