What should I have in my portfolio?

What should I have in my fine arts portfolio?

Portfolios for submission in undergraduate studies vary from artist to artist and college to college but as a rule of thumb here is a general outline to be followed to compile a portfolio from your work.

You will want 15 to 20 original (not reproductions) finished artworks of various sizes (The bigger the better, but don’t make them so large they won’t fit into your physical portfolio.) that include the following:

 

• Various technical studies in various media.  i.e. Painting, drawing, printmaking, etc… of still life, figure study, landscape, interior, etc...

 

• Demonstrations of basic art and design concepts.  i.e. Use of the Elements of Art: line, shape, color, form, texture, value, space and Principles of Design: balance, rhythm, emphasis, contrast, movement, unity, pattern as well as other composition ideas.

 

• Lots and Lots of “life” or observed drawings or other observed studies.

 

• Works that say something about yourself.  i.e. Who am I? What do I do? What do I like? What is my opinion? What are my weaknesses?

 

• Works that are experimental and take risks or ask big questions.

 

• Artworks that show off versatility and diversity like different visual styles. (i.e. cartooning, abstraction, etc…  Keep this section smaller!)

 

• Show off that your work is open to all types of visual/ creative situations.