A portfolio is like an advertisement of your work. It best represents or gives testimony to your talents, skills and problem solving abilities. Here are some tips that should help you prepare for and organize a successful portfolio.

Make sure the portfolio includes your name, mailing address, phone number, and high school.

All pieces should reflect your capacity for original and creative thinking.

All pieces should demonstrate your knowledge and age-level mastery of media and techniques.

It is extremely important to show variety and flexibility in your approaches to art.

You should only select pieces you feel proud to show. Do not include mediocre work as filler. Never include work of lesser quality just because the idea was good.

Limit the number of pieces to between ten and twenty. Remember quality is more important than quantity.

Do not include pieces that need explanations.

Avoid choosing pieces that are messy, dog-eared, wrinkled, torn or show poor craftsmanship in any way.

Include sketchbooks. They demonstrate one's creative capacity as well as drawing skills.

Photostats and blueprints are suitable reproductions, however, tracings and photocopies are not.

Include pieces that show you have a grasp on color theory, proportion, linear and atmospheric perspective.

Include pieces that show accurate rendering of transparency, reflection and texture: plastic and glass objects, metal tins, tools, mirrors, dried flowers, seashells, animals, feathers, etc.

Do not include more than two cartoon or comic book images and be sure they are completely original.

Include character studies of real people, young and old.

Include studies showing the figure in action, other than comic book figures.

Include pieces with objects or subjects having complex interior contours and negative spaces: bird cage, rocking chair with rungs, houseplant, room interior, items in a catch-all drawer, laced shoes, etc.

Include pieces that presented a challenge to you. Here are some examples:

• An overhead view of an open container holding an object of personal importance.

• An image that conveys a "caged in" feeling.

• An album cover depicting someone's life.

• Two unrelated objects juxtaposed in a way that suggests a possible relationship.

• Two circles, one inside the other. Fill the larger circle with designs that represent classical music and the smaller circle with designs that represent jazz or rock music.

• A distorted landscape that expresses a human emotion such as anger, sorrow, jealousy or happiness.

• An object with interesting reflections in it, i.e. chrome hub cap, metallic box, glass bottle.

• A book cover.

• An action figure positioned or distorted to fit the shape of a letterform.

• A bicycle positioned at an angle showing foreshortening.
  

Protect pencil, graphite, charcoal, chalk, conte-crayon, and pastel drawings by applying a spray fixative.

Your artwork needs to be presentation worthy as well as protected. Matt or mount each piece and then wrap it in clear acetate. Do this in a consistent manner - if you mount one piece on white board, do so for the rest.  Protected pieces can be stored and carried in a large, poster-board envelope. An easier alternative is to buy a zippered case that holds black pages in plastic sleeves. Flat artwork can be placed in each sleeve easily. The black page provides a nice frame. These and similar portfolio cases are available in many sizes at your local art or office supply store.

If you have created original films, textiles, sculpture, jewelry, photographs or digital art pieces, consider them for your portfolio. You will stand out from the majority of students; not all schools offer such processes.

Do not include framed pieces or three-dimensional pieces. Take photos or slides of them instead. Digital shots aren't usually accepted because of the possibility of manipulation.

• If you can not take good photos or slides, check with a local camera shop for an expert.

• Label each photo or slide with your name, title, year of creation, medium and dimensions.

• Place photos or slides in a plastic viewing page purchased from a photo supply store.
  

Sequence pieces in an organized or "story board" fashion.

• Choose a dramatic piece as the first in the sequence; you want to get the attention of the judges or school admission staff.

• Include a few undeniably traditional pieces that show your competence in drawing.

• Group similar pieces together, however, do not show too many pieces of the same problems.

• Partway through, present a different style or approach, for example, switch from traditional to abstract.

• Save the best piece for last; you want to leave them with a good impression.
  

Discuss the completed portfolio with your art teacher or professional artist you know and respect. He/she will look at it objectively, possibly seeing strengths and weaknesses you did not. Bring your portfolio to college fairs and ask prospective schools for their suggestions.

Remember, you can always add to or change the portfolio depending on the expectations of the school you are interested in attending (or employer, if you are planning to work in the field directly after graduation).