Your portfolio and interview are essential elements of your application to BA (Hons) Fine Art at UCS. Here are some tips from the lecturers who may interview you and look at your portfolio.
What should I put in my portfolio?
There are three main areas that we will look for in your portfolio:
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A range of work in terms of scale, media and approach. You might include examples of drawing, painting, mixed media, digital media, photography, sculpture and installation. For sculpture and larger scaled work you should bring good quality photographs. Do include completed work and projects as well as works in progress.
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Sketchbooks are an important part of your portfolio – they show your ideas and development of processes.
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Contextualisation – show us notes and examples of artists that inspire you. These could be exhibitions you’ve visited, artists you’ve looked at in books, magazines and online. We’re particularly interested in learning about what contemporary art interests you.
How much work should I include?
Be selective – don’t show us everything you’ve ever made. We’re interested in seeing your most recent work.
Remember we will initially look at your portfolio without you, so the selection, order and presentation of work is important.
Should I just include my course work from school or college?
We like to see some of your independent work and thinking as well as past course work if you are applying from school or college.
Make your work stand out – remember we look at a large number of portfolios, so make sure we remember your work for the right reasons! Don’t be wacky for the sake of it.
Be innovative, imaginative, creative and enthusiastic.
I have been working independently and so don’t have work from more formal training – is this a problem?
No, our students come to us with a range of life experiences and we want to know about how you respond to the world creatively. So, again, include a selection of a range of art work that you have developed independently.
How should I present my work?
Presentation is important, and we like to see that you respect your own work – so don’t just throw the work in a plastic bag the night before.
Do spend time putting your portfolio together and some smaller 2-d work on paper can benefit from being mounted on card or substantial paper. You don’t need to buy an expensive portfolio case – it’s the work, not the cover that we’re looking at.
Remember to clearly name your portfolio.
I’m nervous about the interview, will you be interrogating me about my work?
The interview is not overly formal and we see it as a way to find out more about you, your approach and your work, as well as for you to ask us about the course and our approach.
Above all show enthusiasm and self-motivation for your subject.
We will ask you to talk about selected examples of your work, what artists and exhibitions influence, and your aspirations.
Remember portfolios come in all shapes and sizes, the above points are an indication of what you might include.
Good Luck!