Portfolio is a collection of images which would show the student's ability, creativity and personality.

We talk about good and bad in terms of a format and organization of information in it, not meaning the mastery level of our potential students. Regarding the mastery of works, after the interview students might be recommended to attend the Foundation course or any of the other courses we run before Foundation'. Interview is not an exam. It aims at finding of a perfect fit for a student.

First, we expect students to bring an A1 size portfolio which would include their original artwork, not only digital prints. A portfolio should contain at least 10 plastic sleeves. Works should be displayed on both sides, so, totally, it will be around 20 pages of works. There is no need to put sections and titles. The portfolio should speak visually about the journey, no need to make it clear to us, we do understand.

Second, students should make sure that in the portfolio they demonstrate a variety of skills. One of the skills we are looking for is the observational skills. Drawing from real life from looking at objects, or the landscape, or the portrait. It includes student's capability to use a variety of materials. For example, when recording the reality from direct observation, perhaps, they can use pencils, watercolors, acrylics and different mediums, such as collage.

The third thing for students is to show that they have passion for something. It is important how they put the skills in works they have done during the courses, at school, in teacher taught projects, but it is also important if students demonstrate something they've done of their real creative desire.

The last but not least, we are interested in how students are developing ideas. It might be little sketches and developments in the variety of techniques in the portfolio which show how a student come up with the outcome. We expect 9-12 small images of developing idea plus one bigger image of the outcome to show how they come from the initial idea to the outcome.

Students should definitely bring in their sketchbooks. We expect to see at least one or two of A4-3 and A5 sizes. Sketchbook is a personal visual diary which should support some of the works in the portfolio. It should include some research, developments and little writings, kind of self-reflecting annotations. And of course in sketchbooks we are interested to see student's mistakes as well as fabulous works. We want to see that students can overcome difficulties, as we are not looking for perfect students. They come to us to learn, but they need to show us that they can learn from a journey.

1. Bring your own portfolio even if it is not finished, even if it is something basic or just a sketchbook. Your work might not fit with the examples of works we are giving. This is fine, because we can't bring 20 different works. So if you bring your own work, we can advise you personally. Use this opportunity. Don't be just a spectator.

2. Show us everything you have done. Sometimes you can be wrong with self perception. You might think that you are absolutely rubbish in painting, and that might not be true. Let go your preconception of what you are good at. Let your weaknesses to be explored. Otherwise they will never be developed into something else. Even you have a completed portfolio, bring in your sketchbooks as well. They might be things there which are important but were not included as part of portfolio. You are relatively new to the creative world so allow our tutors to advise you. Even you have been advised by other tutors, it is important to show to us everything you've got. Even if it is not fabulous. For we can decide what is good and you might be surprised.

3. It is important for students not to focus only on the absolutely perfect work. We are interested to see mistakes as well, we are interested to see the journey. If you have a lot of interesting sketches, some of them could also be mounted and presented in the A1 portfolio.

4. Make sure you demonstrate artworks done through a rigorous process of research. For example, if you like an artist, who makes portraits, investigate, how did she or he do it, what techniques did he or she use. Did he or she draw from a random people from the streets? Did he or she invite relatives to pose in his studio? What are the stories behind his portraits? Try to do something similar to that. Then have a look at the second artist who has a slightly different approach to portraits. Try it on. If some ideas are not working for you, don't just drop them, reflect on them. Why didn't it worked for me, but it worked for the artist I was researching? This is quite an organic process of finding ideas.

5. Be themselves, don't stress out and forget the phrase "I don't know". When we ask students on how did they come to the outcome the answer should be an honest explanation of the story. Every artwork has a story behind it.

Portfolio review is an important part of the recruitment process. On that day we give a presentation about the course and the quality of work students might be doing if they enter the course. But also we will show current portfolios from our students. And I think that this is really important that students come and see that. Because there is no substitute for meeting the tutors and current students in person, having a discussion and seeing live portfolios. All of that will give potential students a head start for the enrollment interview. And if anyone doesn't speak English we do welcome them. We will have Russian tutors and students.

Check out the date of the nearest Portfolio review on our website in «Events».