Five Portfolio Design Tips for Artists

Putting together an art portfolio can be a daunting task. Obviously, portfolio formats have evolved with the digital age. The leather ring binders with insert sleeves are not as pivotal as they were 30 years ago. In today’s industry, they are just one aspect of many that an artist can embrace to show their work. 

Whether you’re an art school graduate or a professional updating your folio, I hope these tips are useful. 

1. “Felix Unger, Photographer - Portraits a Specialty”

Fans of the original Odd Couple series will recognize this as his promotional tag line - used whenever he introduced himself. Comedy aside, he tells you right away what kind of work he does.

Your portfolio - like Felix - should clearly communicate the kind of work you want to be hired for. 

If you’re looking for a concept artist role in a playful mobile game company, it would be futile to show realistic medical illustrations describing how microscopic cells fight infection. Your samples should reflect the look, feel and direction of the company applying for. 

Don’t expect recruiters or art directors to predict how good you will be at something you don’t show them. You want a portfolio that screams “I’m looking for this kind of work!”

It’s tempting to add other accomplishments, especially since building a body of work takes time and effort. You may have proved yourself a pro by designing tee shirts for an apparel company, but if you want to be a matte painter on the next “Love, Death and Robots” series, then THAT is what you show.

2. Show Your Best Work. Lose Everything Else. 

You want a portfolio that reflects your best work. Showing your best will communicate how smart and confident you are as an artist. 

Arrange your portfolio so all the samples feel like the same artist made them. They should represent a body of work that reinforces the position you apply for. If it looks like your neighbor painted it, cut it. 

A desirable instance would be how Concept Artists often show the visual development process in their portfolio. It’s common to show thumbnails and rough sketches next to the finished art, because they show your thought process and problem-solving skills. The sketches also support the end product, giving the message that you are more than just a pair of hands. 

3. Pick Your Formats

Perhaps the most required portfolio format for storyboard artists, matte painters, modelers, illustrators, and graphic designers is a website,

Unlike a portfolio book submission, your website can show a plethora of different samples separated into categories for easy user navigation. Together, all of the elements provide a comprehensive picture of the artist’s value, while the labeled categories make each specialty quick to find in a menu bar, tab, list, or some other format. Design a website that matches your sensibilities, or use a template that you’re comfortable with. You can hire a web designer or build it yourself.

There are plenty of do-it-yourself web-builders like Wix, Weebly, Square Space, Word Press, among others. For an affordable monthly hosting fee, you can have your artwork scroll vertically, within a carousel, or in thumbnail galleries.

Other showcases like Art Station don’t offer much in layout variety, but you can post a neat gallery of your most vital work for free with a basic membership. Plus, ArtStation connects you with a community of artists who often share tutorials for free or for a reasonable price. 

You are selling yourself, so get involved! Be deliberate with your choices. 

An additional sample that adds a nice touch is books I design with sites like Blurb or Lulu. Some books read like a retrospective while others focus on one discipline. These books are handy when meeting clients for the first time or when working on-site. I’ll spread the books on my desk, encouraging colleagues to flip through. Occasionally a crowd gathers and gets a buzz going. While the books are expensive to print, having a handy novelty item like this gives something extra to promote and will influence your value as a candidate.

4. Check for Submission Requirements. 

A company posting submission requirements on their career page is telling you exactly what to include in your portfolio. It’s not up to you to question their review format (even though all of us are tempted). They have review boards to placate as well as recruiters looking to bring the best candidates forward. 

When I applied to Disney for their Animation Training Program, they wanted to see life drawings and animal studies. Fortunately, I made a strong impression with those and was on the top of their hiring list. I also included storyboard samples to show my passion in that area, but they were in a separate, stand-alone book that didn’t interfere with my figure drawing submissions. My submission paid off, as a few months later I started the training program and soon joined the crew on Mulan. 

5. Can I Show Old Work?

A general rule of thumb is to show recent work from the past few years. But if an older piece is recognizable or has a fan following feel free to show it. 

For example, my best friend since 5th grade (Antonio Reonegro!) designed tee shirts and backstage passes for the Grateful Dead fresh out of art school. He still shows those designs today. He has a fan following among deadheads, and not only sells originals from yesteryear but also manufactures prints to sell online and in galleries. Imagine if he didn’t show his old work? It would mean fewer sales, less fame, and fewer fans. Fans recognition (I’m including Art Directors, Producers, etc.) is a good thing for an artist. Your audience will relate to your legacy and enjoy your work time and again. 

Portfolio Reviews

If you found my portfolio topics helpful and would like a portfolio review, I will be offering Zoom sessions later this month and into June. 

Stay tuned for the official announcement or sign up for my mailing list at https://www.tonysanto.com/copy-of-testimonials to be notified when registration starts.

I will review portfolios at all talent levels for illustration, storyboards, concept design, character design, modeling, animation, and motion graphics.

Reserve your spot now. I would love a chance to help you on your way to a great portfolio!