Mfa portfolio

[meleponine]

Hi! I was just wondering if anyone can give some tips on what should be included in an application portfolio for an MFA in animation (2d).
So far I have:

sample reel of animation examples
one short animation (in its entirety)
long pose life drawing (color pastels, b&w charcoal) (3 samples)
gestures (2 pages with 6 drawings)
sketchbook pages with cartoony designs and some life drawing/gestures (3 pages)
render of a 3D character (1 page)

I could add more life drawing, object drawing, still life paintings in oil...
I'm just not sure where to go with this for an academic portfolio.
Any help would be appreciated!

[DSB]

Hi meleponine,

The school you're applying to should have a checklist, or at least some suggestions, for what they want to see in your submission portfolio. It's always better to check with the institution you're applying to and give them what they're looking for.

Having said that, I went through this process a bit over a year ago myself. My portfolio looked a lot like what you describe, only with more drawing examples. I sent probably close to a dozen life drawings (short and long pose), a half-a-dozen character designs, some 3D stuff, and some display art I designed (to show I know how to use color, shape, proportion, etc). I don't think I had a complete animated short on my reel, but I did include both 2D and 3D examples. The 3D stuff is probably less important for you if you're going for a 2D MFA, but it couldn't hurt to show you're familiar with that side of the fence.

Putting together a portfolio for an MFA submission can be a nerve-wracking experience (at least it was for me). Your work is your work; send your best stuff, write a great statement of intent, and leave the rest in the hands of whatever God or fates you believe in. All you can do is the best you can do; the rest is up to the school. Good luck!

[meleponine]

Thanks for the response already! I think I am going to add in some more life drawing. I have it... I might as well put it in there. I'm think about 20 items would be right-- does that seem like too few or too many?

My first choice is SCAD and their materials suggest: "Work should be submitted in digital or multimedia format. Static work may be submitted in slide format. A strong portfolio includes foundation and graphics skills where applicable, effective use of 2-D form, and composition, additive and subtractive color theory. In addition, portfolios should show aesthetic awareness, effective use of software and tools to support the aesthetic, and mature artistic or commercial direction in work that corresponds to the applicant’s academic goals. When submitting examples of collaborative work, applicants should indicate their specific responsibilities on the project."


I guess I'm not too clear on "foundation skills".... I've got life drawing, but they can't want to see my strip studies from foundation classes at undergrad... right? A former professor isn't sure that I should include sketches of cartoony characters. Any thought?

[DSB]

A dozen figures should do - if they can't see your skill level with that many, eight more won't help and it just takes up space in your portfolio. Mix it up with some short pose/gesture as well as some longer studies.

The description you posted looks like it's been written to cover all their MFA programs, not just animation. It's also intentionally nebulous to allow for some discretion, both on your part and theirs.

Unless your former professor was an animation instructor, I'd take his/her advice with a huuuuge grain of salt. The "mainstream" art community has little use for funny drawings, and they'll never recommend you include them, even when it's appropriate (as it most likely is here).

I sincerely doubt they want to see any basic exercise stuff from undergrad. I think what they're saying is they want to see in your work evidence of foundation skills. However, if you're unsure or want clarification, give them a call. You don't have to identify yourself beyond saying you're putting together an MFA submission portfolio, then ask your questions.

It's easy to tie yourself in knots over this - I know; I did it. But the people at the school are there to help you. Pick the three questions you feel you most need answered (if you even have that many), and get on the phone. All any of us can do here is speculate and make intelligent guesses. The folks in the office at SCAD can give you the straight poop.

[stevegrad]

Hey Meloponine. I'm a third quarter grad in animation at Scad right now.

I did my undergrad in illustration and used my best illustration work in my portfolio for animation and got accepted.

I just had to take preliminary undergrad classes, to prove that I could do the grad program and because I had no background in animation.

After you complete your preliminary classes you'll go for a preliminary review for full acceptance to the grad program. Mine is this fall.

But since you already have examples of animation in your portfolio you may not have to take any or very little prelimins.

Just submit the best possible body of work that you have, drawings sketches, gesture drawings just make sure thier your best, and animation, if you can show that you can draw it will prevent you from having to take foundation classes.

Good luck

[meleponine]

Originally Posted by DSB

The description you posted looks like it's been written to cover all their MFA programs, not just animation.

Actually that is the description under the animation headline in their list of portfolio descriptions for the various majors. Just out of curiosity, where did you apply to?

Originally Posted by DSB

Unless your former professor was an animation instructor, I'd take his/her advice with a huuuuge grain of salt. The "mainstream" art community has little use for funny drawings, and they'll never recommend you include them, even when it's appropriate (as it most likely is here).

She is an animation professor. But her specialty is more independant and artistic/experimental animation, I'd say. However, I still think she'd be able to see the value in submtting animation style drawings. I know that CalArts likes to only see life drawings for their BFA and that Disney agreed for their traditional studio. Does anyone have opinions on including the cartoony sketches with life drawings?

Originally Posted by stevegrad

Just submit the best possible body of work that you have, drawings sketches, gesture drawings just make sure thier your best, and animation, if you can show that you can draw it will prevent you from having to take foundation classes.

Oh god I hope so! I had enough of foundations 7 years ago!

Thanks for all the replies DSB and Stevegrad.

[DSB]

Originally Posted by meleponine

Does anyone have opinions on including the cartoony sketches with life drawings?

Have you called the school and asked? Everyone here has an opinion about including cartoony sketches, but the only opinion that matters is the one of the admissions people that will be reviewing your portfolio.

If you've already called and didn't get a good answer, then you have to do what you think will give you the best chance of getting in. Good luck, and let us know what happens.

[meleponine]

I just wanted to post a follow-up to this, in case any SCAD MFA hopefuls find this post in future with the same questions I had.

I was recently accepted into the MFA Animation program at SCAD and also received an Artistic Honors Fellowship. I am being asked to do two preliminary courses -- undergraduate classes with content they found lacking from my transcript. Although that was not ideal, from what I understand, being assigned 2 prelims is not that bad. And it is possible to petition to get out of any prelims you are assigned, if you can provide proof that you don't need them due to previous coursework or experience. You'll need documentation, though.

The catalog/ web site is very specific in portfolio requirements for just about every major except animation. For fine/visual/2D arts they ask for 20 images. For TV/Film production they ask for a demo reel. So where does that leave animation? I went somewhere in between.

I sent my portfolio on 2 DVDRs. I included 12 images: 6 long pose life drawings in charcoal, graphite, ink. I tried to show use of a variety of media, while keeping in mind to only use my best work. I had 2 pages of gestures, each with six figures. Again, I tried to include different techniques and lengths of gestures from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. After a lot of deliberation, I decided to include one page with images from my sketchbook that had some more gestures and action poses and some cartoony characters. One render of a 3D character was included (I think this helped keep me from being assigned an undergrad modeling prelim). Finally I added two illustrations. These I felt illutrsated use of color and composition in a storytelling/ sequential art context. Additionally I included 3 quicktime videos. One was a completed film, my senior thesis film from undergrad, one was a 30 second PSA for which I collaborated with other animators, and last was a 2 minute long montage of various animated scenes and exercises - hand drawn, Flash, Director, 3D.

This is not to say that my portfolio is ideal, but it worked for me! Keep in mind that representatives from all departments, not just animation, will review your portfolio. Of course, your work should be focused toward your intended field/ degree program, but you'll want to impress people from all fields to get fellowships and acceptance. One idea might be to look over the required undergrad animation classes and try to include work that exhibits the skills learned in those courses. Just make sure the work you include is your best. Show off your drawing skills - figure drawing and layouts are great to include. I hope my ideas and experience will be useful to someone someday.

[DSB]

Congratulations on being accepted! Now the real work starts...

Great summary of your submission; hopefully that'll be helpful for anyone else who's applying for the program.

[meleponine]

Thanks DSB. I am in my 3rd week now. It's fun!