Creating a portfolio is an essential part of an art student’s career. It allows students to demonstrate their academic background, skills, and experience. It also provides potential audiences, like employers and graduate schools, with a much more all-encompassing view of them as candidates. The purpose of the portfolio is to highlight previous work. For most art students, this means focusing on pieces they have created or taken part in, rather than on their academic background. By demonstrating previous work, you can begin to build a personal brand, which will help people understand you as an artist. An effective portfolio can help to develop a perception of yourself in the mind of the viewer, giving you the power to influence how others see you.
Now that we have gone over the purpose of a portfolio, let’s talk about how to create one. Many people choose to make their portfolio a website, which gives them a place to show off their work and explain the background of each piece. There are several free website creation tools available online that can make this process much easier. One of these tools is Wix.com, which you can learn more about here. Regardless of which tool you use, the content and presentation should still be unique to you.
When creating an art portfolio, there are certain elements you should be aware of. The first is your artist statement. This is a very important expression of the meaning of your work and should be included in the introduction page of your website. The next element to consider is the presentation of your actual work. Many online tools will have preset layouts for including images, but it is up to you to choose which one best accentuates your work. Each piece you include should also include a caption that discusses the process of creating it and the meaning behind it. It is also important to develop an aesthetic across your website that helps your work stand out. Many artists choose a simple black and white aesthetic to mimic a gallery setting, while others try to use a specific color palette that compliments their work.
Once you have included all your work, it is important to include your contact information so visitors to your site can reach out to you. This can also be included in the header or footer of your website so that it is always visible, or on its own designated page.
Finally, once you have a complete portfolio, you’ll want to publish it so that people can see it when they search for you. Picking a good URL can go a long way in establishing the legitimacy of your site, and most online tools let you customize it. Including your name and the topic of your portfolio is always a good way to go. For example: “JonathanHuskyMusic.com”. Once you have that created, you will have a fully published online portfolio for the whole world to see!
However, the job isn’t quite done yet. It is important to maintain your portfolio by keeping it up to date and monitoring any attempts at contacting you. As you continue to create and learn, be sure to add new pieces so people can see how you grow as an artist.
Photo Attribution: From Wix.com Best Art Portfolio Examples In 2024 (wix.com)
