Advice on a drawing portfolio for Uni
Hi there! I am currently on a level 3 games development course at college and hope to progress to university after this course (currently almost halfway through my first year). I need to desperately start working on a traditional art portfolio; drawing in particular. I have been to multiple Uni open-days for Game Art, and have been informed that they want to see 'potential' in the portfolio. I am confused as to how much potential, Uni's are looking for and for that reason, I am feeling slightly alone. I thought Polycount could give me some advice because I have heard this forum mentioned before. Apologies if this isn't in the correct place and I hope you all have a brilliant day/night 
Replies
What do you have right now? It'll be hard to tell how much or what work you need to do without knowing what you've done.
Also, did THEY say they want fine art foundation pieces or are YOU thinking it will help?
And which uni's are you looking at, mate?
The two Uni's I visited were De Montfort University and Hertfordshire University, I loved both. DMU seem to want a portfolio which is strictly traditional art, and what I could gather from Hertfordshire is that they want the same, but don't mind it if I put my 3D portfolio in as well.
Getting strong foundational pieces done for your portfolio is a generally good aim. Figure drawing, life drawings, still lifes, etc.
You probably will want to get specific from each program by reaching out to them and asking to what degree dot hey need to see traditional art proficiency. Neil Gallagher at the Hertfordshire program would be a person to find; I've visted and worked with their students before.
You do bring up a good point about trying to reach out to the Uni's themselves.
Hope you have a wonderful new year and thank you for taking the time to actually bother with me, lol.
Your drawings definitely show promise and needless too say with practice progression will eventually develop over time. In my opinion you've already at this very early stage able to interpret nude figures via a key foundational tenet, Observation which is extremely challenging for a novice let alone for someone more experienced. Though obviously, yes, proportionally slightly off but again due diligence in your craft through constant refining of technique plus other artistic facets, a level of competency is certainly achievable.
Also one other thing, when you next attend class, here's a tip initially learnt when I'd first started out:
- Now throughout the separate drawing sessions try squinting at the subject, never the canvas or paper because it will remove mistakes.
- This exercise will essentially simplify what the eye observes, down to a kind of filtered monochromatic aspect where light and dark values are easier to distinguish whilst out of focus and reducing the amount of light entering the eye.
Anyway best wishes for your Uni application, hope everything goes well and likewise have a safe prosperous new year.