Heya, recently I have been attempting to look at several different uni's mostly because I have noticed that my improvement slows almost to a stop when I am not in education and I don't like it so yeah I'm trying to apply. Thing is there are, naturally, several requirements including a portfolio and while I have a vauge idea what should be included in a portfolio, a particular university that I was looking at, listed notebooks as something that could be included. I want to do as much as I can to get myself into university and therefore am eager to build up and include a notebook but am unsure as to what this would actually include.

So yeah basically my question is what you all think would be included in an artistic notebook, or is this merely another word for a sketchbook? I actually would quite like some guidelines on what should be included in a portfolio. I know that a whole range of media's, subjects and techniques should be included, but are there things that should be strictly avoided putting in a portfolio and what should be recommended?

Thanks in advance for the help

I hope that makes sense

Hello,

I suggest that you contact the University in question and ask them. I'm sure that they will be more than happy to answer your questions. There is really no need to guess at what they may be looking for or what they mean by a notebook.

Regards,
RJ

thank you for the reply rj,

I was a little bit dubious of asking the university as it may appear as if I am not capable of figuring it out or researching these things myself. I managed to find, some general tips on building portfolio's and while this is helpful, it is only helpful to a certain extent. I am also aware that most portolio application's have to be specific to the subject your interested in taking and I was going to include that in my original post, but the thought to, left my head as such things do

But yes I will either ask a university at the open days that they run or contact a personal advisor, so thank you

There are usually guidelines on the university's website for what is required for a portfolio. Ask by all means, as they get lots of prospective students asking about how to prepare one.

And content isn't limited to the subject you're interested in. An art school wants to see you produce a wide variety of subject matter and in all mediums and supports. Sketchbooks, paintings, drawings. And they usually prefer that you have drawn or painted from life, not photographs. They want to see what you can do and what your potential is, not a portfolio full of only one subject in one medium.

yeah I get what you mean but I meant they will want subject specific material like there's not much reason behind putting a sculpture in your portfolio if you are applying for a painting class. I don't want to really go for a very generic course like art and design; I'm going in for fine art instead so yeah although that is generic I somewhat realise they may not want a media that is not thought as 'fine art'. However I realise that there is alot of speculation/debate on the actual definition of fine art.

Anyway I was actually thinking that I shouldn't include any art/pictures done from photo's at all. And I will continue with that plan unless, it turns out that I need something to show the differentation on what media's I can use i.e if I don't have enough of different media's when the time comes. The generic tips I found through UCAS, interestingly enough said to research the course you are applying for and build a portfoilio around that. They probably mean this in a loose sense and therefore not to stick to it like glue.

I'm glad for your input Islander, I had hoped that you would comment