London Art Portfolio offers a high-end service that delivers excellent value and success through a well-designed learning programme based on more than 30 years of experience in art and design lecturing and curriculum design.
We deliver a diagnostic Foundation Course that offers specialist pathways in the following fields of art and design: Fine Art, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Graphic Communication Design, 3D Spatial Design, and Architecture Design.
The London Art Portfolio Foundation Course allows you to extend your diagnostic pathway experience up until Christmas. In this way, you can be sure of which art and design area you wish to apply for.
In addition, if you are confident and ready, you can begin your specialist portfolio project immediately after your Autumn Reading Break. This gives you a clear advantage when applying for University and speeds up the process of your portfolio development and opportunities.
The London Art Portfolio tutor team are all practising artists and designers who run their own design studios and fashion collections. Many have won international awards. All are experienced lecturers in art and design and portfolio tutors with in-depth experience.
We offer an intimate environment perfect for ambitious students aiming for the best. The course is ideal for post-A Level and IB students, Gap Year students and Career Change applicants who are ready to study on a Foundation Course in Art and Design.
The atmosphere at LAP is congenial for beginners and others wanting to return to art again for personal and professional development.
Learning Programme
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- Small group sizes – perfect for focused learning
- Drawing and Painting
- Research Skills
- Sketchbook Development
- Range of Mediums, Processes and Techniques
- Fine Art Concepts and Idea Development
- 2D and 3D Design Development and Realisation
- Model Making and Paper Folding Techniques
- CAD (Adobe Photoshop and 3D Modelling Software)
- Contemporary Art Practice and Theory
- History of Art and Visual Culture
Portfolio Preparation for Degree Level
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- Experienced specialist portfolio tutors and career mentors, and advisors
- High-quality and successful portfolio preparation for all specialist fields and levels
- Experienced advice and support for your whole UCAS Application Process
- Physical Portfolio Preparation
- Guidelines for Digital Portfolio Preparation (a necessary part of your application process)
- Interview techniques and preparation
- Possibilities to book for additional 1-1 Portfolio Tutorials and UCAS application process support
- Flexible service which gives great value and can deliver a personal bespoke programme
Learning Environment
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- A central London location in Wapping close to Tower Bridge, Brick Lane and Shoreditch
- We are within reach of the cultural heart of London and its famous art galleries and museums.
- Visit famous markets such as Borough Market, Brick Lane and Spitalfields; these are great vibrant foodie, vintage hot spots where you can buy great vintage clothes, vinyl records and international dishes from quirky gourmet street food trucks; alternatively, join in with a variety of retro games at Spitalfields and meet great new creatives!
- London Art Portfolio offers an intimate, friendly teaching environment where meeting and getting to know other creative people is easy.
- Great places close by for research, photography, sketching and organising shoots.
- We have a terrific niche library of inspirational books to source and discover new ideas.
- Our small groups offer unique support and the perfect environment to learn quickly and confidently.
- Fantastic transport links; London Underground, Overground and DLR, Thames ferries, bus services, taxis and cycle lanes
The London Art Portfolio Foundation Course in Art and Design is a diagnostic programme. Our course allows you to explore a wide range of art and design disciplines as part of your preparation for your BA application. We encourage an exploratory approach, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore and experiment with your research, ideas and critical thinking. This unique course offers broad diagnostic modes of study and an option to start your specialist project before Christmas. If you are confident and ready to specialise earlier, this curriculum option will enable you to speed up the process of your development, along with the preparation of your portfolio and future UCAS application interviews too.
Help yourself with free coffee, tea, and other condiments such as olive oil, vinegar, and more. This is a great way to get to know others on your course and make new friends from all over the UK and worldwide. There are great young, vibrant cafes and the Fashion and Textile Museum and White Cube Gallery. We are spoilt for locations to draw and sketch.
Monday-Thursday – Full time
The full-time Foundation Course programme is delivered over 24 weeks.
Students are tutored each morning for 4 days per week. You are expected to continue your independent study work each afternoon to be ready for feedback the following day.
TEACHING HOURS
Foundation Teaching Programme:
Monday – Thursday
Tuition: 9 am-12 noon each day
Lunch: 12 noon-1 pm
Independent Study: 1 pm-4 pm
We encourage students to continue their Independent Study work each afternoon.
The off-site ‘Friday Self Study Research Day’ work will be reviewed each Monday morning. We do expect students to extend work in their own time too.
Part One
Week 1-6
Introductory Pathways and Skill Sets covering the following:
SPECIALIST PATHWAY OPTIONS
Mini Project Introductions
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- Fine Art
- Fashion Design
- Textile Design
- Graphic Communication Design
- 3D Spatial Design, Architecture Design
ESSENTIAL SKILL SETS
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- Drawing and Painting
- Illustration and Mixed Media Techniques
- 2D and 3D Research and Design
- Model Making
- 2D CAD and 3CAD
- Digital Image-Making and Prep’
- Critical and Contextual Studies: Museum and contemporary art gallery visits included
AUTUMN READING BREAK – 2 WEEKS
Part 2
Week 7-12
SPECIALIST PATHWAY PROJECTS:
If you are already sure as to which specialist field you would like to focus on and develop for your future degree and career applications you can follow the specialist mode of study. Please choose from one of the following specialist pathways:
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- Fine Art
- Fashion Design
- Textile Design
- Graphic Design
- Architecture and 3D Spatial Design
EXTENDED SKILL SETS IN:
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- Advanced Drawing and Painting
- Design Development and Realisation
- Advanced ‘hands-on’ Model Making
- Advanced 3D Modelling Software
- Draping on the Mannequin
- Fashion Illustration
- Advanced Adobe Suite and Digital Portfolio Start-Up
- Portfolio Presentation and layout
- Critical and Contextual Studies: comparative essays on art theory and practical studies
CHRISTMAS BREAK – 3 WEEKS
Part Three
FINAL MAJOR PROJECT
Week 13-24
8th January – 2nd May 2024 (12 weeks)
Consider and extend what you have already learnt, researched and explored on the Foundation Course through a Final Major Project. This will be based on your own personal project proposal with a final exhibition.
London Art Portfolio Foundation in Art and Design Course allows you to explore a range of creative subjects, giving you the time and creative inspiration to decide which area of art and design you’d like to specialise in when choosing your undergraduate degree.
The course of study begins in a diagnostic mode that allows you to spend time within each of the 5 curriculum areas before specialisation. This approach best suits students who are unsure which specialist field to choose.
Our course is ideal for a range of applicants:
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- Post-A level and IB students ready for their Foundation Course
- Gap Year students who are aiming to apply for Degree level
- ‘Change of Career’ students who are desperate to get back to art
- Personal development students who want to develop their artistic skills
The 5 curriculum areas are:
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- 3-Dimensional Design and Architecture – Product Design, Transport Design, Theatre, Stage and Screen Design; Interior Design and Transport design
- Fashion Design – Fashion Womenswear, Fashion and Knit; Fashion Promotion and Marketing, Art Direction, Visual Merchandising
- Textile Design – Printed Textile Design, Surface Pattern Design, Interior Textile Design
- Fine Art – Drawing, Painting; Photography and Time-Based Media; Sculpture
- Graphic Communication Design – Logo Design and Branding, Illustration, and Storyboarding for Animation and Film
Part One – Research Methodology, Materials and Skills
The Foundation Course Part One begins with an introduction to fundamental drawing and painting skills, which are essential for every specialist portfolio. This is the perfect refresher and start-up for both the beginner and the more experienced.
You will explore a range of specialist fields and begin to identify your strengths and personal interests in the process, with support from experienced specialist tutors. You will be introduced to various mediums, materials, processes and technologies, expanding your working methods, thinking and learning.
Much emphasis will be placed on research, encouraging you to discover a more personal perspective and experiment with new ideas and concepts whilst evaluating and reflecting on your progress.
Through inspiring project design and the core skill sets, you will have the opportunity to investigate both 2D and 3D and, in the process, become a more innovative artist or designer. This journey will become the core of your portfolio project development. There will be a Formative Assessment, which includes a Portfolio Review.
Part Two – Concept Building and Development
Introduction
This is a crucial part of your personal progress on the LAP Foundation Course in Art and Design. Before your Autumn Research Break, all students will start to consider either:
Specialist pathway projects
If, at this stage, you are still uncertain as to which specialist field you would like to choose for your future career applications, we can extend your diagnostic pathway experience to support your decisions in this period.
PPB-Personal Portfolio Blog
All students are asked to create and continue an online visual diary blog. We encourage ongoing project and personal research to be recorded, saved and maintained on your PPB. Occasionally your online record will be used as part of your Formative Assessment. We encourage a fun approach and welcome any personal methods of presentation. Presentation and content will count towards your final grade.
Upon completion of Part Two, there will be a Formative Assessment Week, including a helpful Portfolio Review, with constructive feedback on improving your portfolio project work and plan for your UCAS applications.
First specialist project-6 weeks
It is at this stage you will have the opportunity to select one specialist art and design pathway, to focus on for your 6-week specialist project in the run-up to the Christmas Break. Your choice will be based on your introductory diagnostic experience during the first 6-week block of the Foundation Course. Tutors will give you career support and direction during this critical period.
It is important to feel sure and committed; in this way, you will begin to develop your knowledge and creative practice in a specific field. You will be encouraged to develop your critical thinking and creative process and expand your skills. Much importance is placed upon research, which will inspire new forms of visual investigation and, thus, lead to more innovative ideas and development.
Through a range of extended projects, we offer the flexibility to investigate particular specialist fields in more depth to allow you to choose the best area of art and design for you.
The Foundation Diploma in Art and Design diagnostic nature is perfect for this experience. Through each stage, students are given portfolio advice and guidance on building up and preparing an application portfolio.
There is a Formative Assessment Week at the end of the 6-week block, including a Portfolio Review and constructive feedback.
Part Three
Final Major Project Realisation and Presentation
Final Portfolio Project Realisation and Presentation
UCAS Application Process Support- UCAS Deadline February 26th 2023
January Physical Portfolio Review 2023
This is your opportunity to reflect and consider what you have learnt already on the course, subjects you have researched, methods of research and idea development. Choose a subject of your own choice to explore, extend and realise as your Final Major Project. This can be executed in any medium you like.
Your specialist subject should be evident and apparent. It may include fashion, graphics, architecture, textiles, or fine art. It could also include a specific area within a specialist field, such as Fashion, Promotion and Marketing, Car Design, Knitwear, Interior Design, Animation, and Children’s Book Illustration.
The following aspects and the Formative and Summative Assessment Criteria will need to be considered carefully. This includes the planning and execution of your exhibition space. The following qualities will need to be considered throughout this process:
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- Planning
- Research
- Ideas
- Methods
- Action Plans
- Reflection
- Evaluation
At the end of your course, your personal project will be exhibited in a final foundation and portfolio exhibition. This is open to the public, family and friends.
I learned to present my train of thoughts both in speech and images, something that made me confident in my interviews. These 24 weeks were incredibly helpful and at the same time fun and I recommend everyone who wants a strong, creative and fun portfolio to start their journey here.
– Ida Larsson, Sweden – Progressed to BA (Hons) Architecture at Oxford Brookes University
