Accepted portfolio artwork examples!
An accepted portfolio artwork is distinguished by its innovative approach, excellent composition, foundational drawing skills, and ability to convey a compelling narrative. Evaluating the pieces below through this lens involves assessing their originality, the effectiveness of their arrangement and balance, the mastery of basic drawing techniques, and the clarity of their storytelling or emotional resonance. Each aspect contributes to determining the piece’s overall effectiveness and suitability for inclusion in a portfolio.
Example #1
This student’s outstanding work earned her acceptance into RISD, Parsons, and SAIC, accompanied by impressive scholarships of $25k a year to Parsons and $29k a year to SAIC. Congratulations to her on these achievements! Now, let’s delve into her remarkable piece.
Foundational skills
This student demonstrates an exceptional grasp of drawing techniques. This accepted portfolio mixed media piece showcases impressive depth and skillfully renders textures using charcoal, pencil, pastels, and markers. Against a black-and-white space-like backdrop, a dark sphere commands attention with its beautifully drawn shadows. Contrasting this, a white sphere resembling the sun shows delicate tones, creating a convincing illusion of light. The bright spheres interact harmoniously with various geometric shapes. Then, two dark swirl-like forms on the sides at the top, subtly converge towards the central bright sphere. Painterly images encircling the bottom sphere further enhance the sense of dynamic movement. Overall, the piece exhibits outstanding composition, guiding the viewer’s gaze fluidly across its entirety.
Materials of the artwork
The artist employed a highly unique approach in creating this piece, utilizing mixed media. Incorporating various types of paper such as bristol and transparent vellum, she employed colored pencils, markers, inks, graphite, charcoal, and pastels. This accepted portfolio artwork not only showcases proficiency with diverse materials but also reflects the artist’s curiosity and exploration. Notably, the drawing itself features a distinctive shape with images arranged along the bottom edge, further enhancing its originality.
The Artwork’s storytelling
As a viewer engages with this piece, a narrative begins to unfold. Moreover, the eye smoothly travels through the composition, gradually piecing together the images and fragments to form a cohesive whole. The student aimed to convey the passage of time through this artwork. Furthermore, the accepted portfolio artwork example is dynamic, compelling the viewer’s gaze to continually roam across its various elements that symbolize the passage of time. Additionally, as the fish appears both half dead and alive, and a figure dances frame by frame like animation, the portrayal of eyes transitions from youthful to aged. This thematic continuity is not only evident in the choice of materials and subject matter but also in the fluidity of movement throughout the piece. All in all, one could argue that at its core, this is an exploration of motion for this portfolio artwork.
Example #2
This student was accepted into SVA, with a $23,500 per year for 4 years, scholarship!
Artworks three-dimensional skills
This portfolio artwork not only displays impressive skill but also showcases a willingness to challenge traditional artistic ideas. By using various materials, including wooden sticks, the student creates a lively three-dimensional scene. Among the sculptures are an eye made from a yarn ball and pins, and a clay piece depicting a colorful set of teeth. Sitting atop the teeth is a round structure made from small balls, resembling another eye. Adding to the composition is a soft painting of an ear in the backdrop and a small canvas covered in skin-colored paint at the center. Held up by wooden sticks, the dynamic arrangement prompts an interesting conversation among the components.
Story of the artwork
This accepted portfolio artwork intricately explores the themes of the six senses. It weaves together elements evoking sensations of smell, sound, taste, sight, and potentially touch. Each component contributes to a narrative rich with sensory experiences. For instance, the clay teeth serve as a visual focal point while engaging the sense of touch. Therefore, it prompts viewers to consider the physicality of the piece and enhance their connection to its narrative.
Example #3
This scholarship student’s work demonstrates an exceptional grasp of drawing techniques. While our instructors rigorously challenge students’ artistic capabilities, they also encourage the refinement of their drawing skills to their fullest potential. A strong pencil drawing, exemplifying fundamental practical skills, is essential for a well-rounded portfolio. Through these two pieces, the student not only demonstrates mastery in this aspect but goes above and beyond.
Foundational skills
The first drawing impressively displays both exceptional drawing and anatomy skills. The student exhibits a profound understanding of anatomy, effectively dissecting the body into its individual components, including bone structure, muscles, and skin tonalities. Particularly notable is the detailed rendering of the facial features, showcasing the student’s prowess in portraiture.
The second drawing similarly demonstrates the student’s adeptness with graphite, albeit with a focus on organic forms. Featuring elements such as a wolf, mushrooms, octopus tentacles, and a bare arm, this piece showcases a diverse range of subjects. Furthermore, it highlights the student’s keen grasp of contrasting values, effectively balancing darker tones with lighter ones despite the intricate detailing throughout the composition.
Portfolio artwork narrative
Both drawings weave captivating narratives. In the first, there’s a palpable sense of impending apocalypse. The central figure, clad in a protective mask, sits amidst a landscape of decay and destruction, deep in contemplation. The posture, with one arm supporting her head, suggests introspection about the world’s state.
The second drawing unfolds a more fantastical yet thematically similar tale of decay. The lifeless wolf, overtaken by mushrooms, symbolizes demise, while the presence of a deteriorating arm adds to the surreal atmosphere. Together, these elements create a scene rich with narrative depth, drawing viewers into the artist’s imaginative world.
Sketchbook Examples!
Including a sketchbook in your portfolio is incredibly important. While it may lack the polished finish of portfolio pieces, jurors are eager to see it! They want insight into your thought process, and how your ideas take shape. Sketchbooks also provide a valuable glimpse into your skill progression over time. They serve as a blueprint for your creativity and ideation.
In fact, some colleges even require a sketchbook as part of the application process. The key is not to stress over each page but to let creativity flow freely. Let the sketchbook be a judgment-free zone where ideas can be thought out and visualized, regardless of their initial quality. It’s a space for experimentation, a place where “ugly” art can be explored before committing to a more refined project.
These two pages exemplify just that—uninhibited drawing, where ideas are put onto paper without concern for perfection. It’s about the process, the act of creation, rather than the final result.
Figure drawing artwork
Including figure drawing in an arts portfolio is crucial. Mastering the human form is challenging, and showcasing strong figure-drawing skills can significantly impact the portfolio’s success. This student has excelled in demonstrating their grasp of line work and form through skillful shading. Additionally, the loose and confident style of the drawings suggests the artist’s comfort and familiarity with the subject matter.
Conclusions
These accepted portfolio pieces showcase excellent fundamental drawing skills. In cases where the artwork isn’t a final portfolio piece, additional elements such as figure drawing and sketchbook pages are included. While seemingly simple, these elements provide valuable insights into the potential student’s drawing abilities. Alongside other strong portfolio pieces, these examples enhance the overall portfolio, offering jurors a comprehensive view of the student’s drawing skills and creative thinking.
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