Visual Arts

Visual Art Portfolio Requirements

Applicants will read and be familiar with the program description for the Governor's School for Visual and Performing Arts. Applicants from diverse backgrounds with abilities in any 2D or 3D visual arts are encouraged to submit a portfolio.

A. Applicants will submit a portfolio containing 12 pieces of original artwork. Work may represent the following media: Drawing, Painting, Mixed Media, Printmaking, Photography, Ceramics, Sculpture, Installation, Collage, Assemblage, Video, and New Media.

1. Core Portfolio: Eight works should represent the applicant’s primary medium or area of artistic focus.*
2. Supplementary Work:Four works should demonstrate variety beyond the applicant’s primary area and may show experimentation, exploration, and artistic growth.
3. The portfolio must be submitted as a PDF.

B. Adjudication Artwork and Process Video

*As part of the eight core portfolio artworks, applicants must create one original artwork specifically for the Governor’s School adjudication process. The artwork must:

• Be created in the applicant’s chosen primary medium.
• Respond to the provided theme - nature.
• Reflect the applicant’s individual interpretation. Themes will be intentionally broad and may be approached conceptually, technically, or in any direction the applicant chooses.

Applicants must submit a 10-minute continuous, unedited process video showing themselves actively creating the artwork. The applicant’s head, torso, arms, and hands must remain clearly visible while working.

The video is intended to give adjudicators insight into the applicant’s creative process, thinking, and decision-making. Because artistic processes vary by medium, what is shown during the 10 minutes will vary; however, cuts, edits, and combined clips are not permitted.

An image of the completed adjudication artwork must also be included in the applicant’s portfolio.

C. Applicants will be asked to discuss their artistic goals, including areas of interest they would like to explore and develop further.

Applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Design – Cohesiveness and effectiveness of the composition.
2. Expression – Communicative or expressive quality of the work.
3. Originality – Evidence of novel, inventive, or unique artistic solutions.
4. Fluency – Development and exploration of multiple ideas or concepts.
5. Flexibility – Variety in approaches, ideas, techniques, or artistic solutions.
6. Elaboration – Ability to develop, extend, or expand upon imagery and ideas.
7. Interview Response – clarity, focus, and thoughtfulness of response.

Preparations:

• Camera: Most digital cameras, including cell phones, are perfectly fine for both the photos and videos for the adjudication. Professional photography or videography is neither required nor expected. Please ensure picture clarity. You may mount your camera on a tripod or have someone operate it.
• Space: Use a space free from distractions, specifically background noise.
• Lighting: Make sure the lighting is adequate for the adjudicator to view.

Finalize:

• Upload videos to YouTube (unlisted link), personal Google Drive (must be a personal Google account, not a school account), or Dropbox. Please ensure that our adjudicators can access the link.
• Create a Word document with your name, discipline, and links you created above.
• Save the Word doc as a PDF.

Submission:

• Register for adjudication through Opus Events.
• Upload the PDF document you created above.
• Follow the instructions to record an answer to your interview question.