college portfolio

[strawpie]

hi guys,
i'm planning on applying to Calarts' character animation program and i feel like i need some advice on my portfolio. I'll admit that i did use photo references for some of them and that was a folly on my part, so feel free to critique my portfolio to pieces because i really want to know what i should keep/toss and my strengths and weaknesses. Thanks!

This is the observational portion of the portfolio requirement. They also require a sketch/visual diary, but i didn't have enough time to scan everything. I apologize for the poor quality of my scanner; the images came out a bit darker than they actually are.

[Capt Surge]

This is typical work for an entering student in my opinion, I like the honesty you put in your work, don't worry too much about having killer art skills at first because that should be the reason your going anyway; to get better. I do have some advice don't try to rush, take your time with your figure drawings and still lives.

[Lithriel]

I would use your lighter pencils (HB 2B, etc) and not use your 6B and 4B so much. I know you mentioned that these came out darker than you anticipated but the wide texture in the pencil marks still indicate that they are of a softer lead.

Overall I would work on your transitional values in your sketches. You don't have enough mid tone. Instead you are using broad strokes of grainy dark to fill in your mid tones and it is looking a tad sloppy. It's fine to use broad strokes for gestures but having some drawings with more detail and complexity would be nice. Keep working. That's the best advice I can give. ;)