QUICK ANSWER
Korean 입시미술 trains students in set genres: 소묘 (plaster and figure drawing), 수채화 정물, 기초디자인 and 발상과 표현. Each genre leaves skills worth keeping and habits worth leaving. The test is not the genre itself but how it meets each U.S. school’s written rules on observation, photographs, copies and the student’s own ideas.
Below, each genre is checked against those rules.
KEEP / LEAVE · 1
Genre by Genre
| 입시 genre | Keep | Leave or adapt |
|---|---|---|
| 소묘 (plaster, figure) | Direct observation: RISD, SVA and Pratt ask for some; CalArts Character Animation needs life drawing with faces, hands and feet | Drawing from photos: RISD discourages it, and CalArts requires observation from life. For CalArts, do not erase construction lines |
| 수채화 정물 | Observation, colour handling, finish | Identical set-ups across students; arrange your own still life with objects that mean something to you |
| 기초디자인 | Composition and control of a given brief | Formula layouts; Parsons asks for work tied to an issue or system you care about |
| 발상과 표현 | Imagination and visual storytelling | Hyper-stylised or anime-like rendering, which RISD discourages; build the idea through research and sketches |
| 모작 (copies) | Technical study for your own learning | Never in the portfolio: RISD discourages master copies; Parsons and CalArts do not accept copies of others’ work |
Rules from RISD’s application tips, Parsons’ How to Apply, Pratt’s and SVA’s application requirements, and CalArts’ BFA Character Animation requirements, checked October 2026.
KEEP / LEAVE · 2
What Usually Needs Adding
입시 training is built for a single timed piece judged against a common standard. U.S. schools ask for a body of work. What usually needs adding is the student’s own subject developed over several pieces, process that shows how ideas changed, and short written explanations: Parsons asks for descriptions of at least two pieces, and RISD accepts up to three process uploads.
FOR KOREAN STUDENTS
Keep three to five of your strongest observational pieces and one or two colour studies. Then spend most of your time on two or three projects of your own. That balance satisfies the observation rules and leaves room for the work schools say they want most. See also 예고 and U.S. applications and why copying samples is risky.
KEEP / LEAVE · 3
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I include 석고소묘 in a U.S. portfolio?
Yes, as observational work, which RISD, SVA and Pratt ask for. Keep it to a few strong pieces.
Is drawing from photographs acceptable?
RISD discourages it and recommends direct observation. CalArts Character Animation requires observational drawings from life, not photo or screen reference.
Should I include 기초디자인 work?
Only if it shows your own thinking. Parsons asks for work connected to an issue or system you care about, not a set formula.
Can I include copies of famous works?
No. RISD discourages master copies, and Parsons and CalArts do not accept copies of other artists’ work.
What should I add to 입시 work?
Two or three self-directed projects with process and short written descriptions.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
For 19 years we have prepared Korean students for U.S. art schools from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our public record lists 1,099 acceptances confirmed directly with students at 95 schools. We help students keep what 입시 training built and add the rest. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
Requirements from the official application pages of RISD, Parsons, Pratt, SVA and CalArts. Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: 예고 and U.S. Applications · From Exam to Portfolio · Copying Sample Portfolios · Checking CalArts Experience · Royal Blue Results