Title: Your Art Portfolio
Course: Art

Important to any Artist!

What is an Art Portfolio?

Have you ever created a portfolio? You may have if you have taken an earlier course in art or design. A portfolio is an ongoing and purposeful collection of samples of work you have selected from your design journal, which shows your efforts, progress, achievement, and accomplishments in a given area.

portfolio: a collection of self-selected samples of work from your design journal that shows effort, progress, achievement, and accomplishments over time in a given area

Portfolios have many purposes and can become a life collection of work, if desired. In order to get into any design school or art college, a portfolio of work is a must. A portfolio can also assist you in obtaining employment, because when you take your portfolio to the job interview, the interviewer can quickly see your skill development, creativity, and discipline. A picture is worth a thousand words. The portfolio can clearly show and explain your skills, abilities, creativity, and experiences.

Suppose that, in the very near future, you are planning on seeking employment in the area of design, graphics, computers, or a related area. Several weeks ago you filled an application for part-time work at Y Studio, and now you have been called for an interview. You decide to take your portfolio of work to show the people interviewing you. You will need to tailor the portfolio to meet what you think the needs of Y Studio are and to allow for your skills, creativity, and abilities to be recognized. How do you go about preparing yourself and the portfolio?

Basics of the Art Portfolio

As discussed in the previous activity, the ideas you come up with in your art journal can become the inspiration for larger works, and these works can go into your art portfolio.

This will involve some decision making on your part, based on the purpose of the portfolio. Portfolios are usually prepared for a specific purpose, for example, for entry into the workplace or for entry into a post-secondary institution. Set your own guidelines for the selection of content. If the portfolio is to be judged, consider the criteria by which it will be judged. Find mentors with whom you can discuss your portfolio.

mentors: trusted advisers knowledgeable in field

Introduce yourself in the portfolio. Highlight your innovative ideas, your creative abilities, your ability to work in a team, your ability to manage your learning, and other skills that you have developed.
Once your project work has been completed, it is important to include your best work in your art portfolio. This work is evidence of the type and quality of work you are capable of doing. The work in the art portfolio can be reorganized depending upon how you intend to use the portfolio; for example, when applying to a post-secondary institution or when applying for a job.

Art Portfolio Mechanics

Portfolios can take on many forms:

Some can fit into a binder. Some can fit into custom-designed folders of any size. If there are larger pieces of work or projects, these can be stored in other containers. Photographs can be taken and placed into the portfolio. A videotape can also be used to keep track of some of your work. Then, as portfolios are needed for various purposes, you can custom-design them to other specifications. The work done in your sketchbook can be done on larger sheets, but trimmed down to the size of your portfolio.

Consider the following when doing your portfolio:
- Include rough sketches, 2-D art work, photographs of 3-D art work, multimedia applications from your design journal to illustrate the type and quality of work you are capable of doing. These may be placed into an appendix of the art portfolio. You may generate a number of drawings or ideas that may be used in future projects.
- Date and sign each of the drawings and/or projects in your portfolio.
- Write a description or title on the drawing for self-explanation purposes. This may be done on a separate sheet of paper and inserted into a plastic sleeve. In a smaller text explain each project, the tools and materials used, and what your learned from the experience.
- Do reflective writing at the end of the project to help you evaluate what you learned and the meaning of the activity.
- Include CDs and/or videotapes as part of multimedia projects whenever possible, since these illustrate breadth of skills, ideas, and creativity.
- Be creative and have fun with the art portfolio project.

Your art portfolio may be developed into a multimedia art portfolio by including the following:
- your paper design ideas and project work
- computer files that contain samples of your graphics or animations that you have completed
- photographs and video clips which you may have taken of some of your work

Your portfolio should also have some of the following qualities:
- exhibits breadth and depth of capabilities in the work selected
- exhibits organization of and attention to detail
- includes integration of academic and applied academic accomplishments
- illustrate personal-management skills
- illustrates teamwork skills where appropriate
- develops a tracking system for learning
- illustrates the application of technology, creativity, and thought
- uses the appropriate medium for the message
- summarizes accomplishments
- portrays excellence

Have you ever thought of the value of your portfolio? Since portfolios are often very valuable and irreplaceable, it is a good idea to keep a second record of all materials, including copies of originals, in a separate place. The loss of a portfolio, due to floods, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, or the negligence of others, could happen to anyone.

Organizing your portfolio

The following information will guide you through a step-by-step process of organizing and maintaining your portfolio.

Once your project work has been completed, it is important to include your best work in your art portfolio. This work is evidence of the type and quality of work you are capable of doing. When deciding how you will organize your portfolio, you should do the following:
1. Provide a listing and short description of the art portfolio contents. If you don't take time to organize your work, your portfolio could end up being just a scrapbook.
2. Pay attention to detail. (For example: write captions for your work, provide an explanation of the work and list the tools and materials used, sign and date each item, etc.)

Part of organizing your portfolio includes deciding what accomplishments you want to document and how you want to document them. The following are some suggestions for doing this:

Select the work you want to include in your portfolio. Your work may include:
- - hard copies of projects
- - digitized photographs
- - computer files
- - work dubbed to video
- - awards received and/or certificates

Apply your best technical skills in the presentation of your work; for example, check your spelling, accuracy in drawings, and straightness of mounted pictures. You may also wish to maintain a design journal of preparatory and supplementary skills and/or ideas supporting the project or activity. Going a step further, you could also develop a reference list of books, art shows, or internet sites that have inspired you.

All in all, your art portfolio should look good and serve as a record of your abilities and artistic development for whoever is to view it.