National Portfolio Days

National Portfolio Days are events designed for art students interested in pursuing an education in visual and related arts to meet with college representatives in person.

Dozens of art colleges from around the country, and international schools as well, are at the National Portfolio Day events and can review your art portfolio that you bring with you. They will be able to answer your questions about their programs, provide feedback about your art, discuss professional art careers, and can also accept students on the spot to their schools based on their portfolio.

National Portfolio Day Schedule

Your Artwork
Your art portfolio should include your best and most recent original work along with your sketchbooks. You can also bring works in progress. Your sketchbook is an important part of showing your thought process and says a lot about your personal artistic vision. College admissions representatives love to see the way you arrive at solving an artistic problem and your journey, through your sketches and notes in your sketchbook. Sketchbooks are an excellent way to be able to convey this information and speak to them about your process.

Your portfolio should consist of 15-20 pieces of artwork. If you prefer to show your work digitally, then make sure to bring your own device to show the artwork on.

Do Your Homework!
Be sure to research the colleges that are of interest to you before you go to National Portfolio Day. There are 100’s of art students that go to these events and you will be waiting in long lines to speak to college representatives. Do not waste your time on the wrong line! Figure out your top 5 schools and be prepared with your questions for them as well. Check out our blog post, “So Many Creative Art Majors To Pick From” for info on art majors.

National Portfolio Days are free to attend and are a MUST for any high school art student or college transfer student if you are serious about furthering your art education.

To be sure your portfolio will stand out from the crowd, it is highly recommended that you start creating your portfolio as soon as possible in high school. Most of the Portfolio Days are scheduled for September through December, so it is critical to be working on your high quality pieces during your sophomore and junior years. We have seen high school seniors in a complete panic when they realize that they are not ready, and you do not want to put that stress on yourself. Start preparing EARLY!

Are YOU ready?
Portfolio Days are a little intimidating and can be stressful. There will be art students from all over your state with amazing art portfolios. Do not get discouraged. What may look like fabulous art, may NOT be what the colleges are looking for. Your artistic VOICE is much more important than well executed artworks that were copied from the computer.

By our former student, Danielle Ochoa who was accepted into multiple top art colleges before deciding on Savannah College of Art & Design.

Mastermind Art Portfolio Prep
The Online Portfolio Prep “Mastermind Art Portfolio Prep” course is designed specifically for art students that do not feel that they are adequately prepared for a portfolio review.

At Online Portfolio Prep we have over 45 years of combined art education experience and have helped numerous students get into, and be awarded scholarships to, the top art schools across the country. We know exactly what the colleges are looking for, and what they do NOT want to see and have designed this online course to help you develop your own original artistic vision.

By Mastermind Student, Anna Grace Askelson

About the Mastermind
The Mastermind is completely online, and at only $97 is extremely affordable, which makes it so convenient for you. Each week you will receive art assignments, digital downloads, sketchbook projects along with video tutorials, art history connections and art resources every week for 8 weeks. It is an intensive program that will really help art students that are in need of a high quality art education.

Who Is The Mastermind For?

• High school juniors and seniors looking to create their art portfolio for admission and scholarships to art colleges.
• Advanced Placement Studio in Art students that are enthusiastic to get additional ideas, feedback and support from professional artists/teachers while growing their body of artwork.
• High school freshmen and sophomores that are serious about learning and want to get a head start on creating their art portfolios.
• Home schooled students without access to trained fine art professionals/teachers.
• High school students that do not have transportation to physically attend art classes outside of school.
• College students looking to change majors and need to submit a portfolio of work.
• People applying to an art related job and need to show off their artistic skills in a professional manner.
• Students that do not have room in their schedules for advanced level art classes.
• Students looking to improve their art skills and art education through an intensive, supportive and individualized approach.
  
  Who Is This Course NOT For?
• Students that are not highly motivated to achieve success through their art.
• Students that are not open to constructive feedback and advice regarding their artwork.

Private Online Consultation With The Teachers Available
In addition to the Mastermind course, we are also providing this personalized service to our online students if desired. 

Through private online consultations with you, we will work directly with you to see where you stand in your portfolio development. We will provide you with feedback and support regarding your artwork along with art assignments, projects and sketchbook challenges designed to increase your ability to think creatively and create artwork that is a unique representation of who you are as an artist.

We will guide you, step by step, through the process of producing a high quality competitive art portfolio.

Check out our Student Testimonials. 

Drawing By our former student, Cole Poska currently attending Pratt Institute in New York City.

Your National Portfolio Day Visit
Go confidently, be prepared, be proud of who you are, be excited to show off your artwork and be able to articulate your artistic vision, and…have FUN!

Good luck and we look forward to working together with you on your exciting artistic journey!

 
Eileen Baumeister McIntyre & Patti Kern

[email protected]