What is the best program for a personal portfolio?

What paintings should I include in my portfolio for the Rhode Island School of Design Pre-college program?

• I want to get a full scholarship to the RISD pre-college program, but my parents have absolutely no money, so if I want to attend the program I have to have a full scholarship (It would cost about 6,000-7,000 dollars with every thing added up, I know crazy) So I need to blow their socks off with five paintings, which ones do you think are the top five in order from least favorite to most favorite? Thank you so much, One: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28550882@N07/3278272930/in/photostream/ Two: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28550882@N07/3277452947/in/photostream/ Three: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28550882@N07/3277446065/in/photostream/ Four: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28550882@N07/3277444547/in/photostream/ Five: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28550882@N07/3277442835/in/photostream/ Six: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28550882@N07/3277441331/in/photostream/ Seven: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28550882@N07/3278269516/in/photostream/ Eight: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28550882@N07/3278274516/in/photostream/ Nine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28550882@N07/3278274672/in/photostream/ Ten: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28550882@N07/3277453371/in/photostream/

• Answer:

  My top three would be number 4, number five, and number six. Next I'd say number one, then number three. These five are your strongest pieces in my opinion, number eight almost makes it up there too. Since number seven appears to be a life drawing, and colleges (and I assume pre-college programs) go crazy over life/observation drawings, if you wanted to swap one of these out for another for some reason this might be the one to choose. Number two is a strong piece, but it doesn't have the dynamic coloring and pose that make your others so striking-- it stands out as being rather plain among your others. Number nine and ten got a similar reaction for me, they just don't resonate as much as the others. I think you'd have a very strong portfolio choosing from any between 3 and six and number one. I especially enjoy number four-- all of these are very beautiful and well-composed. Like I said before, number seven, the life drawing, isn't as strong in my opinion as the others in my top five list, but since it is an observational drawing and done in a different style than the others, your portfolio may still benefit from adding it in... it's your call. Here's a tip for submitting portfolios of work to be reviewed: when you assemble your portfolio, put the pieces you feel most confident about first and last, so that the reviewer is drawn in immediately to your work, can mull over some of the pieces you don't feel as well about in the middle, and then end on a good note with another of your stronger pieces. Also talk to your high school art teacher (if you've got one) about what to include... I'm sure they'll have some good input. My high school art teacher was an excellent resource when I was assembling my portfolios for college application and for review. You are a very talented artist, and this is looking to be a very strong portfolio. Adding observational work (not done from a photo) wherever you can and ordering your pieces purposefully are quick and dirty ways to boost your points with the reviewers, but I think you have a very solid body of work to show off, and have a good chance at getting offered some kind of scholarship. Good luck!