Portfolio class helps prepare Merrimack art students for future

Published: Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Photo by GRANT SHEPPARD Merrimack High School teachers, from left, Carolyn Rordam, Marcy Pope and JoAnn Wegman critique the work of Jeff Braun.

With the winter break behind them and the start of a new year, students at Merrimack High School have begun to focus on one thing: the upcoming midterms.

Midterms indicate that many first-semester electives will soon be ending. And one of the many electives offered at MHS, Portfolio, is also entering crunch time before the midterm.

Portfolio is an art class offered to seniors who are interested in attending an art college or are planning on a career in art. All projects assigned are intended to be used in a student’s portfolio or to better expand their use of their own artistic ability.

All artists are required to have a portfolio of their own original work when applying to college or an art-related job.

Teacher JoAnn Wegman structures the class similarly to a college-level art class while guiding students as they express themselves through their artwork.

“I’ve learned so much since I took Portfolio,” senior Caitlin Wieser said. “My composition and technique are better, and I’ve learned how to use new materials.

“I feel much more comfortable about my application process.”

Many seniors think Portfolio is very beneficial in their college search.

“It makes me feel so much better knowing that not only will I have a complete portfolio to show colleges, but also one that I know is well put together,” senior Josh Mulvey said. “The different project assignments and teaching style have helped me improve as an artist.”

Having 10 pieces due implies that students would have to work outside class, as they would in a college art class. Critiques on student work are also periodically set up similar to a college schedule. This helps students take a step back and look at their work and at the same time have a chance to see how their classmates interpreted the project.

“Critiques are really helpful,” senior Grant Sheppard said. “It’s nice to hear what other kids in the class think of what I’ve drawn. The input I get from them is usually different from most of what I’ve been thinking to myself and it helps me recognize my strengths and work on other areas that I have a bit more difficulty with.”

The Portfolio class will ending on Jan. 22, and then it’s off to the real world for the senior artists at Merrimack High School.

Colleen Vaillancourt is a senior at Merrimack High School.