About 1 in 10 art school graduates go on to become working artists. And if your goal is to make your primary living from your art, it’s important that you know how to show it off.
One of the best ways to do this is to put together an art portfolio. We’re here with a brief guide on how to build a portfolio for your art so you can show prospective clients how talented you are and just what you’re capable of.
Let’s dive in.
1. Focus on Organization
The way that you arrange your artwork in your portfolio can have a big impact on the impression it makes. Give some thought to the order of your pieces and think through the narrative you want your book of art to convey.
2. Choose Your Narrative
This is related to our first tip. Your pieces of artwork shouldn’t only demonstrate your technical ability, they should also tell some sort of story or show a progression. What exactly that story is, that’s entirely up to you.
Make sure to include pieces that you feel have a deeper meaning to you or that contribute to your overall story as an artist.
3. Prepare to Discuss Your Pieces
Whether you’re applying to an educational program, a fellowship, or you want to sell your services to a new client, you may find yourself facing some questions. Anyone looking through your art book may want you to explain entire works or small details. Make sure you’re prepared to discuss anything you put in your portfolio.
This is something particularly important to remember if your portfolio includes work from throughout your entire career. Someone might ask about a piece you created years ago, and you want to be just as able to talk about that one as the piece you added to your book yesterday.
4. Invest in a High-Quality Presentation
Your portfolio for your art represents you and your artwork. You want it to be high-quality and show prospective clients or employers that you care deeply about what you do. One way to accomplish this is to choose specialized printing services.
If your artwork is of the sort that can be printed digitally into a book, consider a printing service like QinPrinting. Companies like this can deliver a professional final product that will communicate to anyone looking through your work that you care not only about your art but about your career and reputation as well.
Time to Build Your Own Art Portfolio
With these tips, you’re ready to get out there and put together your own art portfolio and showcase your work. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you accurately represent your interests, your talent, and your creative development. Your art book should feel authentic to you.
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