university of florida - school of art & art history -

In order to be admitted to the University of Florida’s School of Art and Art History upper division art program, you are required to assemble a collection of artwork. This portfolio should contain your best and most recent artwork. The entire application helps the Drawing Area evaluate your achievements, as well as artistic and academic potential. Select pieces of work that best represent you and your artistic abilities. There is no formula for selecting the “right” portfolio. The final decision of what you put in your portfolio is up to you! Faculty will tell you to submit your best work. Make certain your portfolio is of the best quality possible and is an accurate representation of your strongest work overall.

Portfolio Content Recommendations

Your portfolio should include 15-20 examples of your best and most recent work. Approximately 50% of the selected artwork should represent an interest in drawing and include some artwork from direct observation. 25% of the work should be 2-D in nature (painting, graphic design, computer generate imagery, printmaking, photography). 25% of your portfolio may include artwork from other fine art disciplines (sculpture, ceramics, WARP). The committee looks for evidence of your imagination, inventiveness, energy, focus and commitment beyond the minimum course requirements.

Your selection of artworks for review should reflect, as much as possible, the creative and technical scope of concepts, material and processes covered within the student’s foundation studies. Please choose artworks that demonstrate accurate and sensitive seeing and recording, awareness of figure/ground relationships, compositional inventiveness and variety, imaginative and expressive content, linear perspective and special relationships (limit artworks that rely on severe photographic reference). Demonstrating a range of sources and subjects is encouraged. You may choose to include a strong page from a sketchbook for a 2-D work.

Each portfolio will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Facility in drawing (line, tone, value).
Facility in design (color, shape, space).
Facility with materials (surface interest, inventive use of materials, integration of material and idea).
Critical thinking (analysis, originality, problem solving).
Creativity (evidence of poetic thinking, evocation of feeling, unusual associations).

Transcripts

You must also include an official copy of your college transcripts obtained from the registrar of all institutions previously attended. For UF students, you must get an official copy of your UF transcript. They must be included in your portfolio package...DO NOT send them separately.

Note: Portfolio review takes into consideration primarily the merit of the work presented, which is not necessarily reflective of the grades received in the courses.

Statement of Interest

Your statement of interest should be one page, typed. The review committee will consider both content and your writing ability. Summarize your goal for study in the SAAH, as well as your long term goals as an artist, in a clear, straightforward and specific manner.

Portfolio Preparation Information

For questions regarding the Drawing Area portfolio, please contact Professor Lauren Garber Lake @ 352.273.3032 lglake@arts.ufl.edu.