Art scholarship

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DD who is in year6 has to present a small portfolio, 5 pieces, for an art scholarship for secondary school and I would like advice on what sort of art should she present? also, what materials, paper, pencils should I buy. She is very creative, likes drawing, painting, craft etc buy has not had any formal art training apart from a few things in school. Are they any good courses people can recommend in London.

When is the portfolio to be handed in?

If she's serious about this, she should have been doing drawings and sketches anyway for fun - do you have anything like that?

Generally, they seem in our experience (limited) to like evidence of drawing from life.

It is a bit late for this year's entry, when is the deadline? Royal Academy, V and A and National Gallery sometimes run workshops but unless she has been working on her portfolio at school already it would seem a bit last minute and her commitment to taking art throughout a bit questionable. She needs to present pieces she enjoyed creating and can discuss with enthusiasm.

Hi OP - our prep has encourages dc to prepare work from about year 4 onwards. They recommend demonstrating creativity, observational skills etc so a good way is to have some observational drawing, somethings she has done for fun, maybe try and do a one day or two day course over the next few weeks where she can show her skills and even take some photos of sculpture if you have any.

Thank you

She has work she has been doing at home and school but just wondering if she needs something a bit more professional.

Dealine is January. She needs to pass the exam first anyway.

Deadline is end of January so I think she has time to do 4 good pieces

If you are in south London I would recommend kite studios. They can do 1:1 one portfolio building. Fine art, printmaking and ceramics!

Thank you. Will have at look at it

It's not the same, but my son will be submitting compositions as part of a music scholarship entry (13+). He'll be selecting what he feels are his best from amongst several. I would have thought for art, you could collect a large group of her drawings and paintings, plus or minus other things, and then look at it together to choose a set that she feels shows a range of what she does at her best. Good luck to her!

We are doing something similar at the moment! On top of what others have said, we have been told to visit exhibitions and galleries so she has lots to talk about and have opinions in an interview. A sketch book too is useful, which shows ideas/interests and lots of observational work ideally over a period of time. Good luck

My DD was awarded an art scholarship last year. Her portfolio included a sketch book containing lots of observational work done over 2 years to show progression. Her selected pieces included some fine art of still life in charcoals, watercolours, pencils and ink. No oil
colours. On the day of the scholarship she was asked to do a still life of her choice from a selection on display to a set time limit and had an interview with the head of art to discuss her drawings, her motivations, her inspirations etc. I think you not only have to be a good artist but most importantly show enthusiasm for art. For example being able to talk about favourite pieces of art and having a little knowledge of different types of art and been to galleries. This all adds up to someone who is serious about art.