Preparing a Portfolio
Portfolio Clinics
These 1-day workshops are designed for learners ages 15 and up interested in pursuing a creative pathway towards post-secondary education.
The various workshop offerings present an opportunity for you to explore different techniques, mediums and approaches to a studio practice applicable to any art and design program. Across 2D and 3D materials, art, and design approaches, you’ll gain hands-on experience, professional insights, and portfolio-ready pieces to show the full scope of your creative potential.
Taught by OCAD U faculty who are professionals in their field, you will come away with a better understanding of how studio-based research and creative process work can come together to support a strong portfolio piece.
Questions? Email: portfolioclinics [at] ocadu.ca (portfolioclinics[at]ocadu[dot]ca)
Complete Package
2025-2026 Workshops
Designing A Local Neighbourhood Flier with Chris Lange
- November 22 10:00am - 3:00pm
- December 6 10:00am - 3:00pm
- January 17 10:00am - 3:00pm
Learn how to design a neighbourhood digital flier for an upcoming local event, fictional or real. This workshop focuses on graphic design, typography, and do-it-yourself publishing. It will explore combining text and images to create custom designs to promote an event for a specific time and place.
Building a Personalized Trinket Tray with Ellie Oram
- November 22 10:00am - 3:00pm
- December 6 10:00am - 3:00pm
- January 17 10:00am - 3:00pm
In this 3D fabrication workshop, you will create a small wooden trinket tray for displaying your personal items. You will work from concept to finished project, starting off with a sketch moving into the wood shop to fabricate and decorate your designs.
Observe & Create: Life Drawing Workshop
- December 6 10:00am - 3:00pm
- January 17 10:00am - 3:00pm
In this workshop, you will learn figure drawing and painting from a live model while exploring essential techniques in both dry and wet mediums. Through demos and timed exercises, you will be introduced to a range of mediums (such as acrylic paints, soft pastels) and techniques to learn about use of composition, colour mixing, shadow, form and observation. Master the art of composition! With a viewfinder in hand, you’ll explore how perspective, cropping, and foreshortening can transform ordinary poses into powerful portfolio pieces.
November 22, 2025
December 6, 2025
January 17, 2026
Portfolio Resources & Tips
