Painting Portfolio Critique

This video is a critique of a figurative painting & still life portfolio by Crystal Tranquilino, providing a detailed critique of the overall portfolio, followed by critiques for each individual artwork. Aspects of the entire portfolio and artworks are identified, and recommendations for concrete strategies for how to make progress are made. Critique led by […]

MFA Graphic Design Portfolio Critique

This video provides a critique of art art school portfolio, starting with an overview of the portfolio, followed by critiques for each individual artwork. Topics discussed include aspects of the entire portfolio and artworks are working well, and recommends concrete strategies for how to make progress. Critique led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching […]

MFA Sculpture Portfolio Critique

This video provides a critique of art art school portfolio, starting with an overview of the portfolio, followed by critiques for each individual artwork. Topics discussed include aspects of the entire portfolio and artworks are working well, and recommends concrete strategies for how to make progress. Critique led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching […]

BFA Art School Portfolio Critique

This video provides a critique of art art school portfolio, starting with an overview of the portfolio, followed by critiques for each individual artwork. Topics discussed include aspects of the entire portfolio and artworks are working well, and recommends concrete strategies for how to make progress. Critique led by Art Prof Clara Lieu, art school […]

Digital Illustration Portfolio Critique

This video critiques a digital illustration portfolio by Bryan Voell, providing an overview of the body of work, followed by critiques for each individual artwork. Topics explored in this video include achieving a broader range of textures in digital media, how to push the full potential of what a background can offer, artwork titles, and […]

How to Prepare an MFA Art Portfolio

The process of preparing a portfolio for an MFA studio art requires a level of maturity and engagement with critical thinking. At the MFA level, the concerns shift from technical skills to developing a unique artistic vision. This video explores the challenges and strategies that come with preparing an MFA portfolio. Discussion led by Art […]

Art School Portfolio Examples

Table of Contents We have compiled several art school portfolios here for you to see the broad range of ways you can approach your own portfolio! We know it can be intimidating at times to see other student’s portfolios and to get discouraged, know that ALL students applying to art school feel that way, you […]

Art School Portfolio: Feedback

Creating a portfolio should not be an effort that you have to do entirely on your own.  Yet it’s very common that many students do not take the initiative to seek out feedback and help on their portfolios. Don’t get stuck in your own ways with your portfolio and shut out any outside opinions.  Because […]

Art School Portfolios: Color

Table of Contents Make sure that you have both black and white artworks as well as artworks that display a full range of color.  Black and white artworks are important so that you can demonstrate an understanding of a wide range of tones and value,  and to explore contrast and lighting. The color artworks you show in an […]

Art School Portfolio: Brainstorming

Table of Contents Identify the clichés Take the initiative to create artworks that demonstrate your thinking process, that pushes beyond the most literal art cliché. In fact, the best way to combat the danger of a cliché is to eliminate that option immediately. When Prof Lieu does brainstorming exercises with her studio art classes, she asks the […]

Art School Portfolio: Art Media

You need to make sure that your portfolio represents a diverse range of art media. Showing many art media is a way to demonstrate that you have taken the initiative to learn and hone skills in contrasting art media.    Step outside of what you see everyone else in high school doing, which is probably […]

Art School Portfolio: Drawings

Drawings are the core of a portfolio You might have 15 digital paintings with an impressive amount of technical skill, but none of that will matter if you have poor drawings. In terms of drawing media, the vast majority of high school students are creating tight, conservative, photo realistic pencil drawings drawn from photographs. Drawing is not about just […]

Art School Portfolio: Presentation

Presentation matters Be sure that everything in your portfolio is neatly presented.   This means no white backgrounds, no dirty fingerprints, no random sketchbook drawings, no ripped edges, no half finished figures, etc.  It takes very little time (sometimes just a few minutes!)  to clean up your presentation.  The same drawing presented in a neat way […]

Art School Portfolio: Drawing from Life & Photos

Drawing from life is rare nowadays Drawing from life is hands down the number one, absolutely essential thing to do that almost all high school students fail to do. This problem is so prominent, that drawing from direct observation is now the rare exception among high school art students. Following this one directive will distinguish your work from […]

Art School Portfolio: Subject Matter

Table of Contents Show you are open many subjects Depicting a wide range of subject matter throughout your entire art school portfolio demonstrates your willingness and interest to work in many contrasting ways. There is an endless range of possibilities when it comes to subject matter in a portfolio. Admissions officers don’t want to see […]

Art School Portfolio: Sketchbooks

Your sketchbook shows your thought process An art school portfolio benefits a lot from having a slide to show an image or two of a sketchbook spread. The advantage of showing a sketchbook spread is that it’s an opportunity for you to demonstrate your thinking, sketching, and brainstorming process in it’s raw, unedited form. A […]

START HERE for Your Art School Portfolio

Table of contents What do I need to know first? Preparing an art school portfolio for college admission is not a casual undertaking, it’s very common for high school students to underestimate how much time and labor is involved.  Creating the artworks for an art school portfolio is not simply the amount of time it […]

Art School Portfolio: Getting Ideas

Table of Contents How do think conceptually? Unfortunately, many art students are taught to learn technique and content separately. They are instructed to first focus exclusively on mastering technique because they are told that they are “not ready” to address the subject matter of their artwork. The consequence is that students develop technical proficiency, but […]

Art School Portfolio Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid

Table of Contents Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artists Lauryn Welch and Jordan McCracken-Foster discuss mistakes you can avoid when preparing an art portfolio for art school. Types of artwork such as fan art, anime, celebrity portraits are generally not what admissions officers at art school art looking for, in addition to cliche images, […]

Art School Tours

Table of Contents Photos & text by Vivian Cromwell California College of the Arts California College of the Arts is in a quiet part of San Francisco. Two years of campus dorms are guaranteed, and there is additional housing for juniors and seniors. About 900 out of 1500 students live on campus. The three most […]

Dorian Epps

I am a designer and curator living in Providence. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA before I moved to attend Rhode Island School of Design for Industrial Design. Growing up I always envied great storytellers and visual artists, and it became a goal of mine to learn how to tell stories through a wide variety […]

Printmaking Curriculum 1: Techniques

See a comprehensive overview printmaking techniques: intaglio, relief, silkscreening, lithography, and more. Explained are the various techniques to provide depth and insight into the process of printmaking. Discussion with Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artist Mia Rozear and Guest Artist Dorian Epps. Video Walkthrough Techniques Mentioned Lithography Intaglio relief Image transfers Collagraphs Silkscreening Monotypes […]

How to Get Letters of Recommendation for an MFA Application

Many MFA candidates struggle with how to get a letter of recommendation from for their graduate school application. Find out who you can ask for a letter, and the etiquette surrounding that request. Discussion by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artist Lauryn Welch. Video Walkthrough

Which MFA Programs Should I Apply To?

There are so many MFA programs out there, how can you make decisions about where to apply? While it’s understandable that many MFA candidates want to apply to the top programs, there are many other options out there that could be a much better fit to your goals as an artist. Discussion by Art Prof […]

Complete Guide to Selling Your Art

Table of Contents online shops merch finances Video printS CATALOGS events Galleries INstagram Digital Files Commissions Crowdfunding Miscellaneous Etsy Etsy “Etsy is an online marketplace catering to craft sellers and artists. Etsy easy to use, affordable, and has a huge base of potential customers. I always recommend Etsy as a good place to start before […]

Workshops Schedule

You’ll get 2 weeks of written feedback + a 3 hour live session. Work closely with Prof Lieu and get real time feedback on voice! Our workshops are a safe, inclusive learning environment for all artists to get personalized feedback that will serve your needs. Fall Workshops November December “I found that the resources were […]

August 2022: Nature Walk

Art Dare Prompt Go for a walk outdoors Collect a nature item(s) to use in an artwork. Tips The nature item(s) can play any role in an artwork. Feel free to dramatically transform the nature item(s)! The nature item(s) do not have to be the only imagery in the artwork; they can be one piece […]

Purchase an Artist Call

An artist call with our staff of seasoned professional artists is a great way to get customized support that fits your needs as an artist. Table of Contents Customized support is necessary to make progress What can I get out of an artist call? Who are artist calls for? Artist Call Topics Our staff covers […]

June 2022: Contemporary Art Backwards

Art Dare Prompt Find a contemporary artist you’ve never heard of. Watch our stream on how to start learning contemporary art for tips on how to find an artist. We are defining “contemporary artist” as an artist who is alive.) Find an artist  / artwork that inspired them. Ask people in the our Discord, ask […]

May 2022: Home Art Supplies

Art Dare Prompt Create an artwork using art supplies found in your home. Inspiration See our chart of home art supplies to get ideas! Art Dare Leap Use 4 different art supplies. Get started! In the Art Prof Discord Server, we have an #art-dares channel where you can post your WIP (work in progress), and get feedback […]

April 2022: Your Home Kitchen

Art Dare Prompt Create an artwork about your home kitchen. Art media Use any 2D or 3D art media, anything goes! Tips Play around with zooming in on small pockets of space vs. showing the entire space of the kitchen. What state will you show your kitchen in? Are you portraying dinner being prepared in […]

Landscape Curriculum

The complete Landscape Curriculum for Self-taught Artists is a series of 2 videos. Landscape Part 1 Landscape Part 2