Practical Portfolio and Studio Work
Scope
Practical portfolio and studio work tests sustained investigation, technical control, documentation and safe practice. You are assessed on a coherent body of work, not a single lucky drawing.
Core rules
- Portfolio: 10–15 resolved works plus a sketchbook; show range and depth; a clear theme or series.
- Sketchbook: dated entries, thumbnails, annotations, experiments and failures.
- Observation: draw from life; measure proportions; check negative shapes.
- Presentation: consistent mounts, labels with title, medium, size and date, and good photography.
- Studio safety: ventilation for solvents, no food near pigments, correct disposal, sharp-tool handling.
Worked example
A still-life series on 'domestic vessels'. Reasoning: begin with 20 contour studies; select three compositions; test warm and cool palettes; resolve one large acrylic and two small gouache works; photograph under daylight; annotate decisions. The sketchbook proves investigation; the resolved works prove control. The series is stronger than eight unrelated drawings.
Traps
Do not submit only finished pieces with no evidence of process. Do not photograph work in yellow indoor light. Do not use unlabelled media. Do not skip safety documentation; assessors look for it.