A Good Portfolio Should:

• Include 15 to 20 works of art
• Showcase your best work
• Be of a consistent high quality
• It is better to have a lesser number of high quality pieces.
• Inferior pieces diminish the quality of the portfolio.

A Good Portfolio Includes:
1. Drawings from actual observation
- Inclusion of figure drawing is an asset to the portfolio.
- Works done from photographs are frowned upon.
- Too many “imaginary” works are a bad idea.

2. Self-Portrait
- This is an opportunity for the student to express who they are and to describe their personality.

3. Balance
- Student may demonstrate understanding of both black and white and color work.

4. Diversity
- Student may demonstrate skills in both a variety of techniques (printmaking, sculpture, photography, etc.)
and a range of media (charcoal, pencil, paint, oil and chalk pastel, etc.)

5. Works in Series
- A scholarship-winning portfolio always includes a series of related works exploring an idea in depth.
- This could be an idea, which is carried to a conclusion through a continuous process or an exploration of a variety of uses of an idea.
 
Preparing Your Portfolio for Admission:
- Slides are required for application to most art colleges.
- Slides give students the ability to show work that is large or unavailable.
- Slides should be of the highest quality to allow the viewer to clearly discern the artwork rather than be distracted by a poor quality slide.
- Slides should be accompanied by a typed slide list.
- Artworks may be submitted electronically on disk or CD.  Check the school’s admission procedures.

Recommended Chicago – Area Supplementary High School Programs:
Anchor Graphics (free printmaking classes)
Columbia College Summer Program (Film)
Gallery 37
Marwen Foundation (Inner-City Youth)
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Early College Program

Recommended Summer Programs for High School Students:
Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation
This is a scholarship program offered in three sessions over the course of each summer.  It is increasingly difficult to get accepted to this program, but if accepted, there is no cost.  It presents an opportunity for students (between junior and senior years) to study as well as to meet other outstanding art students from all over the country.  For more information, contact:
                Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation
                Colorado Springs, Colorado
                (719) 635-3220
                Deadline: April 8th
               
- The best way to supplement a student’s high school art education is to send him or her to a pre-college summer program for high school students.  Most art schools have such programs and scholarships are available.  This also presents an opportunity for a student to experience programs before making final application decisions.