Located in Dover, New Jersey, The Joe Kubert School is an intensive, three-year technical school founded by and named for the iconic comic book artist. Its curriculum is laser-focused on the practical skills needed for visual storytelling. The portfolio review is a crucial step to determine an applicant's foundational ability and commitment.
Number of Pieces: You must submit between 10 and 15 pieces of your best and most representative artwork. No more than three pieces should be older than three years.
Media: A wide variety of subject matter and media are encouraged to showcase your range. The school accepts work in pencil, pen & ink, charcoal, marker, colored pencil, and various paints (oil, acrylic, watercolor, etc.). Your portfolio should include:
Foundational Art: Examples of portraiture, life drawing (figure drawing), landscapes, and still lifes are highly recommended. This demonstrates your understanding of core artistic principles.
Sequential Art: This is the school's specialty. You should include examples of your work in comic book pages, comic strips, gag cartoons, illustrations, and storyboards. This shows the admissions committee your passion and emerging skill in narrative art.
Key Focus: The school evaluates two primary factors: your initial ability and your attitude. Your portfolio assesses your competency, but your determination and commitment are also deciding factors. The committee is looking for a strong foundation in the fundamentals of drawing:
Anatomy and Figure Drawing: A clear understanding of the human form is essential for comic art.
Perspective: The ability to create believable environments and backgrounds.
Storytelling: Your sequential art samples should demonstrate an ability to convey a narrative, control pacing, and create compelling characters. Originality is key; they want to see your unique ideas and characters, not copies of existing ones.
How to Submit: An interview (either in-person or via phone/online) and a portfolio submission are required. For in-person interviews, bringing original artwork is recommended, though high-quality photocopies are acceptable. For all interviews, you must also submit a digital portfolio (JPEG format) on a flash drive, CD, or DVD.