Art portfolios are an example of the budding artist's best work, and the art samples it contains are arranged in a neat and orderly fashion. An acceptable portfolio will provide the admissions counselor with a variable range of mediums that have been successfully attempted by the artist. No fewer than 20 examples are to be supplied in any one portfolio, and the samples should consist of free hand work as well as digital photographs and renderings.
The preparation of an art portfolio usually begins in the high school years. As different art mediums are covered, the artist can place a sample of the work into the portfolio for future observation. For schools that do not have an art program, it is up to the student and his family to ensure that he continues his efforts privately. This could be through the help of a private art teacher or summer college program for students of high school age.
One big pitfall that up and coming art majors fall into is misrepresenting themselves through their work. What this means is that while compiling their art portfolios, they fail to include a wide range of art samples that show their skills. It is common to see an art portfolio created by a student wishing to enter a fashion design program only containing drawings of models and clothing. On the other hand, an aspiring graphic artist may stress over the inability to provide computer-rendered graphics in his portfolio because it was not covered in high school, therefore the pieces are unavailable. This is not what admissions counselors are looking for, and their review will be based on no one single category, but the entire portfolio as a whole. College administrations need to know that the incoming student is flexible enough in their art abilities to demonstrate skills in a vast realm of artistic endeavors, not just one. And it is important to mention that an art student is applying for an art degree, not an art major, so a broader range of skills will be sought by admissions.
Upon creating an art portfolio, the student must take into consideration that while digital art is acceptable and encouraged, admissions counselors are mainly focused on her ability to draw, and draw well. Therefore, an art portfolio should always include wide range experimentation with different free hand art mediums. Samples such as charcoal and pencil sketches, watercolor paintings, oil paintings and pastel drawings are always beneficial for inclusion in an art portfolio, and are reflective of the artist's varied talents.
For students without guidance or those who are in need of help composing their art portfolio, colleges offer precollege portfolio classes that can be of great assistance. It is also a good idea for aspiring art students to attend Portfolio Days, which are held in all states throughout the country in hopes of inspiring young artists to create portfolios that can better prepare them for college admissions.