Portfolio and Interview advice for art courses

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Personal Projects – By this I don’t mean fan-art hehe, but thorough research-based projects on something you’re passionate about. For example, my portfolio for Concept Art included a project on water-colour portraits that really got my interviewers attention. Your personal projects should emphasise your unique strengths AND show a willingness to do thorough research and experiment during development.

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Mixed media work – In my illustration portfolio I included animations, creative writing excerpts and work created during my time on concept art. Don’t limit yourself just to the content you think you’ll be doing during the course, express everything you like to do! Especially in art, interviewers are interested in seeing your adaptability and you never know – a project you thought might be irrelevant may be what secures your place!

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Conceptual thinking – Along the lines of personal projects, interviewers are interested in seeing how you tackle work that asks certain questions or responds to themes. This shows your ability to not only interpret briefs but justify your decisions.

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Process process process! – Showing development during projects rather than just finished pieces is vital to show how you work!

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Examples of technique – Probably the most boring yet IMPORTANT bit, a solid understanding of fundamentals such as anatomy, composition, perspective and appropriate use of colour! You may never have thought so but drawing out in the colour wheel in secondary school WILL benefit you!

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Motivation about the course – If you only have a vague interest in the course content, perhaps it’s not the right one for you. Interviewers want to see genuine passion and thoughtfulness regarding your progress and future within the course. This doesn’t mean you need everything figured out!

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Ability to talk about your work – Be prepared to answer questions and respond to feedback! Interviewers may ask questions like: