15 Art School Portfolio Prompts

Here are 15 creative prompts you can use to get going with your art school portfolio.

Approach these prompts as a starting point that you can develop so that it matches your personal interests and narratives.

Have fun changing up the media, or completely shifting to a different subject.

Wherever you end up is wonderful.

Enjoy! xoxo Prof Lieu

Clara cartoon
Expressive Drawing Track: Touch Portrait Drawings
1. Touch Portraits
Citra Solv Image Transfer Technique
2. Citra Solv transfer
clara zombie fumage
3. Fumage

We would love to see what you make! Join our discord and share in #show-n-tell. (free to join) Tell us it was work from our prompts!

art school bundle early action
Abstract Acrylic Painting Prompt: Sound Effects
4. Abstracting movement
Balsawood carving sculpture 3D design
5. Balsa wood
trace monotype
6. Trace monotype

Mentoring

2 min video

Get fast, specific answers in our Mentoring program! Stop wasting time trying to do things that aren’t relevant to your portfolio

plague doctor mask Lucy
7. Wearable mask
reed
8. Reed & Wire
3D Soap Sculpture
9. Soap carving

Get 20% off our BFA ebook through Fri Oct 31!

bfa ebook
clara pyrography  crab
10. Pyrography
clara octopus bling
11. Deep Sea Bling
Lotus Meandering Artist Books
12. Lotus fold book

Portfolio Critiques

Many artists say to me: Shouldn’t I be able to figure this out on my own?

2 min video

No one can! Mentoring and Portfolio Critiques ensures you aren’t wasting your time on things that don’t matter.

13. Clay foot
Sculpting a Skull with Air Dry Clay
14. Clay skull
movie poster clara fake the nest
15. Fake movie poster

BFA Ebook Sample

Get 20% off our BFA ebook through Fri Oct 31!

Create your own “Portfolio Menu,” a structure which is a solid foundation for starting your portfolio, and staying on track.

Find out what fundamental art skills a lot of applicants don’t know about, or gloss over.

art school bundle early action