Portfolio
Review

The Department of Art + Design is home to two distinct majors, Studio Art and Graphic and Interactive Design (GAID) All students applying to the BFA programs in Studio Art and Graphic and Interactive Design must first apply to the university through the common application process. Once you have applied to the University, you will receive an email with a link to upload a portfolio of their work on Slideroom. There is a small fee for the submission of the portfolio which is processed through Slideroom.   


Applicants to both of our majors, Studio Art and GAID, will select artwork for their portfolio that highlights their creative interests and skills.  This portfolio must have 12 examples of original artwork.  5 works must be drawings. We recommend including some works drawn from direct observation, such as a self-portrait, a landscape, or still life. The additional 7 works in your portfolio should highlight your creative interests in painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, digital media, graphic design, or other ways of making.  

Come visit us at the National Portfolio Day Association in Philadelphia, PA on Sunday October 25th, 2026!  This event will take place at Drexel University's Recreation center at 3301 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104. The event is 11:00-3:00pm, during which time we will review portfolios in progress for any prospective student. You can register for this event through NPDA's website. 

 

First-Year

Your portfolio should contain artwork that reflects YOU. The portfolio committee wants to see how you express ideas and concepts in visual art and design. The artwork that you include should demonstrate your previous experiences learning the technical skills of visual art; part of your evaluation will be on the strength of these skills. Every year merit scholarships are awarded from portfolios for incoming first year students.  

Tips on how to prepare your First-Year portfolio: 

Getting started 

Before your senior year, talk with your teachers about preparing a portfolio for application to our program. You will likely include examples from your classes, pre-college courses/camps, and independent work.  Some of the work you will collect will be projects that you have spent lots of time on, but it is also acceptable to include sketchbook pages and studies in your portfolio. 

Selecting work for your Portfolio

Your artwork should demonstrate your technical skills and creative thinking. We are looking for artwork that demonstrates originality in ways of making both ideas and processes. You will need to include 5 original drawings in addition to 7 artworks that demonstrate your creative interests. You can include sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, painting, illustration, and graphic design. 

Documenting your work

When photographing your work, make sure you have a neutral background (like a white wall) and even lighting. Be sure that the edges of your 2D work are square to the photograph’s edges so that you have an accurate representation of your art. You will be able to add information about each piece in Slideroom, this will be space you can share details about the materials, processes, or specific prompts you were following. 

Preparing to upload

You will upload 12 works to Slideroom as .jpg or .pdf files; you will be prompted to include the media and title for each work. There will also be space to write an optional short description. 

Please email Professor Lauren Pakradooni with any questions regarding the portfolio requirements or process. 

[Professor Lauren Pakradooni]

 

Transfer 

Your portfolio should contain artwork that reflects YOU. The portfolio committee wants to see how you express ideas and concepts in visual art and design. The artwork that you include should demonstrate your previous experiences learning the technical skills of visual art; part of your evaluation will be on the strength of these skills. You should highlight works in your portfolio that are from college-level courses. You must receive a C+ or higher in courses that you seek transfer credits.  

Tips on how to prepare your First-Year portfolio: 

Getting Started 

You are possibly familiar with this process from your previous institution.  You will likely include examples from your foundation level college classes and potentially more advanced courses and independent work. Some of the work you will collect will be projects that you have spent lots of time on, but it is also acceptable to include sketchbook pages and studies in your portfolio.  

Curate your Portfolio

Your artwork should demonstrate your technical skills and creative thinking. We are looking for artwork that demonstrates originality in ways of making both ideas and processes. You will need to include 5 original drawings in addition to 7 artworks that demonstrate your creative interests. You can include sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, painting, illustration, and graphic design. Content

Documenting your work

When photographing your work, make sure you have a neutral background (like a white wall) and even lighting. Be sure that the edges of your 2D work are square to the photograph’s edges so that you have an accurate representation of your art. You will be able to add information about each piece in Slideroom, this will be space you can share details about the materials, processes, or specific prompts you were following. 

Preparing to upload

You will upload 12 works to Slideroom as .jpg or .pdf files; you will be prompted to include the media and title for each work. There will also be space to write an optional short description.

 

Internal Transfer

Applicants currently enrolled in the University transferring into the B.F.A. program must successfully (based on the minimum grade of a C) complete ART 106, 111, and 120. Students are required to submit a portfolio to the Department of Art + Design that includes 12 examples of work completed in these three courses to the Department of Art + Design. Portfolio reviews will be conducted at the end of each semester, please email lpakradooni@wcupa.edu to schedule a portfolio review or to ask any questions at any stage of this process.