• Private Schools
• Advice Guide
• Applying to Schools

Jackie Patrick is an Art Portfolio Consultant and former Sheridan College professor who has taught in the Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design in the Art Fundamentals portfolio development and Bachelor of Applied Arts Illustration Programs. She has also been on the Special Admissions Committee at Sheridan. Jackie works with private schools and families to help students navigate the portfolio process, and shared her tips, ideas and suggestions with Our Kids.

When should you start?

According to Jackie, a common question is what type of work should be included in the portfolio. Many students don’t want to use their current pieces, which may be outdated or don’t highlight their growing potential.

However, it’s also important not to leave the creation of all your pieces to the last minute. Jackie suggests creating your portfolio over the length of a year, saying, “the traditional grade 11 year is the best time to start.”

How do you get started?

What will be the sources of your work? How can you get new experiences in the art field you’re interested in?

• Take Visual Arts in high school - the class will offer you many experiences and great possibilities for portfolio pieces
• Take an art fundamental’s course - this will offer you the chance to step out of your schools curriculum and participate in more “art activities”
• Enter an art show – participating in a show will offer you even more experience and added courage and confidence, which will positively impact your work
• Make pieces of art independently - if you’re looking into animation, independently draw figures, if you’re considering photography, experiment with shots using different angles and lighting.

Understand application requirements

If you’re applying to more than one school then keep in mind that each portfolio you submit will be different. Each school will have different portfolio requirements, including:

Because each school has different requirements, it is very importance to know the specifications for each and every school you plan to apply to.

But is there anything all schools will be looking for, anything similar? According to Jackie all Universities and Colleges are looking for three things in the portfolio:

Because each school is different, it’s important to stick to the guidelines each school gives you.

Portfolio Checklist:

A short checklist for students to remember when starting their portfolios for art programs:

• Number of pieces
• Mandatory themes
• Explanations of your pieces
• A teachable student: Do they follow directions? Have they followed the listed criteria or have they done something different?
• An organized student: Do they seem organized? How well is there portfolio put together?
• A creative student: Does the student’s art reflect how creative the school is? Does their work show their personal creativity?
  • Do you know what program you want to get into?
  • Have you looked into the program to know what type of classes you’ll take, the length of the program and what types of jobs are expected to be available when you graduate?
  • What application requirements are in place for each program?
  • Have you chosen at least 4 schools to apply to?
  • For each school you plan to apply to - make a list of what needs to be submitted now and what’s to be submitted later
  • Make note of deadlines for each piece of the application
  • Before you submit your application and portfolio check to ensure that you’ve included all required items
  • Ensure you submit applications and portfolios well before the deadlines
  • If you have questions don’t hesitate to ask the school
  
  If you have any questions about the application process for art school you can contact Jackie at:
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (905) 465-5224