What do the faculty want to see in the Portfolio?
They want to see artists with the skills and techniques that can readily be applied to a didactic medical illustration. The main goal of a good medical illustration is to teach a concept to a specific audience with accuracy and clarity. Realistic proportions and perspective, understanding light and form, directing the viewer’s eye, and rendering various textures convincingly work together to represent what is directly observed in a believable and informative visual.
Just like in a good medical illustration, a tightly rendered figure or life drawing can accurately represent the subject/object(s) being closely observed. Good proportions and perspective, cast light, shadow, and various textures that look believable will work to convey to your viewers what you directly observed with detail and accuracy.
Creating art while viewing the subject directly (i.e. direct observation and not photo reference) can show good observation and proportions missing from photo reference.
What should I Avoid in the Portfolio?
The Admissions Committee highly recommends avoiding examples of physiological, anatomical, surgical, or medical subject matter in the Portfolio. This might seem counter-intuitive, “When applying for medical illustration graduate program shouldn’t I send samples of this kind of art?” However, the faculty are experts in the creation of didactic medical and scientific illustration and can spot artwork with anatomical and scientific errors, lack of clarity or a strong didactic purpose. It is also usually evident when an entry relies too heavily on an existing reference done by another artist. It’s better to submit strong examples of general and life drawing.
The Admissions Committee also makes note of whether an applicant has created an entry from direct observation versus from a photo reference. The committee has a strong preference for portfolio submissions created while directly observing the subject. Drawing exclusively from a photograph tends to flatten the form, distort the perspective, and diminish subtle changes in value and color. Overreliance on photo reference often leads to inaccurate and lifeless drawings.
In reviewing applicant’s work, faculty have expressed concern about highly “photorealistic” portfolio submissions created using applications such as, Procreate, specifically that allow digital drawing on top of photographs. This workflow does not demonstrate an artist’s ability to draw what they see, but only that they can copy from a photograph.
The Admissions Committee also discourages the extensive use of AI in portfolios. During the review process, applicants are evaluated on their observational skill and ability to capture form, perspective, color, and atmosphere in a variety of media and artistic styles. Applicants’ level of creativity, original thought, as well as their artistic vision and skill to convey ideas to others is also considered. AI can mask all these skills making it difficult for the committee to evaluate a portfolio fairly and accurately. Please do not include artwork that is entirely or in part AI generated and limit the use of AI in the other stages of the creative process.
For the strongest portfolio: stick to the required Portfolio categories, submit a majority of pieces drawn or painted from life, prepare work carefully, and label submissions appropriately. Please note that when uploading to SlideRoom applicants will be asked to disclose for each entry if AI, photographs, or videos, were used as reference.
Check out the Sample Portfolio
Check out the Admissions Blog posts on each Portfolio Category:
- General Drawing
- Figure Drawing
- Color Media
- Graphic Design
- Digital Media
- Sketchbook Pages
If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us – [email protected] or Request Information.
Special Admissions Statement on COVID-19. More posts on the Admissions Blog.