Northwest School of the Arts
Visual Arts​ Auditions Help

What you need to do:

USE A COMPUTER OR TABLET to complete items below (​not a phone)
Familiarize yourself with the process by watching the videos and looking through the links on this page. ​Then here's what you need to do:
Step 1: Submit an Auditions Request Form
​Step 2: Schedule and Complete In-Person Audition - The audition takes about an hour and don't need to bring anything.
Step 3: Create a Digital Portfolio using the Template then upload a PDF of it to google form. Due before In Person Audition
     Required Pieces:  
  1. Landscape OR Perspective Piece
  2. Self Portrait 
  3. Sculpture
  4. Additional Personal Best Piece
  5. Critique of Best Piece in Portfolio
​Step 4: Results take 5-10 business days. We will contact you via email and next steps. We appreciate your patients as we tabulate results. 

Important Dates:

Audition Dates
Call school for next by appointment only

Middle School Auditions are in transition 
Please be patient, check the audition site for most current information. 

Digital Portfolio Extra Help

Note, the more evidence of your artistic process for each piece the better!  It helps evaluators more accurately evaluate your full range of skills as well. Ex: Show how you are planning composition, thinking about and applying knowledge of the Elements and Principles, experimenting with media and techniques, reflection and notes relating to final work. 

What goes into your portfolio . . .

1. Perspective OR Landscape  Piece

Show us how you see the world and show off your understanding of space, color, and texture.

2. Self Portrait 

The self-portrait shows your ability to creatively express ideas through portraiture.

3. Sculpture

A sculpture would be a work that has been carved, molded, constructed or shaped into a 3 dimensional art
piece. You can use any material that you choose (paper, clay, wood, plastic, metal, recycled items, etc...)

4. Additional Best Piece

Choose your best project you have made in the last year. This can be 2D or 3D (sculpture) but needs to be something other than what you are already submitting for another section.

5. Critique

Decide which piece in your portfolio you think is your very best and tell us why. Use the questions in listed to the side to help you talk about things we are looking for when evaluating your portfolio. Hint: the more detailed and specific you can get your descriptions the better!

Additional Guided Help for Creating Work for Portfolio

Still Life

A painting or drawing of an arrangement of objects created from direct observation.
Recommended Research

Portrait

This needs to be an observational drawing and your goal is to be as realistic as you can but don't stress to much about it. We know you're still learning some of these skills. Just do your best.

Sculpture (3D)

This includes anything that is 3 dimensional, and is basically not flat. It can be made from found objects, clay, metal, wire, etc. 

Perspective Drawing

A Style of Art in which the relative size, shape, and position of objects are determined by drawn or imagined lines converging at a point on the horizon.
Recommended Research:
  • Accuracy does matter- use a straight edge at all times!
  • copy the examples and write down the terms they talk about in the video's below.
  • I recommend sticking with just 1 and 2 point perspective but if you have time and want to challenge yourself try the 3 point.
  • It's more impressive if you try to create a perspective drawing from observation. Try drawing a room or the neighborhood  where you live and add all the details you can using the rules of perspective. 

Your Choice

This can be anything else you have made. I'd recommend turning in something we've made in class so far this year for this entry but it is totally up to you. This is an opportunity to show off  other materials you've used or your best work if you didn't already use it as other parts of your portfolio.

​Critical Review

Pick your best pieces you are submitting from your portfolio and write a formal critique about it. Use the basic format for a critical art review:
  • Describe
  • Analyze
  • Interpret
  • Evaluate