FAQs for Art Portfolio Preparation – DSA, Diploma & Higher Education (Free Consultation & Free Trial!)

Portfolio Preparation with Foundation Art Training at Visual Arts Centre

Visual Arts Centre has trained and supported many students in their admission into art and design schools with the Portfolio Preparation Course (DSA) and Portfolio Preparation Course (Diploma & Higher Education). During the one year of intensive Art Portfolio Preparation Course, students undergo professional art training and develop professional art skills and techniques useful for their educational and professional endeavours. At the same time, students complete a full art portfolio as required for Direct School Admission – DSA-MOE / DSA-SOTA, which demonstrates the student’s artistic abilities and creativity. 

An art portfolio consists of a series of artworks done by a student over a period of time and is usually presented during the art school admission process. Many art schools have clear instructions and requirements for the art portfolio, such as a set number of artworks and the style or subject of the works presented. 

Visual Arts Centre has years of experience in helping students gain admission into art schools through DSA, and to art schools and universities locally and overseas. The Portfolio Preparation for DSA one year course prepares and coaches students in P5 to help them to get into their dream schools through the DSA-MOE or DSA-SOTA admission exercise. Those seeking a Diploma or Bachelor /Masters Degree in Fine Arts may enrol for the Portfolio Preparation for Diploma and Higher Education. 

Many students have been successfully admitted to SOTA, NAFA, LASALLE and overseas universities through our Portfolio Preparation course and have received a strong art foundation and training which benefit them for life.  

Find out more and embark on your art portfolio preparation journey today!

Visual Arts Centre DSA Course Process

10 Frequently Asked Questions

Portofolio Preparation Course Visual Arts Centre

1. Which students are suitable to join us in this Foundation Art Training (DSA)?

  • Students who have a strong interest in arts and have been undergoing art classes will be suitable to join us for the year of Art training. As for your artwork to reach a level of maturity you will need a year or more of art training depending on the individual students’ art learning progression. Hence younger students (below 11 years old) will be encouraged to take at least a year or more years of art learning.

2. Will it be compulsory for me to attend the Creative Portfolio Private Sessions?

  • The Creative Portfolio Private Sessions will be recommended for students who require further guidance in their creative thought process and direction in preparation for the art portfolio. During the session, our teachers from Visual Arts Centre provide additional tips and professional guidance, especially for students who need clarification on the process of submission and interview section. 
Visual Art Centre

3. What is the Age Requirement to attend the Foundation Art Training Portfolio Course?

  • Children ages 9 and above are suitable to join the course with at least 2 – 3 years of art training will be recommended for the student to reach a certain level of readiness in producing good artwork when creating a portfolio.
  • P5 students keen on joining us for the Foundation Art Training will be advised accordingly depending on the timeline and art maturity attained at the point of registration at Visual Arts Centre.

4. How many artworks will I be able to produce during the sessions?

  • Students will be able to produce 10 – 15 artworks in various mediums such as Drawing & Sketching, Watercolour Painting and Acrylic Painting. Depending on individual learners, students will be looking to complete an art piece by the 3rd session from the first session they started the art piece. During the art training, our students will hone different art techniques and skills in various mediums which helps our students to create a strong portfolio with artworks that showcase his/her versatility in the pieces they embarked on. 

5. Will I be advised to take up the Foundation Art Training for 1 year if I have some artwork and art learning?

  • Should there be a constraint on the timeline for the submission, you may arrange to take up the package that best fits you whereby we would suggest that you take up either our half-year (24 sessions) or less (12 sessions) Art Immersion Course which you are looking to refine and hone specific art skills during the short span of time. After which, you may consider joining our Creative Portfolio Private Class which allows you to have a consultation with our teachers on your existing works.

6. What kind of medium will be required to learn to acquire a basic level of art, and why? 

Drawing and sketching takes much practice and patience. When you sketch, you have to concentrate and focus on your work to produce the best outcome. This is especially so, when you are working on a life drawing and sketching piece. When sketching from life, you want to capture all the details of the object and the form in one sitting. Hence, while learning drawing and sketching, you will find yourself being able to focus and work on tasks for longer periods of time – therefore, allowing you to exercise your basic art skills at the same time.

7. How can we select the best artwork as portfolio submission?

  • You may opt in for an additional one-to-one private class with any of our professional teachers, who will be able to review all your works and provide suggestions on the works that will stand a better advantage for your portfolio submission.
  • In general, we recommend that the portfolio submission should showcase your strength in different areas and a strong grasp of various mediums (acrylic painting, drawing and sketching, watercolour, oil painting, pastel, etc.). It will also be advantageous if you can opt to show how you use the different mediums to work on differing subject matters (landscape paintings, collage, sculpturing,  portraiture, etc.).

8. What kind of medium will be required to learn to acquire a basic level of art, and why? 

Drawing and sketching takes much practice and patience. When you sketch, you have to concentrate and focus on your work to produce the best outcome. This is especially so, when you are working on a life drawing and sketching piece. When sketching from life, you want to capture all the details of the object and the form in one sitting. Hence, while learning drawing and sketching, you will find yourself being able to focus and work on tasks for longer periods of time – therefore, allowing you to exercise your basic art skills at the same time.

9. How many observational works and creative works are required to be included in the portfolio submission?

  • There is no definitive number of observational or creative works required to form the portfolio submission as it is largely dependent on the requirements of your desired art school and course. Hence, we recommend that you check out what is required of the school and course before setting a realistic portfolio aim that we can work with you towards.
  • Nevertheless, we recommend to have a balanced portfolio submission that should include similar number of observational and creative works to enable the school and course selection committee’s understanding on your overall art proficiency level.

10. What can I look forward to achieving at the end of the 48 sessions?

Following the end of the 48 sessions we us, you can expect to have at least grasp a basic understanding of the various mediums you have been exposed to throughout the sessions. How different techniques can be applied to a certain specific medium will also be shared to enable an exploratory process of how the artwork can be further enhanced.

Portofolio Preparation Course Visual Arts Centre

Click here to find out more about our 24 sessions art immersion course!

Our Schedule

VISUAL ART CENTRE DHOBY GHAUT STUDIO

CLASS SCHEDULE

Teen/Adult Class

Kids Class (5-7 YO)

Creative Junior Class (8-9 YO)

MON

11am -
1:15pm

5pm -
7:15pm

5pm -
7:15pm

(Digital/
Manga)*

7:30pm -
9:45pm

(Digital/
Manga)

5pm -
6:30pm

TUE

3:30pm -
5:45pm

3:30pm -
5:45pm

3:30pm -
5pm

(KIDS)

4:30pm -
6pm

(KIDS)

3:30pm -
5pm

WED

11am -
1:15pm

1:30pm -
3:45pm

5pm -
7:15pm

7:30pm -
9:45pm

(Chinese Ink
Painting)

5pm -
6:30pm

THU

1pm -
3:15pm

3:30pm -
5:45pm

(Digital/
Manga)

7:30pm - 10pm

(Nude Life/ Portrait)

3:30pm -
5pm

FRI

11am -
1:15pm

5pm -
7:15pm

7:30pm -
9:45pm

 

5pm -
6:30pm

SAT

10:30am -
12:45pm

1pm -
3:15pm

3:30pm -
5:45pm

6:30pm -
8:45pm

 

SUN

10:30am -
12:45pm

11:15am -
12:45pm

(KIDS)

1pm -
3:15pm

3:30pm -
5:45pm

6pm -
8:15pm

*TO BE ENQUIRED

Call/WhatsApp: +65-6255-0711 E: info@visualartscentre.sg

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MacPherson Art Studio

Call/WhatsApp: +65-6255-0711

E: info@visualartscentre.sg

CLASS SCHEDULE

140 Paya Lebar Rd, 03-04 AZ @Paya Lebar Building, S(409015)

Contact us for any enquiries!

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2025 Art Class Schedule
Our Location

Dhoby Ghaut Art Studio

Dhoby Ghaut Art Studio​

Address:

10 Penang Road, #01-02 Dhoby Ghaut Green,
Singapore 238469

Exit from Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station Exit B and turn left, we are there in 30m!

Click to locate us!

MacPherson Art Studio

Visual arts Centre Macpherson kids holiday, space for hire, venue hire for exhibition gallery, top central venue for rent in Singapore, Visual Arts Centre

Address:

AZ@Paya Lebar, 140 Paya Lebar Road, #03-04,
Singapore 409105

Exit from Macpherson MRT Station Exit A and turn left, we are right across the road, 1 minute walk away!

Click to locate us!

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More Case Studies

Visual Arts Centre

  • Dhoby Ghaut Art Studio

    10 Penang Road,
    #01-02 Dhoby Ghaut Green,
    Singapore 238469

  • MacPherson Art Studio

    140 Paya Lebar Road,
    #03-04 AZ@Paya Lebar Building,
    Singapore 409015

  • 6255 0711

  • info@visualartscentre.sg

  • 62550711

  • 67332155

  • Opening Hours

    Dhoby Ghaut Art Studio
    Monday to Sunday: 11am – 8pm Closed on Public Holidays, except by appointment.

    MacPherson [Office & Storage]
    By appointment only

VISUAL ARTS CENTRE

Visual Arts Centre is an exhibition gallery and art studio at Dhoby Ghaut Green supported by the National Parks Board and the National Arts Council.

Since its initiation on 31 January 2016, the Visual Arts Centre Exhibition Gallery has hosted over two hundred international and local art and design exhibitions, boasting a diverse range of art styles and programmes.

Email:
info@visualartscentre.sg

Phone:
+65 6255 0711
+65 6733 2155

Art Courses 艺术课程

Featured Courses 推荐课程

  • Art Immersion 3 Medium Course 综合媒介绘画课

  • Drawing & Sketching Course 素描课程

  • Acrylic Painting Course 丙烯画课程

  • Watercolour Painting Course 水彩画课程

  • Oil Painting Course 油画课程

  • Chinese Ink Painting Course

  • Trial Sessions 试课

  • Chinese Calligraphy & Ink Painting

  • Graffiti Spray Painting Course

Portfolio Preparation Art Courses

  • Portfolio Preparation Course (Process) 作品集 (DSA)

  • Portfolio Preparation Course (Process) 作品集 (Diploma)

Specialised Art Courses

  • Professional Manga Drawing & Digital Painting Course

  • Professional Interior Design & Freehand Rendering Course

  • Outdoor Urban Landscape Sketching Course

  • Private Art Classes

Kids Art Courses

  • Creative Kids Art Immersion Course 儿童创意绘画课程

Holiday Art Courses & Bootcamps

  • 2025: Holiday Art Course for Kids & Teens 儿童和青年假期课程

  • 2025 Kids (6-9YO) Holiday Art Course 儿童假期课程

  • 2025 Teens (10-18YO) Holiday Art Course 青年假期课程

Workshops & Events
工作坊与团建

Team Bonding Programmes

  • Team Building Art Jamming

  • Art Jamming Team Bonding Catalogue

  • Team Bonding

  • Gala Dinner Art Workshop

  • Batik Painting Workshop (Mural / Individual)

  • Graffiti Spray Painting on Canvas Workshop

Themed Workshops

  • Kids Birthday Party - Art Jamming

  • Kids T-Shirt Painting Art Party

  • Batik Painting Workshop

  • Graffiti Spray and Paint Workshop

  • Therapeutic Mental Health Workshops

Current Art Workshops

  • Art Workshop

  • Workshops at SAM During SAW 2025

  • Digital Dreams - Transforming Ideas Into Art

  • Nude Life Drawing with Artist Guidance

  • Portrait Life Drawing with Artist Guidance

  • Chinese Ink Painting

  • Chinese Calligraphy & Ink Painting

Exhibitions 展览

Current & Upcoming Exhibitions

Venue Hire 场地出租

  • Hire of Visual Arts Centre Exhibition Gallery @ Dhoby Ghaut

  • Visual Arts Centre Exhibition Gallery @ Dhoby Ghaut

  • Visual Arts Centre Gallery and Studio @ MacPherson

OUR BLOG

Special Art Jamming Themes

  • Chinese New Year Art Jamming

  • Art Workshops for Singles and Dating

  • Women's Day

  • Labour's Day

  • National Day

  • Mid Autumn Festival

  • Deepavali Art Jamming

  • Halloween Art Jamming

  • Christmas Art Jamming

  • Best Team Building Activity

  • Art Jamming Team Bonding Catalogue

  • 零基础自助绘画（Art Jamming ）工作坊

Kids Art Jamming Birthday Party Workshops

  • 艺术生日派对-DIY粘土主题

  • Art Birthday Party With Diy Clay

  • Art Birthday Party With Tote Bag Painting 艺术生日派对-画托特包主题

  • Birthday Party With T-shirt Painting

  • 艺术生日派对-画T恤衫主题

Art Competition and Affordable Art Fair Workshops

  • Singapore Children and Youth Art Competition 2021

  • 新加坡儿童与青少年绘画大赛开始报名啦！

  • (Embracing Nature) Children and Youth Art Competition

  • Workshops & Fair Activities

Venue Hire

  • 10 tips for a successful pop-up flea market event

  • Beautiful Space in the City Central

  • A Perfect Art Venue for Hire

  • What to consider when renting a venue for your fashion shows and pop-ups?

Art Course

  • Where to learn Professional Chinese calligraphy course in Singapore?

  • 艺术疗愈如何让你心理更健康

  • Best Professional Art Courses In Singapore

  • 在新加坡哪里能学专业素描／速写、油画、水彩、丙烯、水墨、艺术作品集准备、儿童美术、儿童青少年书法等专业美术绘画课？

  • 在新加坡哪里学习专业书法课程？学习书法对儿童青少年的好处

  • Art Portfolio Preparation - DSA (Kids)

  • 凭什么，新加坡乌节路寸土寸金的商业宝地竟给国人当画室? 快!带你去看看!

  • Singapore Holiday 2025 - Learn Digital Landscape Painting and Manga Drawing

  • 成人画画课就在视觉艺术中心

  • Applying into Art Schools - How does one build an art portfolio?

Others

  • Best Professional Manga Drawing Drawing Course in Singapore

  • 对南洋画派新加坡第一代艺术先驱作品的印象

  • 定制贵宾晚宴的艺术项目

  • Art Buzz: How to Appreciate Art?

  • 《纪念刘抗诞辰111周年—刘抗书画遗作展》

  • 10 Reasons to Learn Drawing and Sketching

  • Art Therapy Course in Singapore!

  • Overseas Students Art & Cultural Exchange

  • Commissioning Custom made portraits/nude life by professional artists

  • FAQs for Art Portfolio Preparation - DSA, Diploma & Higher Education

© Visual Arts Centre. All rights reserved.

Foundation In Digital Art

Embark on a captivating journey into the vibrant world of digital art! Our Foundation in Digital Art workshop invites budding creatives aged nine and above to unleash their imagination and hone their artistic skills in a dynamic, supportive environment. From mastering basic digital tools to crafting mesmerizing digital masterpieces, children will explore a spectrum of techniques guided by seasoned mentors. Through hands-on activities and interactive sessions, participants will discover the endless possibilities of digital expression while fostering creativity and critical thinking. Join us for an exhilarating adventure where young artists transform ideas into stunning visual realities, igniting a passion for digital art

Colour & Texture Exploration With Acrylic Painting & Collage

Prepare to unleash your inner artist in a kaleidoscope of color and creativity with ‘Colour Blast: Acrylic Painting & Collage Techniques’! Dive into a whirlwind adventure where vibrant hues and mesmerizing textures collide in a symphony of imagination. From mastering the art of seamless color blending to discovering the magic of mixed media collage, this journey is a playground for your artistic soul. With each brushstroke, explore new techniques that breathe life into your canvas, transforming it into a vibrant tapestry of expression. Join us and let your creativity run wild as you embark on this colorful escapade!”

World of Manga [Foundation & Styling]

A manga art workshop for children and teenagers sounds like a fantastic idea! Here’s how you might structure it:
Introduction to Manga: Begin by introducing what manga is, its history, and its influence on popular culture worldwide. Show examples of different manga styles and genres to give participants an overview.
Basic Drawing Techniques: Start with the fundamentals of drawing, such as line work, shapes, and proportions. Provide step-by-step instructions on how to draw basic manga characters, focusing on simple shapes that can be built upon.
Character Design: Move on to character design concepts, including creating unique characters, designing their personalities, and developing backstories. Encourage participants to get creative and think outside the box.
Expression and Emotion: Teach how to convey emotions and expressions through facial expressions, body language, and positioning of characters. This can be a fun and interactive exercise where participants practice drawing various emotions.
Storytelling and Paneling: Explore the basics of storytelling in manga, including paneling techniques, pacing, and layout. Show examples of different panel structures and discuss how they affect the flow of the story.
Inking and Coloring: Introduce participants to inking techniques using pens or markers. You can also cover digital inking for those interested. Then, demonstrate basic coloring techniques using markers, colored pencils, or digital software.
Feedback and Collaboration: Provide opportunities for participants to share their work and receive feedback from their peers and instructors. Encourage collaboration by having them work together on short manga projects or collaborative drawings.
Final Showcase: End the workshop with a showcase of participants’ work. This could be in the form of an exhibition, digital gallery, or printed booklet. Celebrate everyone’s creativity and progress throughout the workshop.
Remember to create a supportive and encouraging environment where participants feel free to express themselves and explore their creativity. And don’t forget to have fun! Manga is all about imagination and passion, so let that spirit shine through in your workshop.

Academy Drawing Traditions

The academy drawing and sketching tradition, rooted in centuries of artistic practice, emphasizes disciplined study of form, proportion, and technique. Originating from Renaissance workshops and formalized by institutions like the Royal Academy, it prioritizes meticulous observation and mastery of fundamental skills. Students progress from basic exercises to complex compositions, learning to depict still life and common objects with precision and expression. This tradition values both classical principles and innovation, encouraging artists to push boundaries while maintaining a deep respect for tradition. Through rigorous training and critique, artists within this tradition cultivate a strong foundation for creative exploration and artistic excellence.

Chinese Ink Painting and Calligraphy

This course on Chinese ink painting and calligraphy introduces young learners to the rich traditions of Chinese art. Through hands-on activities, students explore the basics of brush techniques, ink control, and the delicate art of Chinese script. They learn to appreciate the cultural significance of calligraphy and painting, developing skills in creating elegant strokes and expressive brushwork. The course fosters creativity, patience, and fine motor skills, while also providing insights into Chinese history and aesthetics. By the end, children gain confidence in their artistic abilities and a deeper understanding of Chinese cultural heritage.

Funk with Graffiti

Funk With Graffiti Workshop for children is an engaging and creative program aimed at introducing young artists to the vibrant world of graffiti and funk-inspired street style art. Participants learn the basics of graffiti history, techniques, and safety. Guided by professional graffiti artists, children explore the art of designing their unique tags, emphasizing creativity, expression, and individuality. The workshop includes hands-on activities, from sketching concepts to creating final designs with spray paint on provided surfaces. By the end of the session, children gain confidence in their artistic abilities and an appreciation for graffiti and funk as legitimate forms of street art. Each child completes two original artworks, which they proudly take home, showcasing their newfound skills and personal style.

Batik Tales

In the Batik Introduction Handkerchief Painting workshop, participants will learn the traditional art of batik, a wax-resist dyeing technique originating from Indonesia. The workshop begins with a brief history and overview of batik, highlighting its cultural significance and various techniques. Participants will then observe a demonstration of applying wax with tjanting tools and dyeing the fabric. Following the demonstration, each participant will design and create their own batik handkerchief, applying wax to create patterns and then dyeing their fabric. The workshop concludes with a group discussion, allowing participants to share their creations and reflect on their learning experience.