Art
Share This

Portfolio Requirements

To be considered for the Art Major, you must submit all of the following:

  1. Application for acceptance at Gordon College, found on the Admissions page
  2. Art portfolio, home exam, and essay, sent to the Art department (details below)
(Applicants to the Art Minor do not need to submit the Portfolio CD. They need only to submit the home exam and essay.)
  • 1

    Portfolio of Artwork
    This requirement is only for Art Major applicants. Please submit a CD/DVD portfolio of 15-20 digital images of their artwork. Also include on the CD an accompanying inventory list in a Word document or PDF. Your portfolio should contain examples of the following:

    • Drawings in pencil, charcoal, conté crayon, and other drawing media, executed by direct observation (not from photographs). Subject matter may include figure, still life, landscape, and architecture.
    • Works employing color media: painting, pastel, colored pencil, or collage
    • Other works showing the breadth of your visual arts experience: printmaking, photography, computer-based imagery, mixed media, and/or three-dimensional works (sculpture, ceramics, installation)  
  • 2

    Home Exam
    All applicants must submit a home exam, consisting of four original drawings, along with their CD/DVD portfolio.

    Drawings should not be matted or mounted but neatly presented with a cover sheet (newsprint or tracing paper) over each drawing. Each drawing should be no smaller than 8” x 10” and no larger than 11” x 14”.

    Please submit the following:

    • A self-portrait in pencil or colored pencil, made by using a mirror.
    • A direct observational drawing of some technical object, such as a bicycle.
    • A drawing or painting in color: either representational or non-representational.
    • A drawing, painting, collage, or design of your own choosing. Any media. 
  • 3

    Essay
    You must also submit an essay (2+ pages, printed) stating why you would like to study art at a Christian liberal arts college. Please discuss the connections you make between art and Christian faith.

  • 3

    Interview (optional)
    Though not required, if you would like to meet with the Art Faculty, you may request an interview before or after the initial submission of materials (portfolio CD, home exam, and essay). You may bring original examples of your artwork to this interview, although you will still need to submit a CD portfolio (see above).

    To request an interview, call the Admissions Office at 978.867.4218. Interviews may be scheduled for Monday–Thursday.

PORTFOLIO DATES & DEADLINES

Portfolio, home exam, and essay must be submitted by:

  • December 1st (early decision/early action)
  • March 1st (regular decision)

Mail all materials to:

Gordon College
Tanja Butler, Art Department
255 Grapevine Road
Wenham, MA 01984

In order for the Art Department to send your portfolio back to you, you must include a self-addressed package with pre-paid return postage. 

If you have any other questions, contact the Art department.