The Imagemakers

Portfolio Preparation and Other Considerations for Artist and Graphic Designers Your portfolio serves as a visual summary of your experience with art and/or graphic design.  Most colleges, universities and art schools will use your portfolio as a determining factor for admissions. While each institution will have its own set of criteria, there are keys areas that all schools evaluate such as perceptual skills, composition, and technique. And, although art making is the primary focus of evaluation, many schools will also evaluate the ways in which you speak to your work and how you present it.

This workshop will begin by assessing the state of your current portfolio and culminate with a plan of action for completing the portfolio during the up coming school year. In between you will learn how to document your work, write about, present it, and exhibit it. You will also be exposed to methods and mastery key to successfully meeting evaluation criterion. Besides portfolio development, this workshop will also help you evaluate the types of schools that offer degrees in art and graphic design as well as degree types. There are all kinds of schools for you to choose from, the key to success is to find the one that meets your needs. 

A final materials list will be sent to enrolled students in advance of the workshop. This list will include a drawing tablet, drawing pencils, pastels, and charcoal. Enrolled students will also need to bring their current portfolios. Materials provides will include prints of documents generated during the workshop, and a CD of work photographed during the workshop.

Topics to be covered include:

•   Building Perceptual Skills — ability to draw from direct observation.

•   Addressing Composition — definition of space in respect to foreground,
    middleground, and background, color, shape, etc.

•  Developing Craft — technical knowledge and skills in media as well as presentation.

•  Defining Concept — use of the formal elements of design to express your ideas.

•  Writing in the Discipline — preparing an annotated work list, writing an artist statement.

•  Selecting a School — evaluating degree offerings and institutional ideology.