As I come to the end of my second year at university, plans for my final year are coming together and I have to start thinking about how I am going to approach the world of illustration. One important thing to start thinking about is creating a portfolio. Alan Dalby came in to speak to my class last week, to tell us how he puts his portfolio(s) together, and to give us a few tips for our own. He explained how the size of physical portfolios are getting smaller and an A4 or A3 format may be best for portfolio work, and also that online portfolio's are becoming increasingly popular. in fact, he has only ever received work through his online portfolio. He had a collection of work all in one document, and would select which ones he wanted to put in to his digital portfolio template, depending on which client he was hoping to work for. It seemed like an easier way to customise a portfolio and show the right selection of work for the right job.
I also bought a fantastic book called "How to create a portfolio and get hired", it pretty much does what it says in the title. First of all it explains what a professional portfolio actually is, then the book is broken down in to sections, each one helps you taylor your portfolio to a particular area of illustration, e.g editorials and web design. One section I did find particularly helpful was 'location'. I have never kept it a secret that I want to live in a small rural district rather than in a city, it is very important to me and I have always worried about having to move somewhere where I will not feel at home. I wondered how to promote myself as an illustrator in a smaller environment, and this book helped me to understand how I will need to include a "wide variety of styles" in my portfolio to enable me to "service more clients". The book constantly refers to geographical location and how to appeal to the "broadest possible client base".
Something to focus on!
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