Portfolio Review & Academic Requirements

Building Your Student Portfolio

All candidates are required to submit a portfolio as part of the application process. The portfolio should contain 15–20 examples of your best work from the last two years. Your work should include some observational drawing, but you may also submit other approaches that demonstrate your strengths. You should choose work that shows the breadth and depth of your art endeavors and highlights your ideas and conceptual abilities as well as your technical skills.

Portfolio Contents

• Ideally, about one-quarter of the portfolio should consist of drawings (charcoal, conte, pencil, pastel, ink, etc.). Handling may vary from loose and sketchy to tight and fine. Drawings from life should be done without restriction as to content, style
or expression.

• Examples of photography, painting, printmaking, mixed-media, three-dimensional work, film/video, etc. may be included in the remaining portion of your portfolio.

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. Call us at 860.768.4393.

2. Portfolios may be shown to representatives from the Hartford Art School on National Portfolio Days, sponsored by the National Portfolio Day Association (NPDA), as well as on regional portfolio days, or at your high school during our visit. Please contact the Art School admission office for details on dates and locations of NPDA events, or visit portfolioday.net as well as our website calendar for all other events.

3. Portfolios may be submitted digitally by visiting hartfordartschool.org and uploading your information and work to our portfolio review section. A list of images 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 artwork not accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped return envelope.

Hartford Art School Portfolio Review Opportunities

Portfolios may be reviewed during a scheduled Hartford Art School visit (by appointment only, and are
available Monday through Friday) or by attending a University preview day, a national or regional portfolio day, or by uploading your portfolio at hartfordartschool.org.

2012 – 2013 National and Regional Portfolio Days & 
Hartford Art School, University of Hartford Events

September

Sun. 16 Preview Day #1, University of Hartford

Sun. 30 Preview Day #2, University of Hartford

October

Mon. 15 The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum PD, Ridgefield, CT

Sat. 20 Syracuse NPD, Host: Syracuse University, College of Visual & Performing Arts

Sun. 21 Preview Day #3, University of Hartford

Wed. 24 The Hecksher Museum of Art PD, Huntington, NY

Tues. 30 Hartford Art School Faculty Show Opening, Joseloff Gallery

November

Thurs. 1 Greenfield Community College PD

Fri. 2 Tunxis Community College Art and Media Transfer Workshop

Sat. 3 Hartford NPD, Host: Hartford Art School

Sun. 4 Preview Day #4, University of Hartford

Sun. 4 Boston, MA NPD, Hynes Convention Center, Host: Art Institute of Boston

Thurs. 8 Sage College of Albany PD, Albany NY

Thurs. 8 Westchester Community College PD, Westchester, NY

Fri. 9 Hudson Valley Reg. PD, Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY, Host: Mill Street Loft

Sat. 10 Open Studio, Hartford Art School

Sun. 11 Open Studio, Hartford Art School

Sun. 11 Philadelphia, PA NPD, Philadelphia Convention Center, Host: Moore College of Art & Design

Fri. 16 Alpharetta PD, Host: Alpharetta High School, GA

Sat. 17 Purchase, NY NPD, Host: Purchase College, SUNY: School of Art & Design

Sat. 17 Atlanta, GA NPD, Cobb Galleria Centre, Host: Maryland Institute, College of Art

Sun. 18 New York, NY NPD, Javits Convention Center, Host: Parsons The New School for Design

Sun. 18 Charlotte, NC NPD, TBA, Host: Memphis College of Art

Thurs. 29 Portfolio Review Day, Host: Anne Arundel Community College

December

Sat. 1 Washington, DC NPD, Host: Corcoran College of Art and Design

Sun. 2 Baltimore, MD NPD, Host: Maryland Institute, College of Art

Sat. 8 Richmond, VA NPD, Host Virginia Commonwealth University

January

Sat. 26 Miami, FL NPD, Miami Dade Campus, Chapman Center Building 3, Host: New World School of the Arts

Sun. 27 Sarasota, FL NPD, Host: Ringling College of Art and Design

February

Sat. 2 Spring In House Review Day, Hartford Art School

March

Sat. 2 Spring In House Review Day, Hartford Art School

* PD = Portfolio Day *NPD = National Portfolio Day

Please call to confirm dates and times. Events are subject to change. Thank you!
artschool@hartford.edu
860.768.4827