> Freshman portfolio review for admission to the BA or BFA in art
> Types of work that can help us in our evaluation
> Portfolio reviews for admission to communication design and emerging practices concentrations
Visual Studies Art Program
Portfolio Reviews
The Visual Studies Department reviews many portfolios each year. We admit students to the Art Program that have an aptitude for perceptual and conceptual development. Often students possess these capabilities, however, their portfolios do not reflect this. Please read the following guidelines if you have an upcoming portfolio review.
Freshman portfolio reviews for admission to the BA or BFA in art
Students that have a GPA of 3.0 or above for their first foundations semester in the Fall (ART 150, ART 105 and ART 110) will now be automatically admitted to the Art Program. Others that are below a 3.0 GPA must review/ interview during the spring semester of their freshman year in order to be admitted to the Art Program. If they do not pass this review, they will not be accepted into the Art Program and will have to review again in the Fall of their sophomore year. Portfolio reviews follow this process: students meet individually with a group of art faculty to assess work primarily from Freshman Foundations courses (ART 105, ART 110, ART 120, ART 135 and ART 140). Work executed independently may also be included in the portfolio. Come prepared to discuss your work and your intentions in the Art Program (degree and/or concentration area).
Types of work for the portfolio
It is best to bring originals, however, work that is fragile, large/heavy, performance based, installation, or no longer exists should be represented by photographic prints or can be burned onto a CD for viewing on a computer. Include work from all of your freshman foundations courses, showing the widest possible variety of original and creative solutions to assignments, and works representing your best efforts conceptually and technically. 10-15 works is ideal; however, you may bring up to 20 works if you wish. Portfolios should be professionally presented. Mats are not necessary.
- Three dimensional projects.
- Figure sketches from life, including gestural studies, especially drawings showing concern for figure/ground, and design of the page.
- 2-d works that show and demonstrate an understanding of light, perspective and spatial concerns, scale changes, volume, line, texture, that show use of negative and positive space and sensitivity for form or have a feeling for color and contrast.
- Sketchbooks and journals.
- Conceptual ideas for projects.
- Documentation of 3D works, any digital or time based works, sound, etc.
- Works that demonstrate competence/experimentation with media and surfaces.
Please do not include the following; it is too hard to assess your abilities by work such as:
- Direct copies from photographs or artwork.
- Fantasy or animee copies
- cartoons or cutesy drawings.
- Ads for products (unless highly conceptual.)
- Fashion drawings, we do not offer this program.
Transfer portfolio reviews
Reviews may occur be through submission of slides or digital portfolio or through interview and in-person review. Contact the Academic Advisor.
Portfolio reviews Communication Design and Emerging Practices concentrations
Reviews for admission to the Communication Design and Emerging Practices concentrations take place in the spring of the sophomore year. Contact the Academic Advisor or faculty in each area for more information.
Documenting your work
A digital camera (and printer) is available in the Resource Room B41, (ARC room) to help students document work for reviews. These cameras may be checked out by students for a day- see resources tab on bottom of this page for further information.
Digital portfolios
If you are a transfer student, applying for a talent scholarship, or applying to Communication Design or Emerging Practices, you may be able to submit a slide portfolio or a CD. Contact the Academic Advisor, Kim Yarwood, for requirements.
Digital presentations should be structured with a main menu screen that links images, animation, sounds, etc. You may use HTML, Flash, PowerPoint or Director Files. Include text labels and brief descriptions where helpful. Clearly locate and identify the “index” or “start” file. Do not submit image or movie files that are not linked to a main menu screen.
The Visual Studies Art Program reviews many portfolios at each session, and your best work (usually no more than 20 pieces) needs to be viewed clearly (800 by 600 DPI) and quickly. Higher resolution close-ups may be needed for print examples that require readable text for full appreciation of the message. An interactive portfolio is preferred to a self-running presentation that cannot be paced by the review committee.
If you have any questions about this process please contact the Visual Studies Department Academic Advisor Kim Yarwood. It is best to e-mail Mr. Yarwood at yarwood@buffalo.edu or sign up for an appointment on his office door.
