My Updated Portfolio + Tips for Assembling a Cohesive Body of Work
Over the past week I've dug deep into my recent art in an effort to assemble a comprehensive body of work for my portfolio page. This goal of this page is meant to show my style, abilities, breadth of subject matter and fluency in my own process. The motivation for doing this was to submit to the NY Times Illustration Portfolio Review. Until now, I've never made the effort to get critical feedback from an art director of an editorial publication. I've also never tried too terribly hard to market work for digital or print media publication, although I'm not opposed. If I'm lucky enough to be accepted for a review, I'm hopeful that I'll learn a lot from their critical feedback.
Putting together a portfolio of work feels a bit like a daunting task, but it's also really fun. I found it satisfying and self affirming to see what I've accomplished over the last couple of years. I've reviewed my work and assembled a specific selection of pieces, knowing that this portfolio is never truly finished and it will always be a work in progress. As an artist, I continue to evolve and make new art, push my own boundaries, and refine my creative process.
For fellow artists looking to present their work in portfolio format, here's some points you may want to keep in mind in the process:
Pick the best representations of a particular theme, style of medium to share. Editing is important.
Aim to show breadth of work, but be intentional with the sequence. This will help with cohesion.
Cohesion works in tandem with artistic voice. One's choice of medium, level of detail and subject matter will naturally pull together the pieces you are presenting. For me, this reality feels like a boost of confidence to begin with.
The sequence speaks to the overall strength and message.
In many cases, less is more. Quality over quantity.
Only share work you'd like to actually create again. Truly, because if something you made isn't the direction to take your work, then you're bound to be making art unhappily. What's the point in that?
Now, onto my portfolio: