Artist Portfolios
Here is a question I received from reader Kyle:
What does a professional portfolio for possible employers look like? How many pieces of work should I use? How large is the physical portfolio? Do I take the physical portfolio into interviews or do I take in a resume and a disc with all of my work? Also, how did you go about shopping this portfolio around?
Truthfully, I don’t use a physical portfolio very often. My website does most of the grunt work, which is true for many freelance artists nowadays. The most an art director will usually see from me in terms of printed pieces are postcards and tearsheets. So if you haven’t already, BUILD A WEBSITE. They are extremely useful.
However… there are many occasions where you would need a physical portfolio, such as job interviews and reviews. Here is my take:
Art directors want to see ART. So do NOT make this more difficult for them than it needs to be! Keep the images neat, organized, and easy to see, and the presentation simple to browse through.
There is a tendency to over-think the physical presentation of a portfolio, as if the right amount of trickery or decoration will magically transform the the artwork. Just make it look nice and let the work speak for itself.
General Portfolio Tips
- Follow any guidelines set by the employer to which you are applying.
- Never use original art. Use good color copies/scans. Original art might get lost or damaged. Plus with the copies, you can make all the images a uniform size.
- Include samples such as postcards, business cards, or tearsheets that you can leave behind for the employer to keep in their files.
What does a professional portfolio for possible employers look like?
As long as the presentation is clean, professional, and not too cheap or cheesy looking, this is up to you. I use a simple leather binder, and from what I know this is what a lot of other artists use too. However, I have also seen zipper cases, hand-bound books, and nice boxes put to good use. But again, don’t over-think it. Anything too fancy would probably come off as contrived, and anything too difficult to use is annoying for the art director.
How many pieces of work should I use?
A good number is probably between 12-15 pieces. Show enough work for the employer to be confident in your abilities, but don’t overwhelm them.
However, remember to only include your best work. Do not add images to your portfolio just for the sake of filling it up. It is better to have a small portfolio of stellar work than a large portfolio filled out with mediocre work.
How large is the physical portfolio?
You know those fancy, ginormous zipper portfolio cases you see in art stores? Those are for personal storage and transportation purposes only! In portfolio reviews, you want something that is easy to carry and easy for the art director to set on a desk and flip through. Something that can house standard letter or A4 size color copies is just fine. Some artists use will use a bigger size, like 11″x14″. Anything bigger than that is unnecessary and inconvenient.
Do I take the physical portfolio into interviews or do I take in a resume and a disc with all my work?
Physical portfolio. If you have been asked in for an interview, then chances are the employer is going to want to see your artwork. Don’t make this difficult! If all you bring is a disc, then you are relying on the chance that the employer will have a computer nearby, that the computer will be able to read your disc’s format, and that the interviewer will want to make the extra effort to pop in the disc in the first place. Unless a disc is part of the employer’s submissions policy, don’t take your chances and bring the physical portfolio.
How do you go about shopping the portfolio around?
Depending on what you want to do, you are going to have to do a lot of research to find specific companies and venues. You can often find art submission or job application guidelines on company websites or job listings. Sometimes, it is just a matter of calling someone and setting up an appointment. Some conferences will have portfolio review sessions. Read a lot of books and browse a lot of websites to find the standard practices for your industry.
Artists - what does your physical portfolio look like? Have any tips or favorite supplies that you use? Let me know in the comments!
Related posts:
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
good read but I have some questions about online portfolios. I don’t have that much real world experience other then stuff from my internship and freelance stuff I have done for friends plus school projects, I also have stuff I have Designed for various T shirt competitions. How should I go about arranging or displaying them?
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
For my portfolio I picked up a nice scrapbook. One that let me add remove and rearrange pages. Each page has a nice print out adhered to it. It’s very versatile and that is important to me. I see a lot of clients in person and I’ll show them things relevant to their needs. For some clients I’ll will show actual physical items; packaging design or manuals/books I’ve laid out.
To add to Dani I’d say only show work that you would want to do. If you like doing pink elephants show pink elephants and you’ll get work doing pink elephants. Don’t put quality work for the sake of fulling your portfolio. If the subject or style is not what you want to do don’t show it.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Another post worth it’s weight in gold Dani. I wouldn’t disagree with a single thing.
I’m down to a 8.5×11 sized leather binder, something easy to swap page in and out of. The NY SCBWI conference last year had a size limitation so I used that as a chance to ditch my 11×14 book.
I have another question on the same topic - How do you present your published book work? Just a few stellar spreads in the portfolio? Or do you keep the actual books in a bag out of sight but give them the option of seeing them as you discuss your work?
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Another wonderful artical, Dani! I think that Jared brings up a good point and want to add to it. My Illustration teacher, when he was a rookie in the business, once had some really detailed artwork that he included in his portfolio. From what I remember it was in pen an ink and it took him a really long time to do. He got a contract with a company who wanted him to do several ink drawings for their book, but didn’t give him much time to create the drawings. He did them, and they were nice, but not as detailed. I don’t remember what happened in the end, but his employer wasn’t happy with the final work. So I agree with Jared, “only show work that you would want to do. “
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Dani,
another great post. I have been in this business longer than you have, but I am amazed at the advice and wisdom that you have already acquired.
I started illustrating back in the dark ages, when dinosaurs were still about. In fact I feel like a dinosaur now, drawing freehand and painting
was my strong point from the beginning but I have learned to use the internet and digital tools as you have.
Everything you say is true, if art directors are looking for chocolate chip cookies they won’t look at you unless you have a specific chocolate chip cookie illustration in your portfolio.
I just wish I had the advantage back when I started out of the blogs and internet advice .
I would love to hear from you personally, I have been reading your blog for a year now. Great work. Keep it up!
December 5th, 2008 at 6:46 am
GREAT ADVICE!!
Ill now be using it now that i have stumbled upon your website.
I’m a starter, artist and illustrator, yet to grow. I think websites sometime may become a bit expensive especially when money to open one is scarce. However, I decided to put some of my pieces in a blog, and I think that can also serve as an online portfolio before I’m able to run a ‘real’ website of my own. True what you’ve said about carrying only what you want your employer to see in a portfolio.. when I was looking for internship, 1day I carried work that wasn’t appropriate for the interview with a particular company, and they had to send me back with a brief to prove that I could do that kind of illustration work. To cut the long story short, I got the internship, but after a longer time than I should have.
everyone please check out my new blog http://ujomnomaz.blogspot.com and leave a comment!
December 5th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I stopped using physical portfolios for gallery submissions and now send in my work on CD, although for interviews I suppose its good to have the physical work there. I use the Artists Portfolio Creator (http://www.artists-portfolio-creator.com/) which does all the hard part of burning a CD and makes it quick and easy, and they look pretty good too
Maybe I should get a webiste aswell?
December 16th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Jonah - Some of the same principles for physical portfolios will also apply to websites. Keep it simple, make it look neat and organized, and don’t make things difficult for the art director. I’ve previously listed some of my website pet peeves here. I’ve also posted my own website versions here with some commentary about some of the mistakes I’ve made and lessons I learned, which you might find useful.
Gina - I don’t think there’s a problem including some of your published books right in with the portfolio. After all, that is the kind of stuff that the employer/art director probably wants to see. It puts your art in context, which is a good thing.
Ujo - Starting a website doesn’t cost all that much - maybe $10 to register the name and $50-$60 for hosting, for a whole year? Considering the cost of other advertising avenues and the incredible usefulness of having your own site, that is a pretty good deal. Of course, free blogs are useful too and are better than nothing.
Jane - Yes, get a website.