PrattMWP Developing Your Portfolio 2022-2023

Top to Bottom: Ellie Farr, Sojin Kim, Lindy Callahan, Mylo Butler

Rebecca Johson Cover image: Keira Phillips

Application Portfolio Requirements

Your portfolio should include 12 to 20 works. 2-D, 3-D, and time-based media is accepted.

Include a minimum of two observational/life paintings or drawings. These may include landscapes, self-portraits, life drawings, still life, etc. We suggest using charcoal, conte crayon or pencil for observational drawings.

The remaining pieces in the portfolio should showcase your strongest and most recent work.

The pieces in your portfolio do not need to be matted, mounted or framed.

Digital images taken of your work should be well lit and square within the picture frame.

Mackenzie Shepard

Preparing for a Portfolio Review

Portfolio reviews are available on campus at the PrattMWP Admissions Office as well as off-campus events including national and regional portfolio days, high school visits and college fairs. You may also register for a virtual portfolio review by emailing admissions@mwpai.edu. Portfolio reviews are not required, but they are recommended as they are an excellent opportunity for students to get feedback on their work. In-person reviews do not fulfill the portfolio application requirement. All portfolios are to be uploaded to pratt.slideroom.com to fulfill the application requirement.

Your portfolio review is also a personal interview. You may be asked about the type of art classes you have taken, your favorite medium, and your overall artistic interests.

Be prepared to talk about your work and specific ideas you were working on

Include original artwork whenever possible. If you can’t bring threedimensional work, bring photographs of the work. Photograph each piece from multiple angles.

If your portfolio is in digital form, you should be prepared with the appropriate equipment for viewing i.e. a laptop or tablet with full battery life. Presenting your portfolio from a cellphone is not recommended.

Make sure your work is presentable, organized and neat. Trim ripped edges and keep work flat. Ensure that charcoal and pastels will not smudge by keeping a blank sheet of paper between each drawing.

For virtual portfolio reviews, work should be compiled into google slides or PDF format and shared with an admission counselor 30 minutes prior to your review start time.

How to Submit Your Portfolio

Portfolios must be uploaded at pratt.slideroom.com.

Select High School Applicants or Undergraduate Transfers.

Please feel free to contact us with questions you might have as you prepare your portfolio. You can schedule a campus tour and portfolio review by emailing admissions@mwpai.edu.

Top left: Isabells Stoll

Top right: Hannah Schade

Left column top to bottom: Evita Yi, Kristine Yan, Ryan Dewitt

Nathan Annaballi

Top: Hailey Henrikson

Bottom: Alyssa Pezzuti

Tips for Preparing Your Portfolio

Include observational work

Draw from life whenever possible. Sketch the world around you—it is a personal response to what you are seeing and improves your observational drawing skills. Record your thoughts, concepts, and ideas in a sketchbook, make notes about your ideas, collect colors, textures and images that inspire you.

Create interesting compositions. Don’t put everything in the center of the page. Experiment with different points of view. Think about movement through the page and how we visually enter and exit the composition.

Show a range of skills, subject matter, approaches, and materials

Use different size sketchpads to create compositions that fill the entire page. Investigate how changing scale can impact an image. Show variety in your portfolio with your subject matter, approach and materials. You may include works such as sculpture, printmaking, digital works, collage, painting, drawing, photography, video, etc. Show a wide range of skills.

Include work that says something about you

Include work that is unique to your personal experiences, opinions, ideas and interests. Express these concepts by telling a story with your work.

After you have selected the work for your portfolio, present the pieces to your art teacher, a parent, or a friend. Get feedback on the pieces you have selected. They might see something in your work that you never considered.