Portfolio Entries

Students can use this page as a visual example of what is expected in their own portfolio. Each class and subject matter may have slightly varying requirements, and layout is entirely up to the artist, but these examples provide a good idea of what students should include and how to photograph their work. The largest and best image should always be the final finished project photo.

Ceramics

Each project should have photos of various stages of the process. Glazes used should be documented. The final project image should be high quality, edited to enhance light & color if needed, and cropped so there is little negative space. For some pieces, multiple images in various angles/viewpoints gives a better look to the viewer than just one image. These images are often used for grading, and occasionally as competition uploads, so image quality is important. A short summary of the project and the artists' opinion of the piece and the process is also expected.

Bone dry Mug - Mug was hand built using slabs. When leather hard, design on mug was carved away

Bisque mug with glaze applied. Glazes used: Chun Plum - 2x all over, wiped back slightly on main exterior body

Light Sepia. 1x all over, 2x on rim

Final Glazed Mug - May 2024

I was hoping the Chun Plum would show up pinker in the grooves or drip out a little. I think I needed to apply another layer of the Chun Plum inside the grooves and not use any Light Sepia in those areas to create the contrast I was looking for. Overall, I am still happy with the final color and look of this piece!

IMG_3828.mov

Video of the horse hair burning on the apple

Raku - October 2025

This apple was created using special raku clay, using a pinch pot method. It was smoothed out using the back end of a spoon, while leather hard, to create a burnished, super smooth, surface. When fired in the Raku kiln, no glaze was used. When we pulled it out, I draped horse hair all over the surface. As the hair burned, it left behind markings on the clay surface. I am really happy with how this piece turned out! If I were to do it again, I would burn more hair on the stem to make it darker than the rest.

Sculpture

In addition to photos of the process (sketches, mock-ups, early stages, etc...), students should also have the following 3 images of their sculptures: straight on shot, 3/4 view, detail (close up) of one area. In addition to those three, other options include a photo with a ruler in the image for size comparison, and back or other view points of the sculpture. It's difficult to tell in a photograph how large something is. A ruler in the photo, or the size included in the project description, is important.

Wire armeture

On tape roll, for scale

Lady Gaga's Backup Dancer

Feb. 2025

Wire Figure: Wire, newspaper, tape, tissue paper, paper mache paste, paper towels, fabric, pearl things, yarn, acrylic

This piece was a lot of fun to make. It was challenging to get the proportions right of the figure, and to smooth out the tape/paper mache paste. Small details were also challenging. I wasn't planning on making a "backup dancer" but that's what evolved as it was being created.

2D Art

For drawings, prints, collages, and paintings, process photos can include sketches in sketchbook, reference images (taken yourself or found online), and photos taken during various times from start to finish. The final image should be high quality, accurate lighting & colors, and cropped so no background is visible.

Title

September 2025

16"x20"

Acrylic on Canvas

This painting is of a skeletal nun in a habit, wearing a red cross. It means...... students will include a short 2-5 sentence mini-statement about this piece and their process. Maybe what was challenging, maybe where their idea came from, what inspired the piece, and how they feel about the final project.

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