The Student Room Group

portfolio help please

hey guys,
I want to do an architecture degree in uni so if I am able to have a successful application, I must submit a portfolio of 6 pieces. However, I do not do art at a levels and have no prior experience of it at GCSEs either, so I am unsure as to where I could possibly start. I have been meaning to ask the art department at my school but I am not confident that they will be able to help due to year 12 and 13 being both hectic teaching years to both students are teachers alike. So any help to a clear solution would be certainly appreciated.

Many thanks
Honestly we are in the same boat. I've had a look at a video of a guy that didn't do art and got in Cambridge but he had a natural talent in art and probably paid hundreds of pounds in life art class.
If I can help with what I know already is that usually universities send a list of what is required in a portfolio, so images, pictures of buildings, sculptures, etc.
You can look online for free life art classes but they are quite rare unless you have the budget to spend money on them :smile:
If you did anything outside of school that is artistic you could add that too. Maybe research on different painters that you like and try to create a piece of work inspired by them. You could also "Shadow class" previous art lessons at your school(not really sure if this is how you say it). Basically you ask teacher for a particular lesson that the student did and do some parallel work to it as if you were also participating in the lesson, this could save some time to the teacher as they just have to give you the work that they already gave to their own students. I don't know if they would allow you but it's always nice to give it a try. And finally, if you don't have time to sit down and get some work done, you could always bring a sketch book outside with you and learn how to do quick sketches of what you see outside, this is a good way of learning how to draw. I used online art classes to learn the basics I can give you the link if you want.

Hope this helps,

And don't worry I am struggling to find a solution as much as you are:smile:
Original post by an_r24
hey guys,
I want to do an architecture degree in uni so if I am able to have a successful application, I must submit a portfolio of 6 pieces. However, I do not do art at a levels and have no prior experience of it at GCSEs either, so I am unsure as to where I could possibly start. I have been meaning to ask the art department at my school but I am not confident that they will be able to help due to year 12 and 13 being both hectic teaching years to both students are teachers alike. So any help to a clear solution would be certainly appreciated.

Many thanks

Take a look at the following thread where there is a lot of good advice on developing a portfolio:

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=96239577

Try to show a range of skills not just drawings. Also, different unis request different things to be included in portfolios so be prepared to adapt it with each application.

If you Google manchester uni architecture portfolio blogger, you will be able to see examples of portfolios submitted by undergraduate applicants.

Plymouth uni has some portfolio examples on its website:
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-architecture/ba-hons-architecture-applicant-portfolio-advice

Some other useful links:

https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/humanities-blog/2021/04/23/how-to-make-your-architecture-portfolio-stand-out/
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Engineering/Departments/ABE/Portfolio-Guidance.aspx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEstAcYHC8g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0Mim-ogYGg
Reply 3
Original post by dragontail_Lia
Honestly we are in the same boat. I've had a look at a video of a guy that didn't do art and got in Cambridge but he had a natural talent in art and probably paid hundreds of pounds in life art class.
If I can help with what I know already is that usually universities send a list of what is required in a portfolio, so images, pictures of buildings, sculptures, etc.
You can look online for free life art classes but they are quite rare unless you have the budget to spend money on them :smile:
If you did anything outside of school that is artistic you could add that too. Maybe research on different painters that you like and try to create a piece of work inspired by them. You could also "Shadow class" previous art lessons at your school(not really sure if this is how you say it). Basically you ask teacher for a particular lesson that the student did and do some parallel work to it as if you were also participating in the lesson, this could save some time to the teacher as they just have to give you the work that they already gave to their own students. I don't know if they would allow you but it's always nice to give it a try. And finally, if you don't have time to sit down and get some work done, you could always bring a sketch book outside with you and learn how to do quick sketches of what you see outside, this is a good way of learning how to draw. I used online art classes to learn the basics I can give you the link if you want.
Hope this helps,
And don't worry I am struggling to find a solution as much as you are:smile:


Thank you so much for the advice!! And I would absolutely love the link, you are honestly saving my life here :smile:

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