QUICK ANSWER
ArtCenter and CalArts, both in the Los Angeles area, disagree about figure drawing. ArtCenter’s Illustration and Entertainment Arts portfolios ask for 20–25 works including 8–12 live figure drawings; CalArts’ BFA Art guidance tells applicants to avoid routine life drawing and still lifes.
They also differ in funding for our students: CalArts gave an award to 7 of 16 admits (44%), ArtCenter to 5 of 43 (12%). Choose by which kind of work the student wants to make, then plan the budget.
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Portfolio Requirements Compared
| ArtCenter | CalArts | |
|---|---|---|
| Illustration / Art | Illustration: 20–25 works, 8–12 live figure drawings | BFA Art: about 20 slides, last three years preferred; avoid routine life drawing and still lifes |
| Graphic Design | 6–10 projects | 20–30 slides |
| Fine Art | 15–20 works | (BFA Art as above) |
| Other | Entertainment Arts: no fan art | Videos up to 7 minutes; CalArts Application only |
From ArtCenter requirements by major and CalArts portfolio pages, checked October 2026.
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Funding in Our Record
| Admits | With an award | Average award | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CalArts | 16 | 7 (44%) | $86,857 (7 awards) |
| ArtCenter | 43 | 5 (12%) | $49,200 (5 awards) |
Royal Blue results record, 2009–2026, confirmed directly with each student.
Both samples are small, so we print the number of awards beside each average. Removing the largest single award moves the CalArts average by about 4%, which is stable; ArtCenter’s five awards are enough to average but too few to plan around.
FOR KOREAN STUDENTS
Strong drawing from live models helps at ArtCenter Illustration; at CalArts Art it should not be the core of the portfolio. See CalArts portfolio guidance and ArtCenter vs Parsons.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does CalArts want life drawing?
CalArts BFA Art guidance says to avoid routine life drawing and still lifes.
Does ArtCenter want figure drawing?
Yes. Illustration and Entertainment Arts ask for 8–12 live figure drawings among 20–25 works.
Which school funded Royal Blue students more often?
CalArts: 7 of 16 admits (44%), against ArtCenter’s 5 of 43 (12%).
How many slides does CalArts Graphic Design want?
20–30 slides.
Can I use the Common App for CalArts?
No. CalArts accepts its own CalArts Application only.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
Our director has taught Korean students for U.S. art schools for 19 years, from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our results page lists 1,099 acceptances, 2009–2026, each confirmed directly with the student, including 43 at ArtCenter and 16 at CalArts. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
From ArtCenter portfolio requirements by major and CalArts admissions and portfolio pages. Royal Blue figures from our results record (2009–2026). Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: CalArts Portfolio · ArtCenter vs Parsons · CalArts Readiness · Checking a CalArts Record · Royal Blue Results