Foundation Art Degree interview?

[MillenialAvocado]

I have an interview for a Foundation Art Degree coming up and starting to feel nervous about it.
It's occurred to me that I don't have a portfolio (there was no mention of this at all on application or for the interview invite) but I don't know if I'd be expected to have one anyway?
I run an online card shop on Etsy which I could show them (the course includes graphic design which is my main interest) and have some art projects etc that I've run at work, but this is all I have to talk about since Art GCSE about 20 years ago
Has anyone been to one of these interviews and knows what sort of things to expect?

Do you mean a Foundation Art Diploma? A one year course?
My dd is doing one now. The whole point of the interview was to show her portfolio! That's what decided whether she was good enough for the course. Some places she applied did not require an interview but she had to submit her portfolio digitally.

Yes you need a portfolio. That's what you show at the interview, everything from how you came up with your ideas, inspirations, development, completed work. A mixture of mediums is popular, so some graphic, some things demonstrating basic mark making- sketching, maybe do a couple of life drawing sessions near you?, models and other 3d it sculptural works, textiles. It all counts. If you look in line you'll see examples of art degree and art foundation portfolios being demonstrated, some people's are better than others but it gives you an idea.

As pp says, yes, you need a portfolio. Sketch books, doodle pads, A3 folders, sculptures etc etc. Anything to show your artistic ability. The interviews have been described to us as a way to show what your capable of, in whatever medium you can, but to provide as many examples as possible. If things are too big to carry to the portfolio then photos will do, as long as you can talk about them.

Where is the course?

DD just took her A level art folder to local FE college but other applications to more prestigious universities requested 20-30 slides of images uploaded onto their own platform.

But either way yes, you will need some varied artwork to show them.

For portfolio guidance, look at other colleges (if the one you're looking at doesn't help). Or UCA in Farnham. They all give details of what they require, but it seems generally 15-25 pages of your work (A2 size I think - it can be one picture per page, or several) plus sketch books etc.

It’s best not to take an overwhelming amount. You don’t need all sorts of arts demonstrated. What is useful is making sure it can go with you in an A3 size carrier. Don’t lug in too much as there is not time to look at it. Around 6-8 mounted boards is fine. Not pages and pages of loose art.

What is useful is to show what inspired you. Or who. What experiments you did to find out what media worked best? Say why you rejected ideas or media. Make it a coherent story with illustrations that you can take the interviewer through. Make these up for several of your projects.

You might not have time to extend the portfolio but you must express your ideas from start to finish, your sale site is the finish. Take photos of inspiration, fabrics and add in sketches you used to work
up ideas. You are going for a foundation, not a degree.

Yes you will need a portfolio.

I did Art Foundation not having done A level Art, so had to produce the portfolio in my own time.

They wanted to see enough to judge how good my grasp of technique, general drawing skills and use of colour were.

To see what I was working on and what interested me, and generally whether I had the aptitude, ability and mindset needed for the course.

I think I took about 12 finished pieces and my sketch books from the previous 2 years.

Generally Foundation is a chance to try all branches of Art to see what clicks with you. If you know you want to do graphics, would you be better applying for a course in that rather than a more general course?

You dont need two years of sketch books. They will not be looked at. If the op doesn’t have them, she cannot take them. Also the course should have given her info about bringing a portfolio. What advice do they give?

Ring up and ask what’s expected, for different places it will be different things, when I applied for mine a formal portfolio wasn’t expected, I like you had some Etsy and I also had some motion graphics work, it was mostly asking what my interest was etc

You definitely need a portfolio but it doesn't have to all be finished work or a huge quantity of stuff.

I got into Central Saint Martins as a mature student and it was based on my portfolio and an interview about my work and motivation for wanting to join the course.

Your portfolio could contain:

• sketches
• an example of your cards and the various stages you go through to get the finished product: any research you do to inspire your work, basic sketch, more detailed drawings, and the final design. I would do that for a couple of your cards so they understand you creative process
• maybe a few examples of artists who inspire you to explain how your own style developed
• If you have a website add a few images of your website design so they can also see how you present your work to external audiences
• If you produce designs based on a client's brief then add the brief as well to show how you tackle commercial work.

Only choose your best works, you don't want to have a ton of stuff in your portfolio, just a few pieces that represent you work best.

Good luck!!

Thanks all, some really helpful responses on here!
I've decided that it's not really the right time to do the course yet. For various reasons, am going to wait until DS starts school next year before reapplying. I also had a bereavement last week so really don't have the headspace to be cobbling together a portfolio last minute.
Nothing was mentioned during application or emails about a portfolio, but I know I'd feel much more confident and prepared with one, so am going to spend this time developing it and building up my skills.

@MillenialAvocado By all means show your cards and any other examples of your work you have. I went to art school the main way you got in was by showing your portfolio and sketchbooks, if you have any of them take them with you. It also depends on the place you are going, they might expect you to already have decent art skills and want to start you on working to briefs right away and there might not be a lot of time to show you basic stuff like still life and figure drawing or how to use certain materials. Other places might have more space to show you things depending on what level you are at.

I think go along and be honest about your lack of a portfolio and show what you do have, either way the tutor interviewing you will hopefully have some good advice for you if you aren't yet suitable or it may be you do have all you need to start the course and will be offered a place.

Sorry for your loss

it’s defs worth a ring and ask though as you may not have to prepare one or they can give you the information for what they expect next time

Hi OP, sorry to hear about the circumstances.

When you do pursue the art route, there are some really knowledgeable and helpful people on a thread I started which is currently a bit dormant. Although I set the ball rolling, the best contributions are later on, from people involved in the whole process. Other posters here might also jump in to help those who are new to the whole thing, which is so different from the normal UCAS process! And good luck!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4795276-art-and-design-at-university-for-past-present-and-future-students-and-parents?page=1

Sorry for your loss OP.

I taught on an Art Foundation course for quite a long time and have interviewed many applicants in that time. We asked for a portfolio and used it as the start of a conversation. Applicants from school/sixth form college generally brought a portfolio and sketchbooks from their current course and often had a lot of guidance from their teachers. Mature applicants or those not doing any art or design subjects brought what they had and while it was often a bit random and not as well presented it often said more about the interests and determination of the applicant. I’ve had some great conversations with applicants who arrived with a scrappy bundle of paper and a head full of ideas. The aim of an interview should be to see whether you’re ready to benefit from the course.

When you are ready to apply, try to get as much information as you can about what is expected of you at interview (some places do have quite particular requirements, we were very flexible especially for applicants from non-standard entry routes and we had an Access to HE course as well as Foundation) so that you can arrive as prepared as possible. But bear in mind that an applicant with loads of ideas and intellectual curiosity but not much of a portfolio can still make a real impression.

I would actually say that it’s a calming feeling to be organised for the interview. Knowing what you have experimented with, sketched and worked up to finished pieces gives you confidence. No doubt some people will wing it successfully but for peace of mind, I’d prepare!