Art School Portfolio Critique a RISD Art Professor

Hear a detailed critique of an art school portfolio, starting with a critique of the overall portfolio, followed by critiques for each individual artwork. Critique by RISD Adjunct Professor Clara Lieu, portfolio by Vivian Young.
🍏JOIN OUR BFA & MFA ART SCHOOL PORTFOLIOS GROUP
artprof.org/art-school/art-school-portfolios-group/
• Get feedback in weekly voice sessions with staff
• Critiques & portfolio advice from Prof Lieu
• Find support with other students
🍎ART PROF SERVICES
artprof.org/services/
• Portfolio critiques
• Artist calls
• Personal Art Curriculums
• Artist doc editing
• Lectures by Prof Lieu
🍊WORKSHOPS
artprof.org/learn/premium-courses/premium-workshops-schedule/
❤️JOIN OUR PATREON GROUP
artprof.org/support-us/
• Share your art in weekly voice sessions with staff
• Critiques & advice from Prof Lieu
• Find support in a small group of artists
🐟DISCORD SERVER
artprof.org/community/join-us-on-discord/
Invite link: discord.gg/artprof
✅VISIT OUR WEBSITE
artprof.org/
• Art school Resources
• Curriculums for self-taught artists
• Tracks: sequences of lessons & prompts
• Pro development
• Portfolio critiques
• Tools for Teachers
🦀SOCIAL MEDIA
🎵www.tiktok.com/@artprof?lang=en
🌺 art.prof
🌻 artproffamily
🌞EMAIL LIST
eepurl.com/cHjff9
🍏KZbin LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
artprof.org/events-2/
❤️SUPPORT US
www.paypal.me/artprof
account.venmo.com/u/artprof
🎞️SPONSOR A VIDEO
artprof.org/learn/sponsor-a-video/
✔️SUBSCRIBE
kzbin.info
📕PROF LIEU'S BOOK
Learn, Create, and Teach: amzn.to/42pukZv
✅ GET MERCH!
art-prof.creator-spring.com/
🖼️SHOP WITH OUR ORIGINAL ART
www.etsy.com/shop/ArtProfProjects
🍅ART PROF REFERENCE PHOTO COLLECTION
Download high resolution reference photos for free!
www.flickr.com/photos/189561381@N07/albums
📌ART PROF PODCAST
open.spotify.com/show/69k5OT267xpXodcCh810fa
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/art-prof/id1523194260
🍊STAFF SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS
open.spotify.com/user/gco4r8v6899ekhsek6mllywd1
🫐STREAMYARD
Sign up for Streamyard: streamyard.com?fpr=artprof
Clara Lieu was an Adjunct Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design from 2007-2020. Her artwork has been exhibited at the International Print Center NY, the Currier Museum, Childs Gallery, the Davis Museum, and more. Lieu received an artist fellowship from the MA Cultural Council, has written for the NY Times, and lectured at Brown University, the NAEA conference, and in Vancouver & China. She has been profiled in Artsy, Hyperallergic, KPCC, & WBUR.
🍒PROF LIEU'S BIO VIDEO, PAGE, INSTAGRAM
kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2ixm3ugqNGHobc
artprof.org/about/meet-the-family/clara-lieu/
claralieu
💡LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Neewer 2 Pack 33″/84cm White Translucent Soft Umbrellas: amzn.to/37Ntd9O
LimoStudio 33" 3-Fold Lighting Umbrella: amzn.to/3JCoriM
Dazzne D50 LED Video Light Panel Lights: amzn.to/3JXtdJi
☘️CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Canon Digital SLR Camera Kit [EOS Rebel T6]: amzn.to/3mYupmr
SanDisk 32GB 3-Pack Ultra SDHC UHS-I Memory Card: amzn.to/3JyWIzB
Viozon Extendable Selfie Stand: amzn.to/3LG7tmd
Cell Phone Holder, BENKS:amzn.to/3FHCnqN
Amazon Basics Tripod Boom Microphone Stand: amzn.to/2VdLc4f
Lamicall Cell Phone Stand: amzn.to/3Z62H4z
Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam: amzn.to/2XN4mjq
👂AUDIO EQUIPMENT
Basics In-Ear Wired Headphones: amzn.to/3nc1vQ9
Zoom Bass Amplifier Stack: amzn.to/42HJklF
Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic for Recording and Streaming: amzn.to/2Nuf0FS
TOZO T10 Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Earbuds: amzn.to/3JAAuwZ
Shure Dynamic Microphone for Broadcast, Podcast & Recording: amzn.to/408qMJA
96 Pack Acoustic Panels Studio Foam Wedges 1" X 12" X 12": amzn.to/2MJcNol
Audio-Technica PRO 70 Lavalier/Instrument Microphone: amzn.to/3Z751sj
🔗Links in this video description are Amazon affiliate links that Artprof.org earns from qualifying purchases.

[@np5388]

This is by far one of my favourite portfolios. Every piece looks so polished and confident

[@artprof]

Stay tuned, I'm going to publish her follow up portfolio critique, which I did a few months later, her new work blows the work in this portfolio out of the water! We publish all of our latest critiques here: artprof.org/critiques/

[@np5388]

Art Prof wow! Do you know when it will be up ✨

[@artprof]

Probably in about 2 weeks, it's at the top of my to-do list. When I do post it, it will go on Vivian's page here: artprof.org/critiques/vivian-young/ You could bookmark that page and then check back again, although if you subscribe here you'll see it in your feed that way too!

[@myrkflinn4331]

So far, I've seen stunning artists like these, but the one issue common seems to be that these masters do still-lives, are truly focused on renaissance, perfection,... and it's great, but the ones with a huge fantasy and imagination on their own are usually the kids or those who just play with their work and don't bother details or pressure or perfection.

[@artprof]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! There are an infinite number of ways to be an artist, everyone carves their own path!

[@aa4rt839]

it is amazing how by listening to these advice we can take so much to improve our own work! well done, keep the awesome work!

[@artprof]

This is so true! Students often times enter my classes at RISD expecting that the only critique they will learn from is their own, when actually you can learn so much from listening to other students' critiques ! We have a gigantic video critique section, with all different types of critique formats here: artprof.org/critiques/

[@aa4rt839]

Art Prof definitely going to check it out.

[@bfkgod]

Sargent and Schmid are really the end-all-be-all of brushwork. Study them and you can't go wrong.

[@artprof]

So true!

[@shayla5781]

these are extremely brilliant. The lighting and shadow cast is done so well

[@Leilani2828]

Wow! I'm so glad I stumbled upon this because I am currently building my portfolio and college application time is creeping up on me soon. I really appreciate how helpful your videos are and I will keep these things in mind when building my body of work :)

[@artprof]

You're in luck, because we have a free video course focused entirely on building a portfolio for college, and much more on our main site, artprof.org/. The art school portfolio course is here: artprof.org/courses/art-school-portfolio/. We also offer portfolio critiques for a fee, here is more info: artprof.org/purchase-a-portfolio-critique

[@catherinechung6482]

Gosh, I just keep coming back to this critique!!

[@user-nk8uy4rz7h]

Gosh these are helpful!! Most art videos on youtube end with me feeling very uninspired and outdone. These critic videos fill me with ideas and make me WANT to paint. Also super nice when I see a painting or drawing that looks like something I've done, I can get some direct feedback. Thanks heaps for making them!

[@artprof]

Glad to hear these critiques are useful! If you like our video critiques, we have a large section on our main site, which has video critiques in all different types of formats: artprof.org/critiques/

[@artprof]

Join our Art School Portfolios Group! Ongoing support & critiques, voice sessions with Prof Lieu. Get a chance to connect with other students for $30-$40 monthly. More info: artprof.org/art-school/art-school-portfolios-group/

[@k.elmaraghy1370]

Prof Lieu, I am not much of an artist, yet I always feel compelled to watch your videos.. not only for your work, but also your voice tone and your persona are both equally captivating

[@artprof]

Thank you!! ☺ -Prof Lieu

[@gisisodia]

I think that the beutty of the fish piece is in the simplicity of it. I don think that the critique here is fair. I do undestand tho what the Profesor try to say tho. The lack of structure experimentation is visible.

[@artprof]

We appreciate hearing your opinion on this portfolio. I would remember when watching our critiques that each artist on our staff is going to offer their own point of view and opinion on the work, and none of us by any means see ourselves as being the final word, or the ultimate authority. In fact, a lot of the times, we disagree! Which I think is healthy and necessary, it's important to hear different view points on the same artwork. Thanks for sharing yours!

[@Alovesdogs]

I find these videos interesting, as well as the concept of learning art in a college or having this sort of advice given. Of course everyone has varying goals with their artwork, and I feel that most students who go into a renowned art school anticipate critique like this. I also think these sorts of instructional methods are very suited towards those who wish to pursue gallery work. I think as artists we should always strive to grow and expand our capabilities, but I also think there is much merit to expanding upon techniques that are particularly appealing to oneself. I find much of the advice given in these to be subject to to personal opinion/preference, as well as what is traditionally considered 'good'. Yet most of the artists I find to be particularly extraordinary are those who don't always follow some of these mentalities, but instead do that which appeals to them while still working to grow. These artists also tend to be very successful. In this day and age you do not have to follow some of these methods in order to make a living. I suppose the point I am trying to make is that, at the end of the day, what is considered 'right' or 'correct', is not necessarily always the best option. Many hugely successful artists create pieces that don't follow all the rules, but are still visually very appealing and interesting. That being said, it remains true that in order to break all the rules, you would do well to learn them first. Parts of me are definitely inclined to tend to think of certain aspects of the traditional experience of learning the arts as archaic or outdated, but at the end of the day everyone should and can pursue things in their own way, and there is much to be said for hearing other's opinions.

[@artprof]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I think the way to view our critiques is to keep in mind that every person who looks at the artwork is going to have a completely different take on the artwork, that's inevitable because visual arts is completely subjective. That's one of the reasons why we have a team of artists at Art Prof, so that we can encourage diverse view points and get people to see multiple opinions. Often times, my staff and I don't agree during critiques, which is a good thing! This particular critique is focused on gaining art school admission, a completely different context than say a contemporary artist who is working in a professional environment. At Art Prof, we carefully consider each artist's own background and goals, and that does influence our approach to critiquing the artwork. We wouldn't critique an aspiring artist's portfolio the same way we would critique a portfolio for art school admission.

[@эмэйзинг-т7ц]

thank you so much for uploading this! very helpful.

[@artprof]

You're welcome! You can watch many more critiques on our main site: artprof.org/critiques/

[@ColoredMud]

I just had a portfolio review at my school and many of these things you are saying are what my professors told me! Even though it can sting when they provide criticism, that criticism is what allows for growth! ❤❤❤

[@artprof]

Yes, it can be hard to take criticism (I think we all struggle with this!) but it's helpful consider to allow for progress in your artwork! Even comments you disagree with are important to hear, so you understand how the work is being received by other people.

[@HeyaHoyah]

I'm already in an art college working on my Bachelors in animation and this is exactly the kind of advice I could use for a work portfolio

[@artprof]

That's great to hear! We have many more critiques, in all different types of video formats that you can see here: artprof.org/critiques/

[@jillkama7614]

I am learning a ton from the critique videos, thanks

[@artprof]

That's awesome, we're so glad you like them! If you'd like to watch another critique video, you might enjoy this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/laqcgp6tnrKWrtE - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@arashi.nakamura]

Love this, and especially your opinion on the woman still life. Because to me what makes artist unique is how they choose to short hand things. What details the leave out, what details they may choose to amp up, manipulate, and especially how they can condense the visual information and still get the point across. That’s my favorite opinion of yours in this one. Very helpful, and something I think all young artist, including myself, should keep in mind and experiment with when we are looking for each of our unique styles. Such a great watch, and the artist really does have a great foundation to build on. Xoxo please keep up the amazing content!

[@artprof]

Glad to hear your point of view! Thanks for watching!

[@minaryuzumaki]

Wow! They are so amazing! Thank you for this video ❤

[@artprof]

Glad to hear these critiques are useful! If you like our video critiques, we have a large section on our main site, which has video critiques in all different types of formats: artprof.org/critiques/

[@ireschan6127]

Amazing critique!!!!

[@artprof]

Thanks! We have many more critiques, in all different types of formats here: artprof.org/critiques/

[@lux-qp5mo]

I’ve been eating up all these portfolio critique videos, as I am preparing my own and I don’t really have a whole lot of guidance and I never had art classes in high school but I think there’s a common theme among most of these portfolios that’s the coursework and sort of guided pieces (for example the classic student self portrait), a lot of them seem to have been given prompts in high school. It’s so hard to tell which pieces are the most appropriate to put in my portfolio and which I shouldn’t, even if I consider them my best work. How can I know the balance between creative work and showing technique, and how much should I actually say about the piece?

[@artprof]

Hi! Sorry but it's hard to give general guidelines because each artwork is evaluated on such a case by case basis. Check out our Complete Art School Portfolios Guide on our main site, it has stuff you need to know to prepare your portfolio, perhaps this might provide some insigh on what you're looking for: artprof.org/courses/art-school-portfolio / -Prof Lieu

[@lux-qp5mo]

Art Prof: Create & Critique thanks for the reply!

[@myuhime2940]

How can you have such technique at a so young age? I'm 15 and my drawing skills are really way lower than any portfolio I've seen and I don't know if I'll be able to have this level one day but I really want to go to an animation college.... Anyone knows what to do? (Sorry for my English I'm french)

[@artprof]

Remember that everyone develops their technique at a completely different pace! There's no specific "level" of technique your work has to be at to apply to an animation program in college, and keep in mind that an art school portfolio is much, much more than just technique. Your brainstorming skills, creativity, and thinking process are just as critical. If you want to beef up your skills, do some of the free video courses on Art Prof! The only way to gain these skills is a LOT of time, a LOT of practice. artprof.org/courses/ If you create a piece from one of our video courses, we might post your work in our Community Gallery too!! artprof.org/community-gallery/

[@ginajacques8030]

Myu Hime i wasn’t that good at drawing at 15 but trust me you’re gonna improve drastically

[@mmedeuxchevaux]

I love how 3:43 isn't "finished". I think that was deliberate.

[@artprof]

I can't confirm whether the artist intended for this piece to be that way on purpose of not, but regardless of their intent, my position as a critic is to discuss how the piece comes across. So there are often times cases where an art student makes a deliberate choice to leave a drawing a certain way, but can come across as unfinished to someone else. It's a fine line, some drawings can look more rugged but feel very complete, it's really a case by case basis. -Prof Lieu

[@EvermoreisTimeless]

I was wondering, on the first piece with the koi fish, you suggested that they should look up koi fish but what if they wanted to simplify it that way?

[@artprof]

The idea is that if you take the time to do a little research on your subject, you can enhance what you already know, or learn something new! If you don't do it, you'll never know what you might be missing out on. -Prof Lieu

[@elaniscott6397]

I love this!

[@artprof]

We have many more critiques on our main site! artprof.org/

[@EvermoreisTimeless]

What is the difference between staying loose and being lazy?

[@artprof]

Hard to explain, it's really a case by case basis! -Prof Lieu

[@LannasMissingLink]

Would you be able to critique digital artists? I'm a texture artist and I'm trying to perfect my graduate portfolio

[@artprof]

We do! Here is a playlist of critiques we have done of digital artwork: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGO6fp2im7qgZ7M -Prof Lieu

[@LannasMissingLink]

@@artprof aw great thank you! Also you have a submissions form? I'd love someone to critique my own portfolio

[@artprof]

@@LannasMissingLink Yes! artprof.org/purchase-a-portfolio-critique

[@therobin980]

How old exactly are the artists you are reacting to?

[@artprof]

The artist in this video is in high school.

[@LoveHope-mi4lx]

Could I send you some of my pieces and you could critique them?

[@artprof]

Hi! You can submit here to be considered for a free live critique: artprof.org/youtube-live-art-school-portfolio-critique-submission-form/ -Prof Lieu

[@alchestermarieong3713]

can i ask help? where can i apply for art scholarship or school in the Philippines? I'm confident that i can di art well. please need help.

[@artprof]

Hi! I'm sorry but I really don't know anything about scholarships and art schools in the Philippines. Our Complete Art School Portfolios Guide might help you if you do end up applying to art school: artprof.org/courses/art-school-portfolio/ -Prof Lieu

[@sivehourigan9577]

They have amazing technical skill, but I think that all of their work is very similar and does not show much creativity or thought, even though they demonstrate these aspects in some of their work

[@artprof]

I recommend watching Vivian's second portfolio critique, you can see she makes tons of progress, especially in terms of their ideas! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmjViWZrZtKFpMk

[@mangakaar186]

If I was this good, I wouldn’t even consider college.

[@applecrave1097]

You need to show how you "paint". First time I heard that, hahaha, I think with that idea you're being a bit too biased not all judges will have the same thought as you, and I feel that every artist is different in how they execute their paint, I feel it supposed to be critiqued in how well they executed their paint in the form they manipulated it rather than you say they have to "show" it, but that is what their breath is it is to show you exactly how ranged they are and every artist is different not all will have a sort of "impressionistic" brush stroke

[@artprof]

Hi! Thanks for your thoughts, we really appreciate hearing what you think. Naturally, visual arts is an inherently subjective topic, so everyone is going to have their own opinion. We aren't trying to say that one way of painting is better than another, because that would be ridiculous. In this particular critique, the artist is at an early stage of their artistic development, they are applying to art school, and art school portfolios have specific requirements that have to be adhered to. The point we are making here is that it's important to experiment with a wide range of different painting styles, so that one doesn't get trapped into working in one way. Ultimately, at the professional level, many artists start to gain more focus in their painting style, but that doesn't usually happen until many years of experience. At the beginning level, it's important to try out as many different ways of working as possible!