ARTFUL EDGE ACADEMY

Art Portfolio Development for NYC Arts High Schools and Colleges

Personalized instruction. Professional expertise. Standout portfolios.

Book a FREE Portfolio Review
Book a FREE Portfolio Review

We offer FREE 30-minute portfolio reviews to help with application requirements and for feedback on student artwork.

Artful Edge Academy is a personalized portfolio development program for middle and high school students applying to specialized High Schools & Art Colleges

OUR CLASSES

Paint palette with various colors of paint and three paintbrushes resting on a colorful, paint-smeared surface.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PORTFOLIO CLASSES

Close-up of a hand holding a paintbrush, applying red paint to a surface, with drops of paint dripping.

HIGH SCHOOL PORTFOLIO CLASSES

Person holding a paintbrush and palette, working on a painting

INDIVIDUAL

1:1 CLASSES

You will receive expert technical instruction and creative mentorship to build a portfolio that reflects your unique style, creative ideas, and artistic potential!

OBSERVE. EXPERIMENT. DISCOVER. CREATE.

Every artist has a different way of seeing the world.

At AEA, portfolio development also means understanding how to see, think, and approach creation like an artist. Students learn to observe carefully, explore how to visually express ideas, experiment with different materials, and develop a cohesive, unique, and personal approach to making art.
Our classes are focused and structured, and our standard of excellence exceeds NYC high school art portfolio requirements. We go beyond the basics to help students create portfolios that stand out from the generic work produced by other art programs.

Middle + High School Student Artwork

  • A black and white pencil sketch of a woman with long hair, large eyes, and hoop earrings on a pink background. A pink heart with star and skull designs is on the left side. The woman is wearing a shirt with partially visible text.
  • A black and white portrait drawing of a woman in profile with her hair tied back, wearing a plaid shirt, against a plain background.
  • An abstract painting portraying a person wearing large, purple glasses with a side profile view. The artwork uses geometric shapes and a color palette of black, brown, pink, purple, and peach tones.
  • Colorful sketch of a puppy lying on a blanket with a lemon and a pumpkin nearby.
  • Pencil sketch of a black Labrador retriever's head
  • A collage of four black and white images of geometric and abstract art. Top left: A still life drawing of geometric objects such as cones, cylinders, spheres, and cubes on a surface. Top right: A geometric sculpture arrangement with various rectangular and spherical shapes stacked and balanced. Bottom left: A technical drawing or sketch of interconnected geometric forms, circles, and cylinders. Bottom right: A close-up of a textured surface with a geometric star-shaped object and other objects casting shadows.
  • A pencil sketch of a desk scene with a soccer ball balloon, a teddy bear, a turtle, a flower pot, and cylindrical containers, signed by the artist 'Gabriela Castro'.
  • A pencil drawing of three geometric shapes: a cube with a vase on top, a cone, and a cylinder, with shadows cast on a flat surface.
  • A display of various items on a table for sale, including cupcakes, books, shoes, and plants. There are signs indicating a bake sale and a clearance sale, with some prices listed.
  • Three children illustrated in a collage style, each with a nature-themed background, accompanied by poetic text about their feelings and surroundings.
  • A fairy with long white hair and butterfly wings is holding hands with a young girl in a yellow dress in a magical, starry landscape with glowing flowers and plants.
  • A collage showing a woman in a vintage red dress standing on a city street with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background in the left image, and a woman in a red dress standing inside a thrift store with shelves of vintage items in the right image.
  • A green box with nine colorful macarons, a decorative tray with colorful abstract patterns, and a booklet that says "Can you make a cupcake?" are arranged on a white surface.
  • The first illustration depicts a scene with a dancing dragon amidst clouds, rain, and a misty sky, emphasizing harmony. The second illustration shows a mountain landscape with a winding river, pink and purple foliage, and a dancing dragon, illustrating a pattern study of movement and natural scenery.
  • Hand-drawn portrait of a woman with long dark hair, light skin tone, and large expressive eyes. The background features a partial drawing of a soccer ball on the top left and a yellow object on the bottom right, possibly a cup or container.
  • A colored pencil drawing of three girls and a woman, with a background of trees, sky, and a sunset, in a sketchy artistic style.
  • Black and white map illustrating the flow of water and urban areas across New York City, including boroughs like Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Bronx, with a note focusing on uniting youth across all boroughs of New York City.
  • A realistic pencil or charcoal drawing of a woman with short, spiky black hair, intense eyes, and a confident expression, against a beige background.
  • Watercolor painting of a covered walkway with white pillars, red curtains, sunset on the horizon, and mountains in the distance.
  • Oil painting of a colorful autumn landscape with a river, trees with orange, yellow, and green leaves, and reflections in the water.

STUDENTS say:

Working with Michelle was so much fun! She was a great teacher and really helped me to improve my artistic skills in such a short period of time!

The one-on-one sessions really helped me narrow in on my personal strengths and weaknesses. I hope we can work together again in the future!

- Monet Freidman, AEA student

With the work I created at AEA, I was accepted into my top two colleges and received a $40,000 scholarship!

Michelle is not only a gifted artist but an exceptional instructor. I loved working in the studio and exploring new materials in my paintings -it was such a fun and inspiring experience.

- Jessie Green, AEA Student

What makes AEA unique is our individualized approach to personal portfolio development

Projects are structured around each student’s unique qualities, interests, and abilities, allowing them to develop a portfolio that reflects their strengths and creative potential. Students develop their ideas, take creative risks and learn many techniques that help them create an exceptional body of work that reflects who they truly are as artists.

“Michelle is an incredibly talented artist and a wonderful teacher. She is extremely patient, flexible, and truly dedicated to her students. What I appreciate most is her ability to teach strong foundational art skills while encouraging students to explore their creativity and develop their own artistic voice.

She takes the time to understand each student’s individual strengths and interests and knows how to challenge them without limiting their creativity. We’ve seen tremendous growth in our son’s both artistic skills and confidence since working with her. We feel very fortunate to have found Michelle and highly recommend her!!” -Esther Chung, Parent

Parents say:

Michelle came to the rescue when we realized our son had only a couple of months to put together an entire art portfolio for his November high school auditions.

In just seven sessions, she helped him create a spectacular portfolio that got him into LaGuardia.

He learned essential art techniques, learned about a variety of subjects, and explored several mediums.

- Dan Taseraki

AEA made the challenging college portfolio process clear, focused, and inspiring.

My daughter and son received personalized instruction, clear goals, and the confidence to believe in themselves.

Thanks to Michelle's expert guidance, they were accepted to their dream colleges with significant scholarships.

We are so grateful for Michelle's support and the creativity she helped nurture in my children.

- Kristi Scott, Parent

"Michelle is a phenomenal teacher.

She has grown my daughter's confidence in her abilities and taught her a variety of techniques that helped her create an amazing portfolio that earned her a scholarship! I always knew my daughter was talented, but Michelle helped her take her skills to the next level. She is patient, encouraging, and incredibly talented. I highly recommend taking advantage of her expertise. She will help your child build confidence, develop their skills, and reach their full potential."

- Kara Smith, Parent

“When I realized my son needed help creating an art portfolio for High School, I didn't know how to help him, I'm not creative person.

A friend recommended Michelle at AEA. I was so fortunate to find such a talented artist and Pratt professor. Michelle created a custom portfolio plan for Ben, and I was blown away by the artwork he created. She helped him with all of the high school requirements for visual arts.

His portfolio was outstanding, and he was lucky enough to get into LaGuardia his first choice."

- Jessica Allen, Parent

ceived a $40,000 scholarship!

Michelle is not only a gifted artist but an exceptional instructor. I loved working in the studio and exploring new materials in my paintings -it was such a fun and inspiring experience.

- Jessie Green, AEA Student

ARTIST. EDUCATOR. MENTOR.

MICHELLE HINEBROOK

I am a professional artist and exhibit my work internationally. I am a graduate Professor at Pratt Institute, and I have 26 years of teaching experience in visual arts, design, glass, digital media and emerging creative practices. I offer professional expertise to help students strengthen their skills, develop their ideas, and discover their own creative direction.

At Artful Edge Academy, I combine technical instruction with an individualized, supportive approach to learning. I believe that every student deserves the opportunity to develop their creative abilities, build confidence, and make work they are proud of. 
I’ve taught students of all ages and skill levels from K–12, Undergraduate, Graduate and Adult Education. I have worked in college admissions, I am on portfolio review committees and I understand what schools are looking for in portfolio work.

My MFA is from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BFA in Art and Design from the College for Creative Studies

Painting and teaching are my superpowers!

My approach emphasizes curiosity, experimentation, self-expression, and acceptance. I meet students where they are, provide guidance and support, and encourage them to explore their ideas, take creative risks, and grow as artists. It brings me joy to help young artists build confidence, strengthen technical skills, and develop focused, intentional work that is authentic to their individual voices.

I love working with & inspiring creative minds and working with young artists.

I’m here to help you help build an outstanding portfolio and develop creative confidence!

Student Work logo with the word 'STUDENT' in green and 'WORK' in maroon.
Check out AEA Student Work

NYC Arts High School Portfolio: Requirements & Artwork

Through one-on-one attention, professional expertise, and a personalized approach, we help each student develop stronger skills and create high-quality, original work that reflects their individual abilities and creative vision.

Portfolio Tips

How We Build Exceptional Portfolios

1. Schedule a Portfolio Review:

We talk about your child’s interests, strengths, artistic abilities, and goals. Together, we review their existing artwork, identify pieces that are ready for their portfolio, and discuss which pieces could be developed further. We also review the requirements for their target schools. Parents leave with a clear outline of:

  •  The portfolio requirements and goals for the programs they are considering 
  • The artwork the student currently has that may be suitable for their portfolio
  • Existing pieces that could be strengthened or developed further
  • A list of additional artworks needed to create a portfolio

Step 2. Development of Portfolio:

Students can then use this portfolio plan to develop their work independently or enroll in an AEA Portfolio Development Class. At AEA, students create projects based on their interests, strengths, and creative goals. We help students go beyond meeting school requirements to create original work that reflects their skills, ideas, and artistic voice.

3. Interview Preparation & Professional Photography

We help students select their strongest work, then professionally photograph the artwork and organize it into a cohesive portfolio ready for submission before the application deadline. If a school requires an in-person or video interview, we also help students prepare to confidently discuss their work. Students learn how to describe their artwork in the context of art history, explain their inspiration and creative process, and discuss their methods, materials, and artistic decisions.

4. Submit Application and Portfolio

PROVEN RESULTS

AEA students have been accepted to top Art and Design Colleges, many with scholarships and grants based on the quality of their portfolio.

Student Work artful edge academy
Student Work artful edge academy

Master the skills.

Discover your voice.

Build creative confidence.

Together, we will create an outstanding portfolio that reflects your unique abilities and creative spark!

Let’s create together!

We will help you master art techniques and develop your style to create a personalized portfolio filled with high-quality work that reflects your unique creative abilities.

Our classes

MIDDLE SCHOOL PORTFOLIO CLASSES

HIGH SCHOOL PORTFOLIO CLASSES

INDIVIDUAL

1:1 CLASSES

AEA Studio:

1000 Dean Street #438, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn 11238

AEA’s professional studio environment is a welcoming, safe space where students receive the support and materials they need to grow as artists

FREE PORTFOLIO REVIEWS: SCHEDULING HERE