Lecture Notes: Portfolio Tips for Art School Applications

Introduction

• Presenter: Zach Davey, Admissions Officer at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
• Co-host: LJ, also an Admissions Officer at RISD.
• Focus: Tips for preparing an art school portfolio, specifically for RISD.
• Format: Presentation followed by Q&A.

General Portfolio Guidelines

• Importance: Portfolio is the most crucial part of an art school application.
• Definition: A curated collection showcasing your creative practice.
• Platform: Use SlideRoom to submit the portfolio to RISD.
• Requirements:
  • Submit at least 12 pieces, up to 20 slots available.
  • Include only your strongest, most unique pieces.
  • Can include process and preliminary work, sketchbook pages, and design/architectural work.
  • No longer requires the RISD assignment.

What RISD Looks For

• Qualities: Creativity, personality, risk-taking, experimentation, unique ideas, curiosity, thoughtful visual decisions.
• Process Insight: Demonstrate how you develop an initial idea into a final piece.
• Examples: Sketches, studies, storyboards, 3D models, prototypes.
• Fit for RISD: Ability to adapt to RISD’s Experimental and Foundation Studies (EFS) program.

Technical Skill and Concept

• Key Aspects of Technical Skill:
  • Composition, mark-making, texture, movement, color, space, point of view, light.
  • Avoid centering subjects; engage the whole canvas.
• Examples: Varied mark-making, unconventional approaches, texture exploration.
• Conceptual Considerations:
  • Mood, idea/concept, narrative, goal.
  • Encourage strong concepts without requiring photorealism.

Experimentation and Process

• Variety: Encourage working outside comfort zones.
• Avoid: Master copies, fan art, traditional floor plans.
• Documenting Work:
  • Use plain, uncluttered images and slides.
  • Do not include text on slides; utilize the description field instead.

Video and Digital Submissions

• Video Art: Limit to 2-3 minutes.
• Digital Work: Apply same criteria as physical materials.

Final Tips

• Focus: Make now, curate later.
• Avoid: Unconventional slide formats that clutter presentation.

Q&A Highlights

• Figure Drawing: Useful for skill development; ensure experimentation.
• Transfer Students: Apply directly to a major; 27 college credits required.
• Major Application: First-year students apply generally, not directly to a major.
• Unfinished Work: Avoid including unfinished pieces not labeled as process work.
• Sketchbook Pages: Encourage varied approaches, observation-based drawings.
• Text Description: Allowed but should provide additional context.
• Portfolio Diversity: Balance between quality and variety.

Additional Remarks

• RISD does not require admission to a specific major initially; students declare majors after their first year.
• Focus on personal interests and unique points of view in your work.