How to Create a Successful Artist Portfolio

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Make your artwork stand out and look professional with our guide

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• Choosing & Organizing Pieces
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• Making an Online Art Portfolio
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• Why are art portfolios important?
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• Video
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• Expert Q&A
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• Tips

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If you’re trying to get into art school, trying to display your work in a gallery, or just want to show off what you’ve created, making an art portfolio is the perfect way to showcase your best pieces. While portfolio requirements may vary depending on what you’re using them for, we have a ton of tips for making your portfolio stand out. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through what to put in your portfolio, how to share your work online, and why it’s a good idea to have one.

How to Build Your Art Portfolio

1. Choose finished pieces of art that show off your technical skills.
2. Pick artwork that is uniquely yours and shows your point of view.
3. Vary the subject matter and mediums you use in your portfolio.
4. Include pieces in styles and subjects you want to keep pursuing.
5. Organize your pieces to show how you’ve grown as an artist.
6. Add recent work and remove older pieces to show your improvement.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Choosing and Organizing Pieces for an Art Portfolio

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1. 
   1
   Check the portfolio requirements for submissions. Art schools, galleries, and other institutions set specific criteria for what they’re looking for in a portfolio. They may require certain sizes, mediums, or number of pieces, so read through the guidelines so you know what your portfolio must include.

   • Example: If you’re building an animation portfolio, you may be required to include drawings as well as videos of your completed animations.
   • Example: If you’re making an architectural design portfolio, you may be required to include more sketches and design drawings.
2. 
   2
   Pick finished compositions that show off your technical skills. Choose pieces that fill the page and have a clean appearance so you’re showing off your best work. Look for artwork that you’re really proud of that shows your understanding of skills like linework, shading, composition, and perspective.

   • Try to avoid pieces that have a blank background or have smudges because they can look unfinished or unprofessional.
   • It can be a little tough to be unbiased about your own work, so ask your friends to choose some pieces they think are your best.
   • If an organization or institution allows you to submit unfinished work, include a few sketches or process drawings for your finished work. These can help showcase your basic skills and how willing you are to experiment with different techniques to reach a finished piece.
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3. 3
   Choose art that captures your personal perspective. People who view your portfolio want to see what unique ideas you bring to the table. As you’re going through your artwork, look for pieces that you feel a deep personal connection with. The pieces may reflect stories from your life or have traits that are unique to your style.

   • Heather Gallagher, a professional photographer, says “There should be a cohesive thread that runs through your work that makes it recognizable that it's yours.” If you’re building a photography portfolio, your style may be shooting only in natural light or black-and-white.
   • Avoid including fan art or copies of another person’s art because they don’t show your own creativity and artistic talent. Stick to original ideas and designs that are uniquely yours.
4. 4
   Showcase pieces with different subjects and mediums. Rather than keeping your subject matter limited, try to include a variety of pieces like portraits, still-lifes, and landscapes. Don’t be afraid to include drawings, paintings, sculptures, or photos in your portfolio to show off your diverse skillset.

   • Including pieces with different subjects or mediums shows your willingness and interest to try new things and explore as an artist.
5. 
   5
   Include observational drawings. Observational drawings are when you draw from a real-life subject instead of a picture. Drawing from observation shows how well you’re able to interpret shapes, forms, proportions, and perspective, so they make a great addition into your art portfolio.

   • Observational art also helps showcase how you interpret the world around you. Choose drawings that are expressive and capture the essence of the subjects without looking too rigid.
6. 
   6
   Add pieces in art styles you’re interested in continuing. If there’s a specific medium, subject matter, or method that you want to keep pursuing, prioritize those pieces in your portfolio. That way, anyone going through your portfolio will see the areas you want to focus on as you further your artistic career. Just don’t forget to include other pieces that show your versatility as an artist.

   • Example: If you want to pursue graphic design, you may include logos or posters that you’ve created.
   • Example: If you’re interested in fashion design, you may include drawings of clothing designs or pictures of clothing that you’ve made.
7. 7
   Use a total of 12–20 pieces in your portfolio. Try to put at least 12 pieces of art in your portfolio to show off your range of skills. Including more than 20 pieces can potentially be overwhelming and weaken your portfolio because it doesn’t seem like you’ve chosen your best pieces.

   • Remember to check the requirements for portfolio submissions because they may specify a minimum or maximum number of pieces to include.
8. 8
   Name and label your pieces. Come up with a name for each piece of artwork that you include in your portfolio so they’re easier to reference later on. Include the dimensions of the piece, the year you made it, and the medium you used so whoever views your portfolio knows what materials and sizes you’re comfortable working on.

   • Example: “Self Portrait”, 2024, 18 in x 24 in, Charcoal and graphite on paper
   • Example: “Still-Life Study”, 2021, 10 in x 10 in, Digital
   • Even if you can’t think of a name for a piece, it’s okay to name it something like “Untitled.”
9. 9
   Write artist statements about each of your pieces. Before you write an artist statement, think through the process and challenges you faced while creating the piece. Write a single paragraph explaining your inspiration and how a piece connects to your other work so anyone who looks through your portfolio understands your process better.

   • Try to take notes and write about your work while you’re creating it so it’s fresh in your mind.
   • Always be sure to check for grammar mistakes before sharing your portfolio because errors could look unprofessional.
10. 10
    Organize your pieces to show how you’ve grown as an artist. Start with your strongest work right away to show the level you’re at right now, and keep older pieces near the end of your portfolio. When you’re arranging the art in your portfolio, think about how the colors, mediums, compositions, and concepts flow together so they tell a cohesive story about your artistic journey.
11. 
    11
    Ask friends and other artists to critique your portfolio. After you’ve put together your portfolio, show it to other people and ask for their feedback. Try to find people who will give you their honest opinions, like a mentor or an art teacher. Ask them what pieces they think are the strongest and showcase your talent, and have them point out weaker pieces.

    • Some universities and artist organizations have National Portfolio Days where professional artists will critique and give feedback on your work. Check for events in your area on the National Portfolio Day schedule.
12. 
    12
    Revise and add to your portfolio as you make more art. Revisit your portfolio frequently and add new pieces of art that show off how much you’ve grown as an artist. As you put new pieces in your portfolio, remove older pieces that aren’t as strong. Try to update your portfolio every few months so it stays current.
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Section 2 of 3:

Making an Online Art Portfolio

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1. 1
   Take clear, high-resolution pictures of physical artwork. Set up your pieces in a well-lit area or use stand lights to light the space. Set your artwork on a flat surface or hang it on a plain wall. Use a digital camera to take your pictures so you can easily upload them to your computer.

   • If you have smaller drawings or paintings you want to share, try scanning them into your computer for the highest resolution.
   • If you primarily make digital art, be sure to export your work in the highest available resolution so it looks clear and in focus.
2. 
   2
   Choose a hosting service for your portfolio site. While you can use social media to post your artwork, making a dedicated portfolio site gives you more control over how pages are arranged. Some popular portfolio sites you can use are:

   • Adobe Portfolio comes free with a Creative Cloud subscription so you can make a simple site to display your work.
   • Wix allows you to build a free website using built-in templates so it’s easy to customize.
   • Squarespace is one of the most common website builders and offers tons of customizability.
   • Behance allows you to upload pictures to your gallery and lets users leave comments and likes.
   • Format is made specifically for artists building professional portfolios and allows sales directly through their service.
   • Dribbble is perfect if you want to show graphic design projects or concepts.
3. 3
   Make an eye-catching and accessible home page. Your home page grabs someone’s attention right away, so include a large image, your name, and the type of art you primarily make. Make sure you have a menu near the top of the page so anyone can navigate between the different pages of your portfolio site.

   • Example: The top of the page may say “Tommy Jones - Illustrator” or “Lynn Wilson - Photographer”
   • Check out online portfolios of artists that you look up to to get inspiration on how to lay out your home page.
4. 4
   Group your artwork in pages by medium or technique. Choose the pieces that you’re most proud of and show your range as an artist. Try to sort your pieces into gallery pages with different categories so users can easily browse through the medium or technique they’re interested in.

   • Example: If you’re building a portfolio for illustration, you may sort your pieces into “Traditional” and “Digital” pages.
   • Example: If you’re making an animation portfolio, you may have pages for 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics, and character designs.
5. 5
   Add a contact page to your portfolio site. Include a page that has your contact information, such as your email address and links to your social media pages. Add a contact form that users can fill out if they want to ask you a question or inquire about your artwork.

   • You can also include an About Me section on your contact page with a current picture and a brief bio so users can get an idea of who you are as an artist.
6. 6
   Include an online shop if you’re selling pieces. If you’re a professional artist and you’re trying to make money off of your work, then start a store page. Many website builders offer e-commerce options with premium subscriptions, but you can also link out to a different online shop, like Etsy or Shopify.

   • If you don’t want to sell the original copies, offer prints of your art instead.
7. 7
   Update your portfolio regularly with current work. As you make more artwork, don’t forget to refresh your portfolio site with some of your more recent pieces. That way, anyone who visits your page can view how much you’ve improved and found your artistic voice in your current projects.
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Section 3 of 3:

Why are art portfolios important?

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1. 1
   They display your best pieces for everyone to see. Your portfolio is a collection of past and present work, so anyone who looks at it can see your evolution as an artist. Choosing the best pieces you’ve made also lets you control what artwork people associate with you.
2. 2
   They showcase your artistic point of view. Every artist has their own unique perspective, and your portfolio is the best way to show how you see the world. When there’s a strong through line between all the work in your portfolio, anyone who looks at it immediately understands your creative vision and identity.
3. 3
   They help you get into art schools or exhibitions. Art schools and galleries almost always require a portfolio of your work to see if you’re a good fit. Showcasing your best work helps a school or gallery see your potential, and you’re more likely to be selected if you have a strong portfolio.
4. 
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   They draw in new clients or customers. If you’re a professional artist looking for work, your portfolio is usually the first thing a new client or customer looks at. Customers will base their decisions on what they see in your portfolio, so taking time to put one together can encourage more people to work with you.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How do I make a portfolio as a beginner?

  

  Heather Gallagher
  Professional Photojournalist & Photographer

  Heather Gallagher is a Photojournalist & Photographer based in Austin, Texas. She runs her own photography studio named "Heather Gallagher Photography" which was voted Austin's Best Family Photographer and top 3 Birth Photographers in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Heather specializes in family Photojournalism and has over 15 years of experience documenting individuals, families, and businesses all over the world. Her clients include Delta Airlines, Oracle, Texas Monthly, and her work has been featured in The Washington Post and The Austin American Statesman. She is a member of the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP).

  

  Heather Gallagher

  Professional Photojournalist & Photographer

  Expert Answer

  Try to create as much content as possible. Play around with different styles and see what really speaks to you. As you figure out your strong suits, you will develop a signature style, whether it's the fact that you shoot with only natural light or that you focus on a particular subject or theme. You want to have a cohesive thread that runs through your work that makes it recognizable as yours.

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• Question

  My paintings are large oil paintings. How do I include them in my portfolio?

  

  Community Answer

  Take a photo or have someone take pictures of each piece. Have the pictures printed then add them to the portfolio.

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• Question

  Should I sign my name in the front on artwork for art school portfolios?

  

  Community Answer

  You can if you want but it is not essential. If your work is on multiple pages, get a presentation folder and perhaps create a title page with your full name and signature. But if your work is on a canvas, don't sign the front if it were for school -- instead, you would probably sign the back. Talk to your art teacher about the preferences in class.

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Tips

• Try to be creative and work on new pieces whenever you have the chance so you can continue building your skills and showcasing new art.
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• Don’t get discouraged from seeing portfolios and work from more established artists. Look to their work to find areas where you can keep practicing and improving.
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