Portfolio/PLC Courses?

TEA!

Hi!

So i am going to take a year out after the leaving cert (i'm in 6th year now. Can't wait to get to college!).
During the year out I'm going to do a portfolio course - most of the courses I'm looking at require a portfolio & I don't want to cut into study time to do a portfolio & then for it not to be up to standard.

Where are the best portfolio courses?
Im guessing that the best ones fill up really quickly.
Im hoping to do one in Dublin.

When would I need to apply & does any body know the requirements if there are any?

I've been looking online and thought that asking here would be much more efficient than gathering tiny bits of info all over the place!!!!

Clearly I don't know a huge amount about this but really want to do it...
Any information is greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks :]

ztoical

I highly rec the one year portfolio courses at Ballyfermot. They offer several that focus on different areas - 3D studies, mix media, printmaking, animation etc The course are good as if you find you've say an interest in animation and take the one year animation portfolio course but then find its not what you want to do they will help you gear your portfolio towards an area that you are better suited for or have more interest in. Most PLC colleges have their submission information including dates and portfolio requirements on their websites.

Regarding putting a portfolio together it depends on what area of art your interested in - no point going into a mix media course that focuses on colour with a black and white portfolio or Animation requires alot more basic drawing skills then say a printmaking course. For a portfolio course they aren't looking for amazing portfolio's just examples of your work that shows you have a basic grasp of line, form, texture, colour, etc

Saying that there are some basics that should be in every portfolio - sketchbooks, if you don't keep one start. You can fill up several A5 sketchbooks pretty quickly without taking to much time out from other things. Set aside a couple of hours out of the week and go sit somewhere that has lots of people - shopping center, train station, etc and do lots of observation work. Carry a sketchbook with you and draw people on the bus, while eating lunch, draw cars, buildings, if you have a pet then draw it, lots of quick full of energy drawings, include some colour if you can. The people looking at your portfolio want to see observational work [ie from life] so don't copy images from magazines or books, trust me they can spot them a mile away.

You should have between 12 to 15 finished pieces. A finished piece can anything from a painting, a render pencil image, pastel work, life drawings etc that is more developed then your sketchbook work. There should be some correlation between your finished pieces and sketchbook work - if you've sketchbooks filled with sketches of man made objects but a series of finished paintings of trees and nature it looks odd. Remember to present your work to its best, if the edges are all bent or marked trim the piece and mount it on card or stiff paper. Make sure to have a selection of work, don't submit 15 pastel pieces or 15 life drawings. Get into the habit of signing your work and putting the date and time on it. You might have a wonderful series of life drawings but they don't know if it took you 3 minutes or 3 hours to do them and they want to see that the work is recent.

Larianne

I went to Colaiste Dhulaigh in Coolock. I had an interview in May and had to show a few pieces of my own work and discuss my favourite piece.

The course is good as it covers a number of areas. They help you bring your work together. I would have been lost otherwise. Pretty much everyone in my class went on to some sort of art course at 3rd level.

Have a look at this thread for some advice also http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055357937

I can't speak for anywhere else but Ballyfermot does have a good reputation too! (too far away for me)

ThenComesDudley

Ballyfermot, has one of the best reps for portfolio and art course, so is the best place to start, pretty much just follow what Ztoical said,

Colaiste Dhulaigh in Coolock, i've had a few friends that went to this college, again comes highly recommended. I was told that when the portfolio students were getting ready to send work into the Ncad portfolio day, A tutor from Ncad core year reviewed the portfolios at Colaiste Dhulaigh and gave them advice on any changes the students might consider, now this was in 2003/4 that this apparently happened.

I went in Inchicore in 2003, It was a good course, covered the basics in Print, paint, life drawing, graphic design, photography, drawing, sculpture. There was only 2 art tutors on the course, with a class of around 30 ish student, there was 16 by the end. Some just dropped out or didnt seem interested. The director of the course tended to aim more at teaching the art history, and the other tutor pretty much did everything even though he was only there 2 days a week, as he also teaches out in IADT, The sucess rate of students to continue onto other colleges was kinda low, i think only half of who finished seemed interested in continuing college.


I found the advice that i got there really good, i got the course i wanted, as did most of the other students that actually wanted to continue onto third level education.

The Year i entered Ncad, there was a group that all came from the Dun Laoighaire / Dalkey area, who all did a portfolio course together, and i was told about 90% all got accepted by their first choice , And the other 10% taking course elsewhere or not going on to continue in college.
if i can get the name of this place i will post it up.

TEA!

This is great help.

Have one sketchbook filled, working on the second and have 3 finished pieces done so far.
Dun Laoighaire & Ballyfermot seem the most appealing & seem to be the best, judging by these answers!

Really want to do the portfolio course, thank you!

Kold

PLC courses won't require the same as a degree course. When I went for mine, I had 2 sketchbooks and some assorted drawings, not a lot at all. All they want to see is a desire. Some drawings and an interest in photography/film/art (be able to drop a few names in the history dept) will more than delight them I'd say.

cursive

the portfolio course in st thomases in bray is arguably the best in terms of ratio of students who apply to ncad and get it and also in regards to continued work throughout 3rd level, their notebooks are the best and because of the intensity of the course reinforces self motivation and self criticism. unfortunatly it is also the most soul destroying and students expect to have no life, no job, no money, 4 hours homework every night and short deadlines until february...... but if thats ur buzz then u should apply.;)

nelson087

Does anybody have any information on portfolio courses down the country? I'v heard the one in thurles, co tipp is good but wanted to know about the one in cork city community college please of galway would be of interest too. Thanks in advance:)

benjyboo

I applied for the Portfolio Preparation course in Galway Technical Institute... don't really know much about the course tbh i'd love some feedback on that aswell!!?:)

wmpdd3

nelson087 wrote: »

Does anybody have any information on portfolio courses down the country? I'v heard the one in thurles, co tipp is good but wanted to know about the one in cork city community college please of galway would be of interest too. Thanks in advance:)

i did mine in CTI Parnell St Waterford. Highly recommend it.

It was a little bit of everything but you could go off on your own tangant based on your field of interest. I was the only person in the class (22) that wanted to study fashion but I was well catered for.

It was such a breath of fresh air after school, it was hard not to prosper.

adie1988

Did a portfolio course two years ago and loved it, it's the best way to figure out what you wanna do with yourself.

When you're making the portfolio tho, have a theme. That let me down and nearly didn't get into the course I'm in now.

To get in to the PLC just show your best pieces and some evidence that you've an interest in art.

nelson087

Hi Adie 1988

Where did you do your plc course and where did you go to after the plc course was finished I'dreally like to hear from anyone who did the arts portfolio course in cork and does any course get you into Crawford college? Thanks everyone!!

adie1988

did mine in cavan college. now in Dun Laoghaire and am really enjoying it. Good few people here that did their plc in cork, but don't know much else about that area or the crawford.

irishlostboy

i did the portfolio course in sligo VEC years back. most parts of the country has a portfolio course being run somewhere. get in touch with your local VEC to get more info relative to your location.
to anyone going on a portfolio course, or looking to go on in fine art in 3rd level, prepare for maximum pain.
to anyone considering a portfolio course, there best aspect is offering you a one year sample of what art and design is like without commiting to a full 4 year course. great way to find out if art is really something you want to pursue for a living. just leave your self esteem at the door. nearly killed me so it did. but i did learn a lot.

hopeful_girl

does anyone here go to GTI?

Evelyn1993

irishlostboy wrote: »

i did the portfolio course in sligo VEC years back. most parts of the country has a portfolio course being run somewhere. get in touch with your local VEC to get more info relative to your location.
to anyone going on a portfolio course, or looking to go on in fine art in 3rd level, prepare for maximum pain.
to anyone considering a portfolio course, there best aspect is offering you a one year sample of what art and design is like without commiting to a full 4 year course. great way to find out if art is really something you want to pursue for a living. just leave your self esteem at the door. nearly killed me so it did. but i did learn a lot.

Hi, how did you find the course in the vec? i am starting on Mon the 12th and would really like some feedback on how people found it. I hope to go to NCAD next year and I am wondering will this course offer me a good chance along with some hard work on my behalf? Hope to hear from you soon

Emma_G_1

Hi Guys I'm Just wondering about the PLC courses in Cork , Limerick Or Dublin , is a full portfolio completion required to be even considered for these prep courses ? or just a few ? and does anyone know can you attend a full time prep course for an entire year ? Thanks , Would really appreciate a reply

cottage garden

hi all,

I would really appreciate some feedback from students who went to the 3D/2D ART portfolio course in Liberties College in the City Centre in the last year or two.

How does it rate compared to Ballyfermott Portfolio course in Art. I got accepted to both courses but not sure if ballyfermot will have the support/resources I need.

Has anyone any experiance of this type of situation/dilema ???.

My Art is considered pretty good but my academic ability is not too good & I will need a lot of help with anything other than actual art, [ (In explanation I am getting help to write up this !!!)
[
Any advice or info would really be appreciated.

cottage garden

hi all,

I would really appreciate some feedback from students who went to the 3D/2D ART portfolio course in Liberties College in the City Centre in the last year or two.

How does it rate compared to Ballyfermott Portfolio course in Art. I got accepted to both courses but not sure if ballyfermot will have the support/resources I need.

Has anyone any experiance of this type of situation/dilema ???.

My Art is considered pretty good but my academic ability is not too good & I will need a lot of help with anything other than actual art, [ (In explanation I am getting help to write up this !!!)
[
Any advice or info would really be appreciated.