the purpose of a portfolio

There are a variety of reasons for building a portfolio up. One main reason is that it will help when securing and attending an interview for a higher-level course in art or for employment in the art industry.

The portfolio is important as it presents your work in a professional and mature way. The portfolio is an important record of your achievements so far. It will help to show a college you have applied for the way in which your work has progressed; it shows the journey of your work.

It is important that the portfolio shows a wide range of your work and abilities. It should contain your most successful work, but this does not have to be perfect as long as it shows that you have experimented and developed your ideas.  The work should reflect your own personality, your own creative journey. It should show evidence of range of work, such as paintings, photographs, mixed media and graphics. It should show the hard work that you have achieved and the passion involved in your art.

To the person interviewing it should be memorable, it should be interesting and some pieces should be unique. You should show individuality, commitment, and the ability to evaluate and also it should show potential for you to carry on with your art.

The portfolio should be well prepared and organised so that the viewer can easily read the portfolio. The portfolio can be traditional, in that it can be your original artwork presented in an A3 or A1 portfolio, it can be printed or stored on an online portfolio.