Prospective Students - Addmissions

Requirements and Process


Portfolio Requirements

All applicants are required to submit a portfolio along with the required university application materials. Art and design students spend two semesters in Art Foundation prior to entering the department majors. Art Foundation seeks to extend the depth and range of a student's skill in preparation for her/his remaining three years at VCUQatar and a career in design. Choose one of these two portfolio options to most effectively convey the singularity of your vision, your creativity and commitment.

Transfer students follow the same portfolio guidelines as prospective freshmen.

Portfolio Option One: a body of work

Submit up to sixteen images (a minimum of 12) of art that you have created within the past two years that show your promise in visual art and design.  Present your strongest work and demonstrate your potential to develop a diverse set of skills and ideas should you be accepted into VCUQatar. We prefer to see a range of 2D and 3D media. Drawing from observation is recommended, while copying anime, graffiti or tattoos is discouraged.

Digital Format

  • Images must be submitted in JPG format on a standard 4.75" CD-R
  • Maximum JPG dimensions should be 800 x 600 pixels at 72 dpi
  • On an A4 size sheet of paper describe each image by file name, title, dimensions, and medium(s)
  • Test your CD-R on multiple computers to ensure that the disc is functional

Slide Format

  • Label each slide with your name and a slide number
  • Organize 12-16 slides in a clear plastic slide sheet
  • On an A4 size sheet of paper describe each image by the slide number, title, dimensions and medium(s)
  • Send duplicate slides only. The slides will become part of your permanent record and will not be returned

Portfolio Option Two: drawing and design exercises

Instead of a slide or digital portfolio the following eight exercises may be included with your application. Follow the directions carefully. Some of the exercises are worded in a way that requires your interpretation as an integral part of the exercise. Each exercise must be completed on a separate sheet of A4 size paper. We recommend that you use good quality paper.

If you choose to submit these exercises as your portfolio you must send the originals. On the back of each completed piece, print your full legal name, your date of birth and the exercise number in the lower left hand corner. These exercises become part of your permanent file and will not be returned.

These must be submitted with a signed declaration form saying that the candidate completed all the work without assistance from another individual.

 Unless noted otherwise, please use a soft lead pencil (2B or softer)

  1. Using a soft dark-lead pencil, make a freehand perspective drawing of one particular corner of a room within your dwelling and include at least three pieces of furniture. This drawing should emphasize shading, proportion and perspective.  
  2. Using either pencil or ink make a freehand drawing of a standing human figure. (Be sure that you draw the whole figure.)
  3. Crumple up an A4 sheet of plain paper, place it under a strong light. Using another sheet of paper make an ink drawing of the crumpled sheet. We will look at your understanding of light, shading, and composition.
  4. Create a collage using images torn or cut from magazines or other 2-dimensional materials. Attach these shapes, colors, and textures to an A4 sheet of paper.
  5. Create a composition by drawing or combining 2-dimensional images or materials that you consider unusual or humorous when seen in relation to each other. Be as creative and original as you can be.
  6. Illustrate one of the most interesting events of your life. On the reverse side, explain the illustration in one paragraph. This serves as a writing sample as well as an opportunity to visually illustrate something unique and interesting about yourself. 
  7. Select three pieces of fruit or vegetables and place them on a windowsill or in a similar location where you can see both the fruit and vegetables and a landscape or cityscape or cityscape beyond. Draw the space between. Note: in this exercise, the "space between" can be interpreted in many ways.
  8. Arrange a still life composition consisting of at least one bell pepper and three pieces of cutlery. Before rendering, physically alter one or more of these objects. Using a pencil draw your creation as realistically as possible.

* Exercises 7 and 8 are optional challenge exercises.

 

 

 

 


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