The Bermuda Society of Arts (BSoA) is lending its hand to helping students apply to art colleges. And judging by the first year the Portfolio Class it has been a resounding success.

The students who enrolled in the course were in their senior year and attended Bermuda High School, Saltus Senior School and Mount St. Agnes Academy.

The course was started in September last year and eight of the 11 students who attended have been accepted at art colleges in the USA, Canada and Great Britain.

Julie Hastings-Smith, Gallery Director of the BSoA, said they will offer another course starting next month.

"The BSoA wants to encourage students wishing to apply to art colleges and provide practical help with both instructors and mentors. The first course was an experiment and now we know that there is a definite need for this type of instruction, we intend to build on this success and expand our reach by inviting more senior schools to participate," she said.

The course is designed to compliment students' school art classes by offering more in-depth instruction in key areas such as figure drawing, concept and design, use of drawing tools and presentation – areas that are considered fundamental to a student's portfolio.

The instructor is Emma Ingham Dounouk and she tries to impress upon the students:

n Never ever forget the principles of drawing.

n All art is based on the foundation of good drawing.

n When you strip away the 'decoration', and reduce a piece to the bare bones, your work should still convey its message by its very essence – the strength of your drawing.

n Your sketch book will be your best friend – keep it with you always and keep on drawing . . . every day.

n Remember there is an important difference between 'seeing' and 'observing'.

n An artist is a student forever – we never stop learning . . . from tutors, each other, from our own experiences.

The classes will be held on Wednesday evenings (4.15 p.m. to 6.15 p.m.) and will start on September 8.

The cost is $15 per session/$120 for eight session.

Students wishing to enroll need to complete the registration form and submit examples of some of their work or their sketchbook to BSoA, Second Floor, City Hall & Arts Centre, 17 Church Street, Hamilton Tel 292 3824, email bsoa@ibl.bm website bsoa.bm