09-10-2015, 07:00 AM
1) Quality
When I look at your portfolio, I assume that this is the absolute best art you are capable of. So, when picking pieces for your portfolio, use fewer images, and make sure they are your best.
The typical artist will want to show the world their entire body of work - even the flawed pieces and works in progress. In fact, many artists have blogs where they share their creative process, and have conversations with peers about their work. This is all great - but it’s not a portfolio.
Your portfolio is a separate site - a culled selection of your absolute best work. I shouldn't see a single weak image in your portfolio - because if I do, I am going to think “this person is unaware that this is not great work” - and I will question your taste and judgement.
2) Diversity
It’s critical to choose images that show the full range of your skill. Sure, you may have 500 images of tropical birds from your last project that are all incredible, but you don’t want to be pigeonholed as “that guy that draws birds” - unless that’s the only thing you ever want to work on.
Make sure that your portfolio includes a number of different styles, techniques, and looks. A digital painter, for instance, should have at a bare minimum a few characters in closeup facial shots, a few characters in full figure shots, and a number of environmental works in both indoor and outdoor environments. This help your strengths in each area, and shows that you are capable of adapting your talents to a diverse set of tasks.
Keep in mind - if your portfolio has a big gap where you’re not showing some kind of work - such as figure drawing or images that include movement or action, I’m going to assume that’s because you can’t do that kind of work well. It’s your job to prove to me that you can.
3) Process
When I look at a portfolio, I want to know how you made each piece, and how long it took.
What lenses did you use on your camera? What kinds of media did you use on your traditional art? If you worked on a digital image, or if you animated or modeled something - what software did you use? What plugins? What kind of tablet? Explaining how each piece is made in you're porfolio help the employer hire you or not.
In the case of work that is heavily Photoshopped versions of photographs or references, it’s helpful to include the originals, so that I can clearly judge your work against the starting point you were working from. In fact, one of my favorite things to see in a portfolio is a step-by-step presentation showing how you made one of your best images, with work-in-progress shots leading up to the final image. This really lets me get my head around the way you work.
4) Credit
It’s critical for you to clarify precisely what work you were responsible for in any image. If you created something as part of a team, clarify what your role in that team was, what your contribution to the work was, and properly credit the other contributors. Failure to do so will be seen as insensitive, or worse, as outright dishonest.
Additionally, if your work used references, or was heavily inspired by some other artists work, it is critical to include that information as well. While I may be impressed to see how you have reimagined the work of another artist, if you aren’t crediting that artist or reference, I’ll think you’re simply plagiarizing. That’s one of the fastest ways to have your portfolio dismissed, and to have your reputation in the industry destroyed.
5) Portability
6) Simplicity
Your portfolio should be a simple, clean page with images I can easily scroll through, with whatever text is necessary attached in a simple, easy to read font. Keep in mind that I may be looking at your portfolio on any of a number of devices - including tablets and netbooks - and I’ll be annoyed when I have to wait for all of your flash animations and java scripts to load. In fact, I probably just won’t bother. Honestly, my favorite format for a static art portfolio is a simple Flickr page - which you can have set up in a couple of minutes. If you are showing me still images, I want to see them as still images. Preferably in the resolution they were created in.
Keep the focus on delivering your art as simply and easily as possible, and let me view it on as many platforms as possible.
7) Accessibility
Easy to find
8) Relevance
Finally, if you know something about the clients/companies you are submitting your portfolio to, try to lead with the most relevant materials.
When I look at your portfolio, I assume that this is the absolute best art you are capable of. So, when picking pieces for your portfolio, use fewer images, and make sure they are your best.
The typical artist will want to show the world their entire body of work - even the flawed pieces and works in progress. In fact, many artists have blogs where they share their creative process, and have conversations with peers about their work. This is all great - but it’s not a portfolio.
Your portfolio is a separate site - a culled selection of your absolute best work. I shouldn't see a single weak image in your portfolio - because if I do, I am going to think “this person is unaware that this is not great work” - and I will question your taste and judgement.
2) Diversity
It’s critical to choose images that show the full range of your skill. Sure, you may have 500 images of tropical birds from your last project that are all incredible, but you don’t want to be pigeonholed as “that guy that draws birds” - unless that’s the only thing you ever want to work on.
Make sure that your portfolio includes a number of different styles, techniques, and looks. A digital painter, for instance, should have at a bare minimum a few characters in closeup facial shots, a few characters in full figure shots, and a number of environmental works in both indoor and outdoor environments. This help your strengths in each area, and shows that you are capable of adapting your talents to a diverse set of tasks.
Keep in mind - if your portfolio has a big gap where you’re not showing some kind of work - such as figure drawing or images that include movement or action, I’m going to assume that’s because you can’t do that kind of work well. It’s your job to prove to me that you can.
3) Process
When I look at a portfolio, I want to know how you made each piece, and how long it took.
What lenses did you use on your camera? What kinds of media did you use on your traditional art? If you worked on a digital image, or if you animated or modeled something - what software did you use? What plugins? What kind of tablet? Explaining how each piece is made in you're porfolio help the employer hire you or not.
In the case of work that is heavily Photoshopped versions of photographs or references, it’s helpful to include the originals, so that I can clearly judge your work against the starting point you were working from. In fact, one of my favorite things to see in a portfolio is a step-by-step presentation showing how you made one of your best images, with work-in-progress shots leading up to the final image. This really lets me get my head around the way you work.
4) Credit
It’s critical for you to clarify precisely what work you were responsible for in any image. If you created something as part of a team, clarify what your role in that team was, what your contribution to the work was, and properly credit the other contributors. Failure to do so will be seen as insensitive, or worse, as outright dishonest.
Additionally, if your work used references, or was heavily inspired by some other artists work, it is critical to include that information as well. While I may be impressed to see how you have reimagined the work of another artist, if you aren’t crediting that artist or reference, I’ll think you’re simply plagiarizing. That’s one of the fastest ways to have your portfolio dismissed, and to have your reputation in the industry destroyed.
5) Portability
6) Simplicity
Your portfolio should be a simple, clean page with images I can easily scroll through, with whatever text is necessary attached in a simple, easy to read font. Keep in mind that I may be looking at your portfolio on any of a number of devices - including tablets and netbooks - and I’ll be annoyed when I have to wait for all of your flash animations and java scripts to load. In fact, I probably just won’t bother. Honestly, my favorite format for a static art portfolio is a simple Flickr page - which you can have set up in a couple of minutes. If you are showing me still images, I want to see them as still images. Preferably in the resolution they were created in.
Keep the focus on delivering your art as simply and easily as possible, and let me view it on as many platforms as possible.
7) Accessibility
Easy to find
8) Relevance
Finally, if you know something about the clients/companies you are submitting your portfolio to, try to lead with the most relevant materials.