- The print portfolio
- The online portfolio
- The CD portfolio
Your art portfolio represents you. It is an extension of your artistic experience, education and talent. You want to make sure that your art portfolio reflects your very best work.
Showcase the pieces that make you proudest, even if you have fewer pieces to include in your art portfolio. When it comes to an art portfolio, the quality of your work is far more important than the quantity. Your goal is to successfully show a potential art school, employer, gallery or buyer the kind of work you are capable of doing.
Different portfolios are used for different occasions. Portfolios for galleries are different than those used for buyers, and those are different from ones used for exhibitors or employers. Despite these differences, all art portfolios contain some general items.
Every portfolio should contain a cover page identifying the portfolio owner, an artist’s statement, a current resume, documented descriptions of each piece included in the portfolio and samples of your best work arranged according to a theme or subject. Art portfolios can be compiled in print, online or CD.
The important thing is that you remember to present your best work, organize it in a way that makes sense, customize it for specific needs and keep it professional. If you follow these tips, it should be a lot easier to achieve your end goal of attending school, finding a job, having a gallery showing of your work or even selling your art!
The Print Portfolio
The more traditional print art portfolio is still requested by most schools and companies, especially if print output is their main business function. These portfolios tend to be displayed in a notebook-type case that allows you to add pages as necessary for customization. While these portfolios look professional, they can also be expensive.
A regular notebook with a clean, professional front cover and enough space to properly display your work is ideal for students on a budget. The key is to keep it clean and professional. You don’t want a potential employer, school or buyer distracted from the quality of your work because your presentation is displeasing to the eye.
The Online Portfolio
Having an online portfolio is almost a requirement in our high-tech world. Just like print portfolios, online portfolios are extensive resumés that link to an online repository of your work. Presentation and the careful selection of your work is just as important with an online portfolio as it is with a print portfolio. You are still presenting yourself to people seeking your talents.
You want to make sure that your best is available for them to view. Use thumbnail samples of your work to make pages easy to load and view. Larger pictures of each piece can be available through links from the thumbnails. Keep the navigation clean and easy to follow for easy access to art work of interest. If you are a savvy web designer, consider adding Flash to your online art portfolio. Remember to also include a simple HTML version of your web site for those not capable of displaying Flash.
Another benefit of an online portfolio is that it is essentially a part of your portfolio as it must be designed with thought and creativity just like the other pieces of your work. If you really want to get the most of your online portfolio, secure your own domain name and use your visual communications skills to create a portfolio that is a branding tool complete with logo for your letterhead, business cards and e-mail address.
The CD Portfolio
Creating a CD portfolio is a great way to distribute large numbers of your portfolio when applying for jobs after graduation. By sending a CD portfolio with your job applications, you are giving potential employers a preview of your work before they even call you in for an interview. While this strategy cannot guarantee an interview or job, it certainly increases your chances of being noticed, if done correctly.
The rules for a CD portfolio are the same as for print and online. You are presenting your best work. An easy way to do this is to simply put your web site on CD. Make it clear how to open the index page and hide the other files in a folder so they aren’t visible to the viewer. Create CD labels and CD inserts for jewel cases. The more professional your work, the more you will be taken seriously.
Tags: Art School Portfolio
