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Art Portfolio Review Instructions

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The information on this page is also available in PDF format.

A portfolio review is a required part of the Art Department admission process. Your portfolio will be reviewed by a faculty member who will gauge your potential for success in the Art Department. You are strongly encouraged to present your portfolio in person either on-campus during a scheduled review or at any of the National Portfolio Days that Cornish attends.

Portfolio Requirements

The following guidelines set by the Art Department are quite specific; please read them carefully. You will be presenting ten original works of art, all of which must have been completed within the last two years.

  1. Present five drawings from observation using black and white materials. These works should record what you see — not what you imagine and not what you observed in a photograph. Examples of this type of drawing include:
    • Landscapes
    • Cityscapes
    • Still-lifes
    • Self-portraits
    • Figurative works

    Or, present five photographs that reflect your observations of the world.  The content of these images might include:

    • Commentaries on life or society
    • Strictly design or visual statements
    • Concepts or ideas
    • Your personal view of life
    • Alternative or experimental statements

  2. Present five pieces of art that are related to one another and form a cohesive body of work. Ways in which the pieces might relate to one another include:

    • Subject matter
    • Media/materials
    • Concept/idea
The Day of Your Review

You will present your portfolio to a member of the Art Department faculty during a scheduled review or at a National Portfolio Day Association event. During your review be prepared to discuss the work you present, your experience in the arts, and your artistic goals.

Portfolio by Mail

The faculty strongly encourages you to make every effort to present your portfolio in person, either on campus during a scheduled review or at any of the National Portfolio Days that Cornish attends. However, if distance prevents an in-person review, you may document your portfolio in digital (CD or DVD). Please do not send original works. Send your digital portfolio to:

Admissions Office
Cornish College of the Arts
1000 Lenora Street
Seattle, WA 98121

If you wish to have your portfolio returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with sufficient postage.

Review Dates

On-Campus

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays. Call 1.800.726.ARTS for an appointment Main Campus Center

Off-Campus

Northwest Portfolio Workshop - Spokane, Boise, Medford, and Missoula