Tag: visual narrative

1. Why You Don’t Need to Show Everything Let’s start with a truth that trips up so many artists: more is not always better. When you’re putting together a portfolio, the instinct is to throw in everything, thinking, “The more they see, the more impressed they’ll be.” But here’s the kicker, a bloated portfolio can overwhelm jurors and dilute your strongest work. Every piece should earn its spot, not just fill space. Think of your portfolio as a conversation with a friend. You wouldn’t talk non-stop without letting them digest your ideas,…

Your Portfolio Is More Than a Showcase A lot of artists think of a portfolio as simply a place to show their best pieces. That mindset, while understandable, misses a crucial opportunity. Your portfolio is more than a gallery of good work. It’s a story, a curated experience that tells viewers who you are, how you think, and what your artistic evolution looks like. When you stop seeing your portfolio as a brag board and start seeing it as a journey, the narrative flow becomes your best tool. Think about the…

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…