Developing a strong portfolio is one of the most important things you can do for your career as an artist. Not only will you need a portfolio to be accepted to an art school program, you will also need one to showcase your artistic abilities to potential clients or employers. A good portfolio should display your best work, express your personality, and demonstrate who you are as an artist. A portfolio should never be static. It should constantly evolve to reflect how you grow in your artistic career.
Things to Consider When Building Your Portfolio
- Who is your audience? Perhaps the work you show an art school admissions officer is different from what you would show to a client who is looking for you to do freelance work. The work you showcase in your portfolio should depend on who is viewing it.
- What stands out? Be sure that the portfolio itself does not take away from the work it contains. Portfolios should be simple, easy to navigate, and should push the best content forward.
- Keep it fresh! Make sure your portfolio is up to date and contains your best work.
- Don’t forget to include your contact information. When someone is impressed by your work, make sure they have some way to find you!
- What format will you use for your portfolio? Original art, slides or digital media?
The Digital Portfolio
In today’s technology driven world, portfolios no longer need to be printed. In fact, many artists create digital portfolios or websites to display their work. Artists who host their portfolios online have the ability to make changes to them in a matter of seconds. They also are able to direct clients to their websites to see their work instantly and at their own convenience. An artist’s portfolio is also much more likely to be stumbled upon by an outside set of eyes when it is hosted on the Internet than it would be left in a studio somewhere.
You don’t have to be a Programmer to Host Your Portfolio Online
Having your portfolio online can be hugely beneficial to your career as an artist, but that doesn’t mean you need to learn html to be able to get people to see it. Many artists host their portfolios on portfolio based artist community sites such as:
These sites not only let you put your work online, they also provide an excellent platform for networking with other artists, employers, and potential clients.
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