Hartford Art School

Building Your Student Portfolio

All candidates are required to submit a portfolio as part of the application process. The portfolio should contain 15 to 20 examples of your best work from the last two years. Your work should emphasize observational drawing but also include other approaches if that is your strength. Please edit your portfolio accordingly. You should choose work that demonstrates the breadth and depth of your art endeavors and highlights your ideas and conceptual abilities as well as your technical skills.

Portfolio Contents

Only in exceptional cases will we accept a portfolio without drawings.

• Ideally, half of the portfolio should consist of drawings (charcoal, conte, pencil, pastel, or ink). Handling may vary from loose and sketchy to tight and fine. Drawings done from life should be done without restriction as to style or expression.
• Examples of photography, painting, printmaking, mixed-media, three-dimensional work, and film/video may be included in the second half of your portfolio.
• A sketchbook containing working drawings representing your artistic ideas is also highly suggested.

Portfolio Presentation Opportunities

Portfolios and sketchbooks may be presented in one of three ways.

1. It is strongly recommended that a personal portfolio review and campus visit be arranged as part of your decision-making process. You may schedule an individual review, interview, and tour during business hours, Monday through Friday, and during University Preview Days and Art School Open House. Please contact the Art School Office of Admission for dates and available appointments or refer to our website calendar.
2. Portfolios may be shown to representatives from the Hartford Art School at National Portfolio Days, sponsored by the National Portfolio Day Association (NPDA) as well as regional portfolio days. Please contact the Art School admission office for details on dates and locations of NPDA events or visit www.portfolioday.net as well as our website calendar.
3. Slide and digital portfolios may be mailed to the Hartford Art School Office of Admission in the form of 35mm slides or CDs with jpegs. Each slide must be numbered and labeled with your full name and placed in a slide storage sheet. A description of each slide should also be included, indicating the medium used, date completed, and size. Sketchbooks should be mailed in their original form. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of your material. The Hartford Art School does not assume responsibility for slides or artwork not accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped return envelope.