Portfolio for art and design courses at college?

[Ineedcoffeenow]

I’ve posted this on another board, but on reflection I think it wasn’t the best place so asking here…

We’re in Scotland and DD (15) is in her last year of secondary. For context—I believe she’s autistic (there’s definitely something that isn’t right. But we’ve been waiting years for her to see someone). She’s been diagnosed with dyslexia, which makes school hard for her.

Anyway, she’s a great artist and absolutely loves drawing. She wants to do an art course at college. They require a portfolio when applying. So, my question is how do you do a portfolio? Is is lots of different styles to show breadth? Or stay with what you’re good at? How many pieces? Is there anything that a college would definitely expect to see? Anything that definitely shouldn’t be included? Thanks!

Heya

Lots of experience supporting young people to attend college interviews. When they become available book your DD for an open day to have a look around the art department and she will get a real feel for the things she will be doing.

For the portfolio you can get standard size one in places in the Works or similar depending on the size of her artwork. For the portfolio around 15 examples would be fab. If your DD has a particular medium of art that she enjoys she can showcase that in her portfolio.

In art and design in college your DD will get to experience other mediums of art, such and sculpture and modelling and screen printing, so they won't be expecting a full range at interview. Your DD could also include some photography examples if she enjoys photography, and also pieces that can show colour theory or different textures/sketching or painting styles.

They will usually ask at interview around a particular artists or styles that your DD likes so she may need to prepare a bit for that (but it's not in depth)

She can also include pieces that she has created in school from art GCSE.

Massive good luck to your DD 🙂