Why You Need an Art Portfolio ASAP

CREATE SOMETHING YOU OWN

If you don’t have a portfolio for your art yet because you think it’s not the most pressing issue, or you think you don’t need one, I’m here to convince you otherwise.

Preparing a platform specifically to strut your stuff — whether online or hardcopy (preferably both) — can change your career for the better. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity, right? So you need to be prepared when opportunity knocks, and having a curated portfolio is the best way to get ready.

Here are 4 strong reasons having a portfolio is a MUST for professional artists:

1. IT’S CONVENIENT

It’s convenient for others and for you. Ever get asked the question, “Oh cool, what do you draw?” and then scroll through your camera roll for five minutes trying to find that favorite piece? Meanwhile your new friend is standing around twiddling their thumbs wondering if it’s even worth this eternally long wait to find out? Yeah.

A portfolio has all your best work in one place for easy access.

I recommend an online portfolio specifically because it’s more convenient in our digital age. You can (and should) put it on its own website and show it from your phone, laptop, easily send people the link, and have the chance of people finding it on their own. A hardcopy folder is tough to carry around especially for certain mediums. But hardcopy portfolios also have their benefits — to read more about these check out my article How to Make an Art Portfolio here.

2. PEOPLE TAKE YOUR WORK SERIOUSLY

And when they take your work seriously, they might seriously consider hiring you or buying your art.

This applies not to just people in general — but employers, art show coordinators, magazine editors, and news media too.

It’s a lot easier to want to hire you or to write a story about you if you’ve basically got your resume and accomplishments laid out on a silver platter when an employer or publisher stumbles across your website. If the same employer were to find your Instagram profile and they see pictures of your dog and what you had for dinner next to your art, they might consider your artwork just a hobby and click right along to the next person. That stroke of good luck could turn into a missed opportunity.

Having everything nice and neat on your own platform lets people know you mean business.

3. CHERRY-PICK YOUR PIECES

A portfolio specifically shows off your best work, not ALL of your work. This is a benefit because the collection will be a tool for crafting your brand, which you should always be tweaking and perfecting. (To learn more about branding yourself, check out my article on it here.)

While you may choose to keep off-brand art posted on your personal social media accounts or elsewhere, a portfolio is meant to be up to date and be completely aligned with your style and the style of work you hope to attract in the future. You’ll get clients who know exactly what to expect from hiring an artist like you.

If there are only 10 pieces in your portfolio after cutting out the art that isn’t “on brand” or is 100 years old already, that’s okay. No one wants to sift through a million pieces of art to get the gist of your style and work ethic anyway.

4. PEOPLE WILL FIND YOU FIRST

Before I had an online portfolio, I only got into art shows through my friends, by sending in applications, or by asking event holders directly. It worked out alright most of the time.

But after I put up a portfolio at my .com address, I had organizers from Chicago, California, New York, and all over the US contact me to join their touring art shows when they came through Detroit where I live. I never stopped looking or asking around for other art shows, but my schedule quickly became jam-packed and scheduling was rough — a great problem to have.

It’s important to note that art shows were what I was openly looking for at the time. I made it known. If you’ve been looking for product sales, commission work, or book publishing companies, this will help you reach those audiences as well.

Creating a presence for yourself outside of social media platforms (aka sites you don’t own and have no control over) will be a huge help to your career as an artist. Now get your work out there and promote yourself!

NEED HELP GETTING STARTED?

The best way to begin is by crafting your artist bio to place alongside your artwork in your portfolio. Not sure exactly what you should say in a bio? I’ve got ya covered.

Get your free fill-in-the-blank artist bio template below.