Every year, thousands of Ontario students apply to art and design programs at OCAD University, Sheridan College, and universities across the province. And every year, a significant number fall short — not because they lacked talent, but because they didn’t know what “a strong portfolio” actually means.

This guide is for students (and parents) who want to approach the process with clarity. We’ll walk through what schools are looking for, what a competitive portfolio typically includes, and how to plan your time so you’re not scrambling in January.

What Are Art Schools Actually Looking For?

• Technical foundation — can you draw accurately from observation? Do you understand light, shadow, form, and proportion?
• Range — can you work across multiple media and subject matter?
• Creative thinking — do your compositions show decision-making, not just copying?
• Completeness and commitment — are the pieces finished? Do they suggest a student who works seriously?

A portfolio of 12 technically accomplished pieces across a range of media will outperform 20 rushed or repetitive ones every time.

What Does a Strong Portfolio Usually Include?

Requirements vary by school and program — always check each institution’s specific requirements. That said, the following are common across most Ontario art and design programs:

1. Academic Portrait Drawing — charcoal or graphite, drawn from observation. Tests understanding of facial structure and proportion.
2. Full-Height Figure Drawing — pencil or liner, demonstrating anatomy and proportion across the whole body.
3. Gesture and Posture Sketches — quick sketches showing movement, weight, and fluidity. Usually a series.
4. Still Life Painting — acrylic or watercolour, ideally with a range of surfaces and textures.
5. Still Life Drawing — charcoal, showing observational skill with light and shadow.
6. Landscape — watercolour or oil, demonstrating atmospheric perspective and colour sensitivity.
7. Narrative Composition — gouache or mixed media, showing ability to tell a story through image-making.
8. Mixed Media or Experimental Work — linocut, dip pen, collage, or scratch art. Shows range.
9. Illustration — dip pen, watercolour, or digital. Especially important for illustration and animation programs.
10. Sculpture or Three-Dimensional Work — clay, wire, or relief. Required by some programs, valued by most.

How Early Should You Start?

This is the question we’re asked most often. The answer is almost always: earlier than you think.

If you’re applying in winter of Grade 12 and start building your portfolio that September, you have roughly four months to produce 10–15 strong pieces while managing your academic coursework. That’s very tight, especially if some pieces require unfamiliar techniques.

Our recommendation: start dedicated portfolio work in Grade 10 or 11. Students who begin early have time to experiment, fail, learn, and produce genuinely strong work. The difference in the final portfolio is noticeable.

What Makes a Portfolio Stand Out?

• A recognisable point of view — even if subtle, the best portfolios feel like they were made by the same person with a consistent way of seeing
• Evidence of process — some schools ask for sketchbooks. Keep everything.
• Good presentation — scan or photograph pieces cleanly, in good light, on a neutral background
• A personalised selection — not just “the required pieces,” but pieces that play to the student’s genuine strengths

How Colibri Art Studio’s Portfolio Prep Class Works

Our Portfolio Prep class is a full-year program for students aged 15–18, with a maximum of six students per class. Every student receives a customised portfolio list based on the schools they’re targeting, their chosen area of study, and their existing strengths.

We cover artist statement writing and portfolio presentation — the parts that are often forgotten until it’s too late.

→ Learn More About Portfolio Prep | → Book a Trial Class