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