Portfolio: Where to start?

[shifty.uk]

Hi all,

I've been lurking in the shadows for a while now, so I finally decided to register. 8) Fantastic forum, with alot of incredibly talented individuals! Well done! Anyway, to the point...

I'm currently in need of some advice, concerning my currently non-existent art portfolio. A bit of background info:

I studied interactive design for two years, and also had the opportunity to work as a design intern for around two years. I then decided that it's perhaps not really the career path I'd like to take, as my interests lie elsewhere.

So, after alot of thought, I'd like to go to college and study fashion. The only problem with this, is that I require a solid art portfolio displaying investigation, design development, and final pieces of artwork. My small portfolio so far, only contains my web design/development and interactive work, but I need traditional work: paintings, drawings etc.

At present, I just don't know where to start. I have no idea which final peices of artwork I would show. Would the portfolio just contain paintings and drawings? How would I demonstrate an active imagination along with design development?

I'm aware that fashion isn't concept art :P , but it's still a form of art/design. And, I figured this would be by far, the best place to ask for advice online.

Thanks in advance. :teeth:

[Storyboard Dave]

For starters, contact the school you're thinking about going to and ask them for their portfolio requirements. It's their job to help to try to get you in- not set up impossible barriers to keep you out.

Generally entrance portfolios for Illustration, Fine Arts, ID, Animation and sometimes Fashion have 10-15 pieces of work- your strongest work if you want to fight for scholarships. It should show your ability to draw from observation, not copied from photographs. It should show that you have at least basic understanding of light, shadow, line, texture, and form. Most places want to know if you have at least rudimentary skills in handling the basic mediums- they'll teach you the rest and with any luck, you'll grasp it.

So while you might not have hardly anything in regards to a drawn portfolio, it's not impossible to start scratching one together. Take a look at the field you want to get into. Start emulating what they do there to the best of your abilities. I think it's also okay to include some of your drawings into your computer design work as well and show off some of that ability too.

It's not as difficult as you may think to get in. It's a lot more difficult to score the big scholarships because they're only going to reward the best, but that's not to say you still can't score grants and other monies as well.

So hop to it. Get drawing and build up that portfolio; it starts with the first one and goes on from there.

[shifty.uk]

Thank you for the advice Dave. It's greatly appreciated.

The biggest problem I have is knowing where to start, knowing which material the portfolio should contain. I want to show design development and thought process, but it seems fairly difficult to display this, by just using drawings as final peices of work.

Again, thanks for the help. :)

[Storyboard Dave]

Thank you for the advice Dave. It's greatly appreciated.

The biggest problem I have is knowing where to start, knowing which material the portfolio should contain. I want to show design development and thought process, but it seems fairly difficult to display this, by just using drawings as final peices of work.

Again, thanks for the help. :)

Showing process really isn't that difficult. Think about doing a larger "wall" incorporating your sketches and ideations. Just be sure to make the final image be the most dominant.

Think image hierarchy here:

1) Your finished piece being paramount
2) Around the final, show development and roughs
3) Title the piece

Remember, it's your presentation of the work as well and not JUST the work itself.