What to put in my portfolio?

What to put in my art portfolio?

• I'm going to National Portfolio day next weekend and I need some help picking some pieces to go into my portfolio. I'm in 11th grade, I know my pieces arent the best, but I really want to see what they have to say and if I have a chance. I’m looking at a few different schools, but I’m really taking an interest in RISD, even if that looks to be a big jump for me. Any help is greatly appreciated : ) I'd like to include these life drawing pieces: 1. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3210171065_a190a22dd1_o.jpg 2. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3211016178_e2d22ef938_o.jpg 3. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/3211016230_97c7e6d8ef_o.jpg 4. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3505/3211016382_d87b0ffa9a_o.jpg These art pieces: 5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8382191@N07/3211017090/sizes/s/ 6. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3352/3210171283_3e1536754e.jpg An old and new self portrait: 7. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/3211016890_f336081718_o.jpg 8. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/3210171193_6442fef412_o.jpg (currently working on...) A 3D piece, each section is raised up to a different height, but this is just a sketch of what it should look like: 9. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3210171607_38930afe9d_m.jpg And then I'm just not sure what else to include, I have quite a few from pictures on my deviant account, but I'm not sure, please help :) http://lediscoinsanity.deviantart.com/gallery/ So if you could please offer some advice on which ones I'm keeping, should I keep them or not, if so why. And also please help me decide on which others from my dev account to include. Thanks a lot for your help. Also I don’t really keep a sketch book but apparently they like to see them, it’s next weekend, should I try and do a few sketches to show them or should I just leave it out?

• Answer:

  everything you have in here seems to be alright but you still need to work on your life drawing. right now you are focusing too much on some of the details. in the field of life drawing its better to focus on the pose and the body gestures before any other details. one thing i did before was, i took a brush tip marker, and using long broad strokes i drew in the major shading of person i was drawing. you'll find doing things like this tend to give more character. suggesting detail with contrast can prove better than working out all the tiny details here's a couple examples i have, i can't find the better ones, but you should be able to get my point also make sure you present it nicely, not the stupid camera shot i;m using for these examples http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x12/thefirston/IMGA1316.jpg http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x12/thefirston/IMGA1304.jpg http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x12/thefirston/IMGA1305.jpg http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x12/thefirston/IMGA1306.jpg http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x12/thefirston/IMGA1308.jpg http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x12/thefirston/IMGA1327.jpg http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x12/thefirston/IMGA1328.jpg http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x12/thefirston/IMGA1329.jpg