Tips For Your Portfolio – From One Artist to Another
In my time at Davidson College, I learned a lot about how to present myself as an artist; my thoughts, goals and conversations I was engaging through my art. We learned how to document our works, take pictures and write about our pieces.
Now, nearly five years after graduating, I find myself utilizing those skill sets to apply for murals, submit proposals and share my creativity with new clients. Some call them “look books.” I call them “portfolios.” At the moment, I have five.
WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO?
A portfolio is a slide deck or document that showcases your work in a concise, clean way. They often include pictures of highlighted works along with descriptions of those works. When applicable, they include budget for projects, your artist biography and other relevant information.
Having all of this in one, attractive place is extremely helpful when submitting to calls for art, residencies and other applications. Other than your written responses to questions in a request for qualifications (RFQ), applications and submissions, this is another opportunity to share your creative style, abilities and experience to reviewers. Where applications don’t always present easy ways to convey your brand personality, your portfolio does.
In this batch of The Biscuit, I’m sharing the PowerPoint layout of one of my portfolios. There are many ways to build a portfolio, but this is what works for me.
Feel free to take what you need, leave what you don’t. Everyone has their own iteration of what this document looks like.
CURATE YOUR PORTFOLIO
I mentioned I have five portfolios. Each has a specific purpose. One is for muraling and contains ONLY examples of murals. Another is for digital art submissions and contains ONLY stickers, digital prints and merchandise. You can curate your portfolio to show examples of previous explorations, works and commissions that fit in the framework of the application.
Here is my personal example.
In this portfolio, I added a headshot and an artist’s biography – a snapshot of my experience, previous clients and collaborations, and what I do currently. I selected different examples of previous work of different scale and surface, with the common thread being paintings and murals. This can add additional context and information for a panel reviewing your submission.
Make no mistake – they are evaluating who you are and your experience and approach, as well as the work you produce. Your portfolio provides critical information in this regard, if you cultivate it carefully. I recommend building (or tweaking) it for the opportunity you want each time.
TELL THE STORY THROUGH DESCRIPTIONS
Adding descriptions to each example in your portfolio can give context to reviewers. This information can include (but is not always limited to):
- Where the piece is located or where it was completed
- The year of its creation/completion
- What supplies or medium was used to create it
- Size and dimensions
- For whom you created the work
- Budget (Be careful, what you charged for one piece may not be what you’re charging now)
On the page, it may look something like this:
This information can showcase your growth as a creative and provide information about the kind of projects you’ve completed and the experience you have.
Even if you have never worked on a piece like the one you are applying for, the portfolio can give examples of your style and how your work translates across different sizes, surfaces and project types. Show them you are malleable. Show them you produce good work. Show them you can do this. Show them you are professional.
KEEP IT UPDATED
You never know when you might find an exciting opportunity, call or submission, but – somehow – it always seems to be due incredibly soon (as in, “less than 24 hours to submit” soon!).
Keeping your portfolio updated can make completing submissions a hair easier and allow for the portfolio to be as up-to-date as possible.
Here are some tips to help you help yourself:
- DOCUMENT YOUR PROGRESS!: Take good pictures and document your projects, pieces and locations. Having the imagery on-hand can change the game!
- Check-in monthly or bi-monthly: Looking at your portfolio often can help updates be smooth and easy to complete. It is also a great opportunity to check in with yourself on what projects you would like to do again or where you want to grow.
- Create multiple versions: As you grow in experience and get more projects in various forms and sizes, curate versions of your portfolio to specify to the call/submission. Doing a few at once can help extend the lifetime of your portfolio.
NOW WHAT?
Now that you have started making your portfolio (or thinking about starting, at least), what do you do? One simple step is to share it! Ask trusted friends and colleagues to review and engage with your work. Get their thoughts and feedback – take what you need – and edit. Feel free to ask fellow artists about theirs, too, and exchange ideas/concepts.
Everyone brands theirs differently, so find out what works best for you!
– Makayla Binter, Creative Catalyst
Here are five notable developments in the arts & culture world in Charlotte last week:
Courtesy of Loyd Visuals
ONE: Loyd Visuals unveiled their brand-new office and studio space on the ground floor of Kinship, the first multifamily building at Camp North End. This new space offers photo-ready backdrops and dedicated spaces for video and podcast production. MORE INFO.
TWO: The latest round of the Knight Art + Tech Expansion Fund opened on June 17. Individual artists can apply for up to $25,000; arts organizations up to $100,000. The deadline to apply is Aug. 9. MORE INFO.
THREE: The City of Charlotte announced that the Culture Advisory Board voted to distribute nearly $1.2 million to 35 local artists and arts and cultural groups via Opportunity Fund grants. MORE INFO.
FOUR: The ASC announced that Vice President of Community and Artist Support, Adam Santalla, has been named interim president of the organization. MORE INFO.
FIVE: Charlotte Art League has announced that it has studio and creative space available. Studios start at $300/mo. Digital Art Accelerator studios start at $350 and come with conference room and classroom monthly access. MORE INFO.
Five Local Creatives H.U.G.ged in June
At CreativeMornings/Charlotte on Friday, June 13, Charlotte Is Creative, publishers of The Biscuit, recognized five local creatives with $250 H.U.G. (“Helpful Unfettered Gift”) micro-grants.
❤️ Angelika Sentero
@ycs.uncc
Will use the H.U.G. for a collaboration between UNCC and CPCC students, covering printing and posters for the project.
❤️ Daniel Quach
@carolinasdancecommittee
Will use the H.U.G. for paint and canvases for a graffiti exhibition.
❤️ Gilberto Mena
@gilbertomena
Will use the H.U.G. for tattoo supplies.
❤️ Itala Flores
@italaflores
Will use the H.U.G. to help with printing costs and mannequin expenses for a show.
❤️ Monte Murphy
@albnmotion
Will use the H.U.G. to rent rehearsal time.
GIVE A H.U.G. GET A H.U.G.
H.U.G. micro-grants are made possible with support from individual donors and corporate sponsors: Hot Sake Audio Branding Studio, Google Fiber, Wray Ward LISC and LPL Financial.
In June 2024, Joanne and Arthur Rogers, Jr., founding members of the VAPA Center generously contributed funds for one H.U.G. grant to support an emerging local creative.
To apply for a H.U.G. for your own project or to make a donation in any amount to support a creative dream or endeavor from a Charlotte-Mecklenburg creative, visit HUGGrant.com.
Kin | (Our Folks) by Whitfield Lovell
EVENT: Meet Artist Whitfield Lovell
DATE: June 27 at 7:15 p.m.
LOCATION: Mint Museum Uptown
MORE INFO.
Next weekend, the Mint Museum Uptown opens the immersive Whitfield Lovell: Passages, an exhibition that features work from two of the artist’s previous collections as well as selections from a forthcoming exhibition.
Much of the work was inspired by photographs of African Americans taken between the time of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights movement.
FIRST … MEET THE ARTIST
Before the exhibition officially opens on June 29, you have an opportunity to meet the artist and hear his story directly.
Tonight, June 27 at 7:15 p.m., the Mint Uptown is playing host to an intimate “Artist Talk” between Whitfield Lovell and the Mint’s Chief Curator, Jen Sudul Edwards, PhD, about his work. For art aficionados and local creatives, this event offers a unique and personal opportunity to hear Lovell’s passion and creative creative process. Admission to this event is free.
AND A BONUS… DROP INTO “THE DROP”
The team at Charlotte Is Creative have a flair for the dramatic — which you can experience firsthand tonight, Thursday, June 27, when we literally drop a huge velvet curtain to reveal our 7th commissioned piece for THE DROP mural series (which QC Nerve awarded 2023’s “Best New Arts Series”)!
This latest mural was created by Abel Jackson and Isaiah Kidd, in collaboration with Historic West End Partners, and in honor of Charlotte legend, Ms. Rudean Harris. We’ll also have a food truck and live music from J. Timber and Claude Whitfield’s Backspinz Academy. And, we’ll be unveiling the new beer can of The Drop Vol. 6 beer (a mixed berry sour with marshmallows and vanilla) featuring original art by Tiara Tiana.
NO COVER! Doors open tonight at 6:00pm, live music at 6:30pm, and mural reveal at 7:00pm.