[留学攻略]留学作品集如何准备？（MICA要求）

提交申请作品集时，学校到底是希望通过你的作品集看到什么呢？我们又该如何把作品安排在作品集中呢？哪些作品需要？哪些作品完全没必要放入作品集呢？带着这些疑问，我们看一下美国MICA大学对于作品集的详细要求。

你应该放些什么呢? What should you include?
It may be easier to start with what not to include…old work should not be considered since your most recent work will usually be your best.
Try to choose from work done in the past two years (three years at the most). At Memphis College of Art, we ask to see ten to twenty examples, include on the high side of that if you have enough to choose from (check specific requirements at the schools you’re applying to). But also try to think quality, over quantity! In other words, don’t include more work for the sake of having a lot to show, be sure you’re still choosing from your best. We recommend not including any of the following: Viking warrior men or women, unicorns or other mythological creatures, cartoons or any other trite imagery – whether copied or original, copies from album covers, or portraits of your favorite celebrities. Even if that’s what you might prefer to draw, colleges look for a different type of original work. (Keep in mind, however, that nothing is absolute – if you’re interested in illustration and want to submit one or two representations of work from reference material , limit this to one or two. The bulk of your portfolio should be drawing from direct observation.)
先想想不该放些什么，会比较简易，旧的作品应该就不考虑了，因为你最近的作品照说才能秀出最佳效果，试着从最近两到三年中的作品中来挑选(最好不要超过三年).在MICA，我们要求看十到二十件的作品，你应该先确认一下你要申请的学校作品”数量”要求，再来考量你最多能提出几件作品，不过，也试着考量一下”质”，你要提出的作品至少要”够质”，”够量”，换言之，不要因为学校要看很多作品，就随便凑凑数量，你应该还是要先挑最好的我们建议你不要提出下列作品:海盗或钢甲勇士画或美女画，独角兽，或其他怪力乱神的想像角色，卡通人物画或其他老掉牙的东西，不管他们是照描的还是你创的，也不管是从书上照描或是你为了某件事儿创作的，就算你想要主修插画，学校也希望看到你有不同的风格，(记得，无论如何，nothing is absolute无事不相连，如果你对插画有兴趣，要交一两件作品是从插画书上临摹的，至多两件就好了，你的作品集里应该是直接观察的一些素描作品才对

审查小组在”查”什么? What is the admissions committee looking for?
When we suggest drawing from direct observation, we mean looking at three-dimensional objects and translating that to the two-dimensional surface of your paper or canvas. Drawing still lifes, portraits, self-portraits, landscapes or cityscapes from life rather than copied! When you draw from a photograph, half the work has already been done for you. The composition has been laid out and your values​​ captured by the camera. It is important that you learn to visualize these things on your own. That’s why we encourage drawing from life. You may also like to draw from your imagination, but again, schools are going to want to see the direct observational drawing to look at your ability to see. It’s more difficult to draw from life and may be frustrating at first but as you strengthen your visual skills you’ll see a remarkable improvement. Self-portraits are a wonderful addition to your portfolio. Admissions committees can get some insight into you – also you can be your own best model, always available when you’re ready to draw-from a mirror!
当我们建议直接观察的一些素描作品时，表示我们想从你的作品中看出你如何把立体的物件转到平面上的能力，描绘生活，自画像，风景，或是城市风貌比临摹书本要好得太多，当你临摹一幅照片时，其实你只做了一半工作.不过状况也有不同，如果你自己拍了这张照片，那就有我们想要看的东西了，你的”视觉观”对我们来说是很重要的，你可能相当喜欢画一些想像画，但容我们再度提醒，校方希望能从直接观察之后创造的作品中看出你的创造能力，刚开始写生可能会很令人沮丧，但一旦你投入精力，你会看到很巨大的”视觉观”进步，自画像是一个非常好的作品集范例，审查委员也会对你这个人有深刻的印象，而且你会是你自己的最佳主角，随时都在镜中待命!

The next most important thing to keep in mind is variety. Varied subject matter, media, scale, techniques, even working methods. This will show that you are not afraid to experiment with new ideas, techniques and materials. You should not be locked into any particular style yet; you’ll want to show flexibility and diversity. Some color work, along with your black and white drawings, will really add strength to your portfolio. Although you do want to show variety, you don’t want to do that at the sake of adding something in an unfamiliar medium. Doesn’t show the first watercolor that you ever attempted. Practice will make you comfortable and more proficient in your media and techniques. Some of your pieces can be carefully rendered while others may be quick studies, contour line, or gesture drawings that take less time. Both are appropriate to include.
下一件重要的事，记得要有多样性. 题材的多样，使用素材的多样，使用科技的多样，甚至是创造方法的多样性.这些能够秀出你是不怕尝试新点子，新科技和新材料的. 你不应该被任何的风格限制住. 你要能秀出你的弹性和多元性.一些彩色作品，配上一些黑白作品，确实能增加你作品集的份量，最后，虽然多样性很重要，但是你不必为了它去试一些你不熟的素材.例如，不要秀你为了作品集而画的第一张水彩画，即使你一点都不想画水彩，熟能生巧会让妳觉得比较舒服，也比较有自信.你的某些”花时间”的作品要是完整的，其他”花少一点时间”的作品可以只有轮廓线，或是一些动作姿势的描绘.两者都可以放入作品集

If you are considering a career in graphics or illustration, you may submit a few pieces from those areas. In graphics, where craftsmanship is so important, pay careful attention to your lettering, your layout and your design. The concept is just as important as the final pieces; both should be carefully executed. Illustrations often require working from reference material and not direct observation. Illustrators do work from photos to create images that a camera can’t capture. This is one of those exceptions to the rule where your work may not be solely from life-but don’t forget that the bulk of your portfolio should be.
如果你想找平面设计或插画的工作，你应该要交出几张跟这些领域相关的作品，在平面设计，”精巧”是很重要的，多注意一下你用的字型，构成和设计，概念跟最终成品都很重要，必须好好的发展，至于插画通常是临摹一些现成的材料，插画家也常常临摹那些不是他们自己拍的照片，这是唯一在”怪力乱神”中的例外，不过，别忘了整个作品集呀!

其他重要的考量Other important considerations
Interesting subject matter with varying textures or focusing on and enlarging an area of​​ a still life can lend interest as can cropping an object off at an unusual angle. Concentrating on a series can be interesting as well-it also shows an admissions committee that you can take a problem through several alternative solutions. You might explore the use of one subject with varied media or a series of one technique with varied subject matter.
你的兴趣关系到你未来要发展的领域，在你未来的人生，兴趣可能就会改变你，专注在某一领域是很好的，审查委员会能从你如何发展和专注你的兴趣上，看到你的几个解决方案，我们建议你用不同的媒介来应用在你的兴趣上

Composition is important. Try to avoid the typical composition of an object stuck in the middle of the paper. Consider placement before you start your piece-don’t leave it to chance. Do preliminary sketches or thumbnail sketches; from these choose the composition that you find most interesting. Letting your image run off the edges of the picture plane can break up the negative or background space. Show a full range of values​​ in your drawings, whether you’re working in black and white or color. It is important to show value contrast which is achieved by making your shaded areas very light. Consider your background as important as the imagery in your drawings as well. You can ruin a good piece by concentrating on the image and quickly treating the background to get it done.
如何组织也是很重要的，试着不要用”常用的手法”来构图，在你开始创作前，想想看有什么更好的构成，给你的作品一个机会，从你有兴趣的构图上，你可以有预选的素描，或是好几张草图，让你的影像超过作品边缘，可以营造独特的”突破”感，不论你是用黑白还是彩色，你应该秀出你作品的最佳”价值/重要性”，此外，你也可以把色块变淡，利用对比的力量，想想你的背景，那和作品中前景的影像是一样重要的，如果你只把前景画好但把背景草草完成，整个作品就很快的毁了。

我应该画些什么 What should I draw?
You should never lack for ideas about your art (what to draw or what to try next). Explore other artists’ work by looking through current art publications such as Art in America, Graphics, and by visiting galleries to see what contemporary artists are doing or by going to art museums and reading art history books to see what artists before you have done. Not only can this be inspirational, but you can apply some of these ideas to your own work.
关于你的作品，你应永不缺乏点子(想画什么或是下一步要试些什么). 你可以从现有的艺术出版品来探索，例如Art in America, Graphic，也可以参观艺廊，看看当代艺术家在做些什么，或是到博物馆去，读读艺术史的书，看看过去的艺术家做过些什么. 做这些事不仅能点亮你的点子，你也可以将它们应用在你自己的创作上。

引介Presentation
Presentation of your work will speak of your craftsmanship and professionalism. It’s like going on a job interview, you want to make the best impression possible. Take pride in your work and in how you present it. Keep it stored in a safe, clean place -not under your bed or in an attic collecting dust. A portfolio case can be purchased at any art store or you can make a case with two large pieces of cardboard taped together. Once you’ve made decisions about which pieces you plan to include in your portfolio, clean them up as much as possible. You should mount and/or matt each piece in white, off-white or black. Don’t use colored matts-they detract from your drawing which is what you want to be most obvious. Nothing should obscure it.
你的作品能说出你的职业才华还有专业，简介你的作品集有点像是应征工作，你要尽可能的秀出最好的，你要为你的作品和你的印介有信心，把你的作品好好的保存在安全，干净的地方-最好不要放在床下或是堆成像雅典神庙的灰尘中，在任何美术社都买得到作品提袋，或是你也可以自己做一个(用两张大卡纸绑起来就好了)，一旦你已经选好要几张作品了，先把他们尽可能的清理一下，你应该把这些作品都裱在白色，黑色或是米色off-white的背景上，不要用彩色的背景，它们会抢走你作品的光彩(这正好是你想极力展现的).记得，不要让任何多余的东西抢走你作品的光彩喔!

It is not required but you may consider covering your pieces with acetate mounting and/or shrink wrap (shrink wrap is what record albums are covered with). Not only does it look good, but it keeps your work clean and helps protect it from damage . Ask for shrink wrap or acetate at an art supply store. Make sure your name is clearly marked on all your pieces-back or front-and on the outside of your portfolio.
虽然我们并不要求，不过你可以考虑一下在作品上覆盖无酸的表纸acetate mounting，或是塑胶套shrink wrap(就是那种唱片封套上用的东西)，这样不只让它们看起来更赞，也能保持作品的清洁，并保护它们不被破坏，你可以在任何美术社里问到这些商品，次外，要确定你每件作品(前面或后面)还有你的整个作品集都清楚标上你的名字。

那幻灯片呢? What about slides?
Never give your work away or sell it without first documenting it by taking a photograph or a slide. Slides are usually the better choice as they will reproduce your work better. Mark your slides with your name, the name of the piece, medium, the size, and an arrow showing the top of the slide for work where this is not obvious. You may also include a description sheet along with your slides detailing assignments and other information you feel the committee should know about each piece. Slides should be focused on your work not on the background-focus in on the image as close up as possible. The easiest way to take your own artwork on a black cloth that is covering a large chair (always use a neutral background), place your work out of direct sunlight but in a light area, and shoot. Be sure to take off the glass or acetate before taking a slide.
作品还没有拍照存档前，千万不要把作品给人或是卖掉了，幻灯片通常是”再制”作品的最佳路径，把你的幻灯片都标上你的名字，作品名，使用的素材，尺寸还有一个箭头表示正确的上下位置，你也可以附上一张说明表来说明你作品的内容或是任何你觉得审查教授有兴趣知到的事情，

Three-dimensional work, sculpture or ceramics, or any work that is not flat, should be submitted in slide form. You should include no more than two views of the same piece. Remember if you are applying to more than one college (and you should be) the deadlines often overlap, which means you will probably need to take slides. Take your slides early because you must have time to see if your film was exposed correctly before you part with your work. Too dark or too light? Do them over! It is less expensive to take several shots of the same image if you want duplicates than to take one shot and ask the processing lab to make duplicates for you. If you need more help with making slides, call us for a copy of our brochure, “Recipe for Good Slides.”
立体作品，像是雕塑、陶艺或任何不是平面的作品，应该要以幻灯片的形式呈交。一个作品起码要有两个角度的幻灯片。如果你申请一间以上的学校(其实你也应该要这么做)，那么截止日期可能会重叠，那么你可能有需要拍幻灯片。记得提早准备幻灯片，因为在寄出前你需要确定你的幻灯片是曝光正确的。太暗或着太亮吗?要重拍吗?拍的时候多按几次快门会比拿去相馆复制便宜许多。如果你对于把制作幻灯片有问题的话，请打电话向我们索取’拍出好幻灯片之秘诀’的小手册。

你每天都创作吗?Do you work on art each day?
A great way to get a feel for what art school is like is to keep a sketchbook now. Working in a sketchbook is a good way to keep your art-and your ideas about art-with you at all times. Memphis College of Art’s admissions committee really likes you to submit your sketchbook as one of the pieces in your portfolio. This tells of your thought processes and ideas and shows that you do work on your art out of class. Your sketchbook should be complete-all 100 pages. Now if you wrote a grocery list on one page or so, that’s fine, Picasso did that in his sketchbook, too. (To see Picasso’s sketchbook, you could go to a library or bookstore and ask for Je Suis Le Cahiers-that may give you some other good ideas.)
持续速写是一个感受艺术学校生活的好方法。速写是一个让你无时无刻都沉浸在艺术里以及维持创作的灵感的好方法。曼菲斯艺术学院的入学审查委员会很喜欢申请者把他们的速写簿当成作品集中的一件作品。这么做可以表现你的创作思维过程也证明你在课外时间也创作。你的速写簿应该要是完整的一本。如果你的速写簿有某几页记着购物清单也无所谓，因为毕卡索也曾经这么做。 (去看毕卡索的速写簿!你应该去图书馆或书店找’Je Suis Le Cahiers’ˊ这本书，可能会给你许多灵感。)