Portfolios
All students wishing to study in the Department of Visual Arts must submit a portfolio of work for review. These portfolios allow our faculty to evaluate your skill level and ability before you begin the program.
Entrance Portfolios are due by December 1st through the Lipscomb Admission Application portal.
For all majors, students are required to submit 5-10 images of their previous work- (Art Therapy, Studio Arts, Graphic Design, Art Education)
Your entrance portfolio is an introduction to who you are as an artist. It includes work that is representative of your skill and unique voice. Your faculty advisor will use this portfolio in your incoming advising session during orientation. Additionally, you may also use this portfolio to apply for one of our departmental scholarships.
Submit Portfolio
Scholarship
If you’d like to apply for a departmental scholarship, please submit the Department Scholarship Application form along with your portfolio by December 1st each year.
Art Therapy
Portfolios must include:
- Images of recent work in a single PDF or as a shared Google Drive folder
- Portfolios are only accepted via email
- Minimum of 5 works/maximum of 10 works
- At least one work should be a drawing made from observation
- Each image must be detailed on a corresponding image list with the following information: the title of the piece, medium, size of the artwork, and the date of completion
- A CV or resume (no more than two pages in length) that includes education information, professional and volunteer experiences, and accomplishments
- An academic writing sample (i.e. research paper in APA or MLA format) related to art. If you do not have a paper that you wish to submit, you may opt to write a new essay from the following prompts:
- Discuss an issue in the arts or art administration that you believe is of particular concern locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally.
- Select a person who has had significant influence in an artistic field. Describe and analyze the person’s contributions to the arts.
- Any art-related topic of your choosing.
- Letter of Intent addressed to the Department Chair
- Entrance portfolios are due before your orientation date
Graphic Design
Portfolios must include:
- Images of recent work in a single PDF or as a shared Google Drive folder
- Portfolios are only accepted via email
- Minimum of 5 works/maximum of 10 works
- At least 3 of the pieces must showcase ability in digital artmaking, such as works completed in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, or Adobe AfterEffects
- Each image must be detailed on a corresponding image list with the following information: the title of the piece, medium, size of the artwork, and the date of completion
- Letter of Intent addressed to the Department Chair
- Entrance portfolios are due before your orientation date
Studio Art
Portfolios must include:
- Images of recent work in a single PDF or as a shared Google Drive folder
- Portfolios are only accepted via email
- Minimum of 5 works/maximum of 10 works
- 2 works should be drawings made from observation
- Each image must be detailed on a corresponding image list with the following information: the title of the piece, medium, size of the artwork, and the date of completion
- Letter of Intent addressed to the Department Chair
- Entrance portfolios are due before your orientation date
Visual Arts Education
Portfolios must include:
- Images of recent work in a single PDF or as a shared Google Drive folder
- Portfolios are only accepted via email
- Minimum of 5 works/maximum of 10 works
- At least 3 different mediums should be represented
- At least 1 work should be drawings made from observation
- Each image must be detailed on a corresponding image list with the following information: the title of the piece, medium, size of the artwork, and the date of completion
- A writing sample on the following prompt (2 pages maximum):
- Why do you want to be an educator? Why does art education matter?
- Letter of Intent addressed to the Department Chair
- Entrance portfolios are due before your orientation date
