College Portfolio Art Program • Prima Materia Art Institute

Get into your dream Art College.

The PMAI College Portfolio Art Program has helped dozens of students get accepted into top U.S. art colleges including Parsons, Pratt, Brown, Gnomon, Stanford, and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and more with a 95%+ success rate.

It is designed for college-bound high schoolers who would like to study art, design, architecture, fashion, or any other visual art in college. It is up to a year-long program that is designed specifically for college admissions and will meet and most often exceed college application requirements.

In the Prima Materia College Portfolio Program, you will:

Develop your painting and drawing skills to professional levels (no art experience required to join)
Get personalized coaching in intimate class sizes
Create an art portfolio that will be curated for each art college that you are applying to
Craft your artist statement with professional guidance
Receive a Letter of Recommendation from our art teachers
Have access to a support network that is committed to your artistic success

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Art Classes Designed For You

All of our classes are designed with portfolio students in mind, meaning any class you take and every piece you create is a potential portfolio artwork. We believe in creating more than just the required 15-20 works for your portfolio so we can help you choose what your strongest pieces are. Did you know that each art school looks for different qualities in their art students? Because of this, we will help you personalize your art portfolio submission for every school you apply to.

Expand Your Artistic Range

You’ll build a solid foundation in drawing, painting, and conceptual thinking. The classes and courses are designed to expand your breadth as an artist. You’ll enjoy experimenting with all mediums in your drawing, painting, and mixed media creations. You’ll practice contemporary applications in your art using charcoal, graphite, pastels, pen and ink, conté crayon, acrylic paint, oil paint, tempera paint, watercolors, and collage. How you use these mediums is endless and you’ll learn the techniques to be able to manipulate these mediums to satisfy your personal style.

Our goal is to help you achieve your dreams, and we’ve been successfully helping students get into their top schools for the past 30 years.

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Why Prima Materia's College Portfolio Art Program?

Chloe, Portfolio Program graduate, standing next to her large-scale copy of Veronese's "The Wedding at Cana" painting.

Get Accepted

Our graduates get accepted to Parsons, NYU, USC, SAiC, UAL, CalArts, LCAD, SCAD, Pratt, Brown, Gnomon, Stanford, RISD, and more.

Cynthia W., Portfolio Program graduate, won 8 Scholastic Awards for her art, 7 out of 8 pieces were created in Prima Materia classes and courses, for example, a drawing she created in the Figure Drawing sessions won a Gold Key award.

Receive Scholarships

Our Portfolio graduates have won over $3 million in merit scholarships – all because of their strong portfolios!

Adrian, Portfolio Program graduate, standing next to his large-scale painting of a figure.

Save Thousands

Students who enroll in Prima Materia’s art college portfolio program save thousands compared to other college preparatory courses.

Veena B., Portfolio Program graduate, happily standing next to her large-scale painting of a jellyfish.

No Skills? No Problem

The College Portfolio Program is designed for all art levels. No previous artistic skill is required to join. You will go from your current level to where you need to be to get accepted to your top college.

Jon C., Portfolio Program graduate, painting his rendition of "The Creation of Adam".

Individualized Curriculum

The program is customized to you based on the colleges you will be applying to. Each application will be adjusted to highlight the artistic qualities specific colleges you are interested in.

Valentina V. is surrounded by her art as she concentrates on projects during the Prima Materia online classes.

Unparalleled Access

Unlimited access to all online classes and courses recordings, one-on-ones with our instructors, and additional Portfolio-Only classes for a year.

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Jeremy H., Portfolio Graduate & Olya Losina, Prima Materia Founder, discussing Jeremy's portfolio for Gnoman. Jeremy was the youngest student to be accepted to Gnoman, ever!

Personalized For You

The College Portfolio Program begins with a one-on-one session to customize the program for your objectives, time constraints, and targeted schools. You will build your artistic skills with personalized drawing and painting projects and assignments. The portfolio program includes unlimited access to classes and courses for up to a year. As a result, you will develop a strong and cohesive body of work that will set you above the competition.

Build Skill For College and Beyond

The artistic skill you’ll develop in the Portfolio Program will prepare you for the challenges in university and in your professional career. Our classes emulate the college experience: learn to draw and paint, understand how to take an idea from conception to completion, and participate in critiques that will teach you how to talk about your art.

We don’t separate our classes based on age or skill level, so you’ll become comfortable expressing your ideas and showing your art to anyone. This is especially helpful in college when you have to exhibit your work to professors, gallerists, and art collectors.

Cindy Q. working on a large-scale self portrait for her portfolio. Cindy recently graduated from RISD as a textile major.

Veena B. created a polytych of mixed media roses for her portfolio to Parsons. She recently graduated as a fashion major.

Stand Above Your Competition

Develop drawing and painting skills that look professional, create artwork that is unique and impressive, learn about Art History, practice using a variety of mediums to show your breadth, and become comfortable with any subject matter. By joining the Portfolio Program, you’ll demonstrate a commitment to your art-making, which is a characteristic college admissions are looking for in applicants.

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The full body of work that students create at Prima Materia will cover an entire studio! This is how portfolios are curated when submissions are due.

How It Works

Once accepted into the Portfolio Program, you can start taking classes right away. Our Program is rolling enrollment and begins with your first class. Because there are different classes to choose from, we will help by establishing personalized objectives based on your needs.

Schedule your initial consultation with our team. This is your opportunity to see if the College Portfolio Program is right for you.
During your orientation meeting with one of our instructors, we will discuss which classes and courses are best for you.
For the first half of the Portfolio Program, you’ll focus on skill-building. This is important because art colleges expect you to already have a specific level of expertise.
The second half of the Portfolio Program will be devoted to creating your art portfolio. This is the most exciting part because this is where your personal artistic transformation will occur!
Throughout the art program, you’ll have access to our teachers during class and after class, as well as in regularly scheduled critique meetings. You can show the instructor completed works for feedback or works-in-progress that you’re struggling with.
Based on your college application deadlines, the instructors will help you curate a personal collection of your best art pieces for each school. We will assist in any conceptual requirements, creation of your artist statement, and in titling your artworks. You will receive a Letter of Recommendation from your art instructor.
Finally, what you’ve been working towards! You can now choose from the many schools that have offered you a spot in their program!

Join the college portfolio program

This program has truly been life changing for Travin. It has been a joy to watch her grow and improve so much in such a short time. Thank you!!!

Amanda G.

Parent of Portfolio Program Graduate

Travin, portfolio student, smiling while painting her large-scale piece of hands.

Lydia was recruited for the New York Academy of Art and has a show in Tribeca! Her professor was so impressed with her painting skills and asked her where she learned to paint. She attributed everything to you and told the professor all about your program. Soooo happy!!

Rebecca C.

Parent of Portfolio Graduate

Lydia, Portfolio Program graduate, proudly showing off her large-scale painting of a clothed live model.

This school has been amazing in advancing me as an artist and developing a deeper sense of art appreciation. To not take advantage of this program is really crazy. The education you will receive will amaze you. I am beyond grateful. Thank you for helping me grow and develop myself!"

Sofia P.

Portfolio Program Graduate

College Art Portfolio Program