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Art foundation portfolios

5 replies

GlamGiraffe · 22/02/2020 07:50

Sorry also posted in education but desperately hoping to catch attention for advice from anyone knowledgable.

My son is compiling his portfolio to present to the art schools he has applied to.
His school give no suggestions.
His work is largely conceptual and involves a lot of his own clothing which he designs from the initial fabrics, makes the patterns himself and then creates the tailoring etc as well as life size sculptures (which lurk in my house to scare me at night🙄)
He does some life drawing and also a variety of paintings some of which are coupled with aroma sprays(?) Apparently to enhance the viewing experience 🤔. I cant work out how this can be captured on paper.
Has anyone any suggestions or experience how it might be best to condense the key stages in images (and what are the vital elements) for the portfolio please .
Thanks

OP posts:
AllPointsNorth · 22/02/2020 07:55

Different field, but still art. My son’s portfolios illustrated the process from concept to finished piece, including test pieces, and included his thought processes; why he’d selected one path and rejected others, what had gone wrong with test pieces, what effect he was trying to achieve.
He also had video clips of him working, with the links included in the portfolio.

FruHagen · 22/02/2020 08:01

It sounds like everything apart from smell can be captured. Not sure how to advise on that

Anyhow you can show fabric samples, patterns and good photographs of the 3-d stuff

Good photos - white or neutral background, sharp, good lighting, straight on angle. Check YouTube for tutorials

Also don't overwhelm the portfolio with conceptual work- show the raw artistic talents as well. Drawing is crucial
Add lots of life-drawing and make it seem like all the conceptual work stems from that

Remember the foundation is just that, don't rush his art development as an artist showing highly conceptual work (or too much of it), show talent, flair and the key basics of art and design first.

GlamGiraffe · 22/02/2020 08:07

@FruHagen
He will definitely include his life drawing and all preliminary sketches for things although we realise the amount is supposed to be restricted.
His school pushes contemporary conceptual stuff so he has a lot of that and he does clothing in his spare time a lot, all the designs etc. He had done print making which I think he should include but he has never done fine art type stuff. Any thoughts?

OP posts:
FruHagen · 22/02/2020 08:23

Yes print making definitely.
Fine art stuff - do you mean painting? I don't think that matters if there's drawing included. You can't be everything.

Sounds really exciting! Good luck to him, what a great time art foundation is.

AlltheRs · 22/02/2020 09:47

He can write illustrated statements about the 'olfactory elements' of his work.
He should absolutely include his printmaking, and show he has a knowledge of it, especially if he has an interest in clothing.
If has an interest in textiles generally, show it.
He could be said to be blending fashion as function, with fashion as visual aesthetic from a fine art perspective.
If the end result is attempts to push him towards fashion and textiles, remind him that fine art is a broader church in which he can do everything and anything at the right university.

What you've said suggests he's interested in the viewer experience and arts relationship with it's audience, so a bit of looking into interacting with multiple senses and being able to talk about that, should carry him well.
Look at the relationship between the display of any item of art and instillation art.
Imo showing as broad a range of work and interest rather than 'here's my great finished pieces' is the way forward, (but don't cram in everything but the kitchen sink.)

Where he's applying may influence what they would like to see.
But what most want is to see someone who wants to develop, wants to try everything, is open and keen, and is going to turn up a lot, (big issue these days) and being passionate never hurt anyone's chances.

A visual montage of who and what inspires him can be a really useful talking point, but he needs to make sure he is then able to talk about them and why, - some students pick specific artists because they think others will be impressed by their choices and sophistication, it isn't what's being looked for.

However some specific (mainly London) places tend to have a 'house style' that they seek to mold students to, and if he's headed for those then research is his friend.

Personally I wouldn't encourage him to look at anywhere that doesn't encourage developing his own interests and style, especially at foundation level. Ask them how broad a church they are when choosing - he should choose them as much as them choosing him.

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