Art High School Portfolio Prep Class
Preparing students for LaGuardia High School, Art & Design, and Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, and all others. Taught by recent LaGuardia Graduate and working artist Nicolas Ferrera. Examples are my original artworks.
DECEMBER 3RD PORTFOLIO DEADLINE
11 SUNDAYS TO PREPARE
September 20 – November 29
Welcome to NYC Art High School Portfolio Prep!
Creating an outstanding portfolio for schools like LaGuardia, Art and Design, and Frank Sinatra requires more than just some good drawings. A portfolio is the opportunity for reviewers to see what kind of artist a student is, and what they are capable of becoming. It is crucial for a successful portfolio to demonstrate both strong technical ability and creative individuality.
The Two Crucial Foundations of a Strong Portfolio:
1) Technical Skill - Realism
We will strengthen technical skills with live demonstrations, guided exercises, and drawing from life.
We will practice how to:
Build convincing forms learning sight measurement and proportion
Understand and render light, shadow, value, and color
Develop facial and figurative anatomy
Render different textures and materials
Apply these techniques to their own drawings and paintings
Rather than just telling students what to improve, I demonstrate how to improve it. Students will watch techniques being applied, practice them themselves, and receive feedback while they work.
2) Conceptual Skill - Individualism
Students will learn how to take an initial idea and transform it into a visually compelling piece. This is required by the portfolio’s “Fantastical Sandwich” . Outstanding portfolios show imagination, design skills, and the ability to develop an idea in an engaging and personal way.
We will study artwork by professional artists and answer questions such as:
How can we use stylization, imagination, symbolism, composition, and storytelling?
How can we properly take creative inspiration without plagirism?
What makes an artwork memorable?
Why does this idea work?
Individualized Instruction
All students enter the classroom with different strengths and weaknesses. My approach is to meet each student where they are. Students will receive personalized instruction throughout class. I will work one on one with each student, assessing their existing artwork or portfolio, identifying areas for growth, and helping them develop a plan for strengthening their work. I am excited to help your student blossom into the artist they aspire to become!
Teacher Bio - Nicolas Ferrera
Hello! I’m Nicolas Ferrera, a working artist and recent graduate of LaGuardia High School. I spent my youth immersed in the NYC art scene. My education is rooted in classical realism and observational drawing. For the past five years, I've been attending Grand Central Atelier, where artists study rigorous principles of drawing and painting from life.
My practice and teachings move across many mediums; graphite drawing, colored pencil, alcohol markers, acrylic paint, oil paint, watercolor and gouache.
I love teaching young artists. I remember what it felt like being a student trying to understand something that seemed impossible at first, and I know that every student learns differently. If one explanation doesn't click, I'll find another explanation. If a student is struggling with confidence, I'll remind them what they are already doing well. And when a student discovers something they love about their own artwork, I want to help them pursue it further. I want to help them fall a little more in love with art, to become more observant, more curious, more confident, and more excited about what they are capable of creating.