[Yogi]

Okay I'll get right to business. I'm applying to a college for a classical/computer animation course, and in the portfolio requirements they state" Your work must be submitted in a professional style portfolio" I'm not sure what the heck this means, because everywhere else I've applied to only wants photocopies and an envelope. What exactly makes a "professional portfolio"??? Should I put it together in a certain way???? Please provide any insight that you can to my dilemma.

[spooge demon]

There are no real standards as far as I know. Just make it neat and clean and that it shows evidence of care and thought. Go to an art store to look at binders and things.

I remember Bob Peak (great illustrator) said to impress one just needs the right stuff in a coffee stained manila envelope. That says you are working. The shiny and newer and more impressive the portfolio, the more inexperience is revealed. Come to think of it, a really killer presentation can make the artwork look bad...

Not that you should go gambling on soon loony idea from a stranger you found on the Internet. Just pay attention to the first thing I said.

[Yogi]

Thanks for the input Spooge Demon (rad name by the way) I'll have to visit the art store real soon.

[xXxPZxXx]

As spooge said, just keep it neat which perhaps means a binder. For any large items it is best to take a picture and make slides. At least that is what most places around me want. Probably best to ask them yourself. I am sure they wouldn't mind answering.

-PZ-

[smalbrain]

I remember while I was waiting for my portfolio presentation to get into my uni I noticed that of about 15 or so people there at the time all but 3 including me had big black A3 suitcases and clean black folders. All I had was a sweaty plastic bag from woolworths with my pictures all smudged and dogeared. noone i remember from there got in except one other kid who was in a tuxedo (he said his mum wanted him to look proffessional and he had already hired his school formal outfit). He had a leather bound A3 folder with gold plated edges.

what professional means is - the work must be mounted on a 'neutral coloured mount board' (you can get mount board at any art store) with a 5 to 10 centimeter edge - an extra cm or two at the bottom. the edges must be almost laser cut and straight - no wobbly shit (use a stanley knife and a metal ruler - or better yet ask the art store owner to do it for you). Then you need to have a cover sheet - just any old plain paper that can be flipped back and behind the work. you dont need a black folder because what will happen is that they will ask you to lay out your work onto some desks then ask you to leave for 10 minutes or so. if they interview just remember - that you are passionate about this - they are looking to see if you are 'self-motivated'. and throw in a joke or a souveneer that they will remember. like a mini comic book about you trying to get into artschool or some shit.

Thats really all you have to do to garauntee yourself a place - good luck!

but if its for a computer animation course then what the hell! just give them a disk!

[ January 28, 2002: Message edited by: smalbrain ]

[Yogi]

Thanks for the input folks, its greatly appreciated!