BRANDON FLYE

TECHNICAL MASTERY

Perhaps the most obvious component colleges look for in your portfolio is how skilled an artist you are. Technical mastery includes being able to apply basic and advanced art principals to your work, create work that shows a high level of attention and detail, and complete projects that are free of sloppiness and mistakes.

Schools are also often particularly interested in your drawing skills because many art forms require the ability to draw well. Most art programs recommend applicants submit at least drawing in their portfolio, even if that is not their preferred art form, and some schools, such as the Rhode Island School of Design, require a drawing sample.

VARIETY & VERSATILITY

While it is expected for students to have an art form they create most frequently and are most comfortable with, art schools want applicants who are strong artists across a variety of media and art forms. One reason versatility is important is because the ability to create multiple art forms, from drawing, to painting, to graphic design, and more, is a sign of a talented artist and one who can apply their skills in multiple ways. It is also rare for an artist to stick exclusively to one art form. For example, artists who work with ceramics or in fashion design often need to be able to draw accurate designs before they begin their work.

Having a portfolio that shows variety also shows an ability to think creatively and a willingness to try new things. Montserrat College of Art states on its admissions page that "Media exploration and experimentation are integral parts of your experience... Include work in your college art portfolio that shows your area of interest as well as both realistic and abstract work using a variety of materials."

UNIQUE STYLE & PERSONALITY

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) states on its admissions page that the most important thing they look for in an art portfolio is "work that will give us a sense of you, your interests, and your willingness to explore, experiment, and think beyond technical art and design skills."

Your art portfolio should show your personality and your own way of looking at the world. You want to show art schools that there is a reason they should admit you specifically, and one of the best ways to do this is by creating art that you are passionate about and that is different from what other people are creating. Technical skill is not enough if you can only copy what others have already created.