The artwork you choose for the Proficiency Review Exhibition should demonstrate at least a minimum competency in skills that are necessary for acceptable completion of a BA or BFA degree in Art. Your work must demonstrate satisfactory understanding of the principles, concepts, techniques, and processes introduced in the art foundation classes:  Drawing I, Drawing II, Design I, and Design II. Some works may cover elements from more than one category, and this is acceptable.

For the review, you will submit one piece from each of the foundation courses. You will also submit a fifth piece, of your choice, that must also be from one of these foundation courses. This portfolio of five pieces should be presented in a professional manner and demonstrate the following competencies.

Submissions should show at least minimum mastery of :

Drawing I 

• Basic observations and drawing from life skills
• Basic principles of composition such as balance, emphasis, unity, etc.
• Understanding of the expressive uses of line, texture, or value in observational drawing
• Understanding of devices such as gradation in size, convergence, overlapping, or diminishing detail to depict a sense of space in a two-dimensional composition

Drawing II 

• Observational skills used when drawing (from life) the human figure, such as foreshortening, proportion, scale, or modeling with value
• Compositional skills gained from Drawing I and Design I experiences

Design I 

• Understanding and application of elements of design such as line, value, texture, shape, and positive/negative space relationships
• Understanding of design principles such as balance, rhythm, unity, variety, or emphasis in compositional arrangements
• Application of color theory beyond local color or “chart” exercises

Design II 

• Ability to construct a composition in-the-round using basic three-dimensional design  elements and principles
• Integration of form and space into a three-dimensional composition
• Understanding of scale and proportion when appropriate

Fifth Piece

Selected from any of the four foundation courses, this component allows you to choose a work that could augment a combination of the requirements listed above.  As an example, the fifth piece could be an additional figure drawing, completed in color or a bas-relief or in-the-round piece from Design II. This selection could supplement criteria from Drawing I, Drawing II, Design I, or Design II, but it must have been completed in one of the above four courses. The fifth piece may also be completed using digital media.

Artist Statement

The Artist Statement is a prepared one page analysis of the work you chose for review.  You must specifically address how the work demonstrates the competencies as listed for each course. The statement should explain why particular works were chosen, how each work contributes to the quality of your overall exhibit, and a brief self-evaluation of your artistic strengths and the areas in which you require more development.

In addition to posting a copy of the paper to the exhibition, you must submit your Artist Statement on Blackboard.

Foundations Proficiency Review Exhibition Installation                     

You will install and remove your work in the exhibition at a prescribed time and place. Your work should be arranged in the space designated on the walls and on the pedestals in a way that is most supportive of your art.

Three-dimensional work must :

• Fit onto provided pedestals. May be hung or suspended if appropriate.
• Be completely in-the-round, not bas-relief (unless a bas-relief piece is selected as a fifth piece)
• Be well constructed and self-supporting
• Remain intact for the duration of the proficiency review

Two-dimensional work must :

• Be matted with white mat board
• Have a bevel-cut window, with three-inch boarders on all four sides
• Be backed with white foam core.
• Be assembled to remain intact for the duration of the proficiency review

The Artist Statement must :

• Be typeset,
• Printed on 8 1/2” x 11” white paper, and have 1.25 inch margins.
• You must use 12-point, Times New Roman or Palatino font and include one and one-half (1.5) spacing between each line.
• This statement will be displayed with your exhibition (pinned onto the wall).

Work from the classes will be displayed in Ophelia Parrish for five days.

Review Process

This review provides an opportunity for student and faculty discussion about the artwork you created in the foundation courses. A summary of the evaluation of your art as determined by the entire studio faculty will be the topic of discussion. At an assigned time, you will meet with a group of studio art faculty and discuss your work. Participation in this group meeting is required for Foundations Proficiency Review. Students will be advised of their performance with great specificity by a committee of art faculty, and those who meet the minimum standards will receive a P (Pass) for the course. Students who do not meet the minimum standards required for Foundations Proficiency Review will be given an opportunity to resubmit later in the semester.