Saturday, January 12, 2013

Graphic Design Programs Want Examples Of Artwork

By Josiah M. Larson


Graphic design programs frequently have a portfolio review as part of the application and admission process. This can be a nerve wracking experience, since it can seem the next few years of a student's life are based on how their work is judged. It is really nothing to fear if you have taken the proper steps to prepare your portfolio. The main part is to choose an overall structure, theme, or design idea for the collection of work, and then choose the best pieces and make new ones to fit in.

A mission statement is usually provided, and occasionally required by graphic design programs, in a portfolio. This statement is intended to describe the overall unifying goal of the works included in the portfolio and what the artist intended to do with his or her work. You may have trouble developing a mission statement if all of your works were created separately. However, with a big enough set it should be possible to choose a smaller portfolio of pieces that are related. Few artists will work in a diverse range of mediums, instead focusing on a couple like pencil and marker. Although, there is the binary divide of digital and traditional arts. Sometimes a designer will have a long span of time where they churn out portraits or still files. Each of your artworks can be the overarching subject. A mission statement can be as simply as wanting to explore still files set up around the house, or exploring the limits of pastel crayons in black and white pictures.

The purpose of a portfolio when applying to a art and design school should be to establish technical ability, not creativity or aesthetics. The purpose of the graphic design programs' admittance procedure is to establish the applicant's level of basic technique and ability. Consider selecting works that show fine control of a pencil or ink pen to demonstrate your raw skills. Things like architecture and vehicle art should be as accurate as possible with proper perspective too. Proper lighting can make even the quickest of sketches look better than a photo, and would make a great addition. On that note, one of the most notoriously difficult types of lighting are reflections, both reflected lighting like blue shadows reflected off a blue mug, and reflections, such as a bikers face reflected by their helm as they look around.

At this time consider fleshing out the portfolio with more work made specifically for your applications to graphic design programs, it should not only fit the theme better, but have a technical focus. If the portfolio itself is still light on images this will be a good time to bulk it up some, in addition to making sure to focus on purely technical works. Even a simple piece can be fine to demonstrate skill and theme. One exercise that might be good is to try and paint a picture with only sponge brushes or fingers. Of course a still scene of a reflection would go a ways to demonstrating skill. If you work with digital art, draw a piece that shows you thoroughly understand the software tools at your disposal, including brush types, filters, colors, and effects.

Remember that double checking can save some of the worst errors, and that every piece in the portfolio will be properly labeled and identified in case it is misplaced. Prepare and make sure to review your mission statement to turn in with your portfolio. It won't hurt to have a friend edit it. The packet should ideally have the best and most skilled art in. Always remember that when short on pieces more can be created to fill the portfolio.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment