12 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR PORTFOLIO IN HIGH SCHOOL FOR ART SCHOOL

WAYS TO BOOST YOUR PORTFOLIO IN HIGH SCHOOL

BY RACHEL SOKOL

hen applying to college as an art major, you want your resume and portfolio to ‘pop.’ Your talent can speak for itself, but industry experts and professionals will be reviewing your work, so razzle dazzle ‘em. We asked art scholars and students to give us the goods on what to showcase in a fine arts and photography portfolio. This is their feedback. Zero in on your ‘weakness’ “My entire portfolio was photography because I was dead-set on that being my path,” recalls Amanda Bizarro ’22, Maine College of Art. (MECA) “But part of the MECA application required sketches--an area where I admittedly needed some practice and lacked confidence.” Bizarro put her camera down and started sketching. “Be open to new mediums and experimentation; both are crucial to grow as an artist and demonstrate the willingness to learn—something schools look for.”

BE PREPARED TO CHOOSE ‘ONE’ OR ‘THE OTHER’

artwork; adhere to what they’re requiring from you. “Every school will want to see something different,” says Jen Campanaro, Director of Admissions, Maine College of Art. (MECA) “For example, at MECA--whether it's a variety of different media and techniques or one consistent theme—admissions officers want to see your artistic voice and skill.”

NARROW DOWN YOUR COLLEGE CHOICES

Focus on two or three schools vs. applying to ten. Says Campanaro: “Picking your top schools early and diving into their unique needs will help you focus your portfolio on what will matter most to the schools you want to impress.”

INCLUDE ARTWORK FROM COMPETITIONS

Whether the winner wins a ribbon or $500, “ enter as many art competitions as you can to keep refining your portfolio with the feedback you receive on your work,” says Annabelle Richardson '22, Maine College of Art. »