Tag: portfolio editing

When someone opens your portfolio, you want them to instantly sense your vision ,  like they’ve just stepped into your creative world. Cohesion is what makes that happen. It’s the invisible thread that gives your collection purpose and connection. This doesn’t mean every piece should look the same, but they should feel like they’re part of the same family. Imagine your work speaking the same language, each piece adding to the conversation instead of shouting over one another. Without cohesion, even your most skillful pieces can seem scattered, leaving viewers unsure…

Why Every Portfolio Isn’t for Everyone Let’s start with a truth many artists overlook: your portfolio isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. It’s tempting to create a single file with your favorite works and use it for every opportunity, but here’s the problem: what appeals to a gallery may not speak to a school admissions panel, and what collectors love might not be the same as what a curator is looking for. Different audiences have different needs, priorities, and expectations. Understanding who will view your portfolio can drastically change how your work is…

Start With a Clean Slate If you’ve been an artist for any length of time, you probably have hundreds of works scattered across sketchbooks, folders, and hard drives. The temptation to cram everything you’ve ever made into your portfolio is real. But that urge can backfire quickly. Before you even begin selecting, take a deep breath and start with a clean slate. Literally. Open a new folder and only add pieces that you feel excited about today. Not yesterday. Not five years ago. Today. Doing this helps you break away from…

What’s This Portfolio Actually For? Let’s be real, figuring out how long your portfolio should be is a bit like packing for a trip. Too little and it feels like you’re underprepared, too much and it becomes a hassle to carry. The truth? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It all depends on where your portfolio’s going and who’s flipping through it. Are you applying for a residency, a grant, or finally updating that website your cousin’s been nagging you about since 2022? Every opportunity has its own expectations, and that changes the…