Building Your Portfolio#

Your portfolio is the visual showcase of your artistic work on Artsumé. This guide will help you create a compelling portfolio that effectively represents your practice.

Introduction#

Your portfolio is where your art comes to life on Artsumé. It's the primary way organizations evaluate your work when reviewing applications. A well-organized, high-quality portfolio significantly increases your chances of being selected for opportunities.

Prerequisites#

Before building your portfolio, prepare:

• High-quality images of your work (JPG, PNG, or WebP format)
• Information about each work (title, year, medium, dimensions)
• Descriptions or statements for each piece
• Optional: Additional images showing different angles or details

Step 1: Access Your Portfolio#

1. Log in to your Artsumé account
2. Navigate to "Portfolio" from the main dashboard
3. You'll see your portfolio workspace with options to add new works

Step 2: Add Your First Portfolio Work#

Basic Information#

1. Click "Add New Work" button
2. You'll see the portfolio work creation form

Upload Main Image#

1. Click the "Upload Image" area or drag and drop an image
2. Select your main image file:
   • Recommended size: 1200px minimum width
   • Supported formats: JPG, PNG, WebP
   • Maximum file size: 10MB per image
   • Aspect ratio: Any, but 4:3 or 16:9 work well

3. Wait for the upload to complete
4. You can crop or adjust the image if needed

Fill in Work Details#

Complete the required and optional fields:

Required Fields#

• Title: Name of the work

  • Be specific and descriptive
  • Example: "Urban Fragments #3" instead of "Untitled"

• Year: Year the work was created

  • Use the year of completion
  • For ongoing works, use the current year

Optional Fields#

• Medium: Materials and techniques used

  • Be specific: "Oil on canvas" not just "Painting"
  • Include dimensions if relevant: "Acrylic on wood panel, 24x36 inches"

• Dimensions: Physical size of the work

  • Format: "Height x Width x Depth" (e.g., "36 x 24 x 2 inches")
  • Include units (inches, cm, feet, etc.)

• Description: Additional context about the work

  • Explain the concept or inspiration
  • Describe the process or techniques
  • Mention any exhibitions or context

Example Work Entry#

Title: "Memory Palace"

Year: 2023

Medium: "Mixed media installation: found objects, textiles, LED lights"

Dimensions: "8 x 12 x 6 feet"

Description: "This installation explores the relationship between personal memory and architectural space. Using objects collected from abandoned buildings in my neighborhood, I've created an immersive environment that invites viewers to navigate their own memories of place. The LED lighting creates shifting perspectives, suggesting how memory transforms over time."

Step 3: Add Additional Images#

For works that benefit from multiple views:

1. Scroll to the "Additional Images" section
2. Click "Add Image"
3. You can add up to 2 additional images per work
4. Use these for:
   • Different angles (for 3D work)
   • Detail shots
   • Installation views
   • Process documentation

Step 4: Add Video or Audio Content#

For time-based or audio work:

Video Content#

1. Scroll to "Video" section
2. Paste a video URL from:
   • YouTube
   • Vimeo
   • Other supported platforms
3. The video will embed automatically

Audio Content#

1. Scroll to "Audio" section
2. Paste an audio URL from:
   • SoundCloud
   • Spotify
   • Bandcamp
   • Other supported platforms

Step 5: Add Text Content#

For text-based or conceptual work:

1. Scroll to "Text Content" section
2. Use the rich text editor to format your text
3. This is useful for:
   • Poetry or written work
   • Conceptual pieces
   • Performance scripts
   • Detailed descriptions

Step 6: Organize Your Portfolio#

Sort Order#

1. Go to your portfolio list view
2. Use drag-and-drop to reorder works
3. Or use the "Sort" dropdown:
   • Newest First: Most recent work first
   • Oldest First: Chronological order
   • Custom: Manual ordering

Portfolio Organization Tips#

• Chronological: Show the evolution of your work
• Thematic: Group works by series or concept
• Best Work First: Lead with your strongest pieces
• Mixed: Combine approaches for variety

Step 7: Set Work Visibility#

Control who can see each work:

1. In the work editor, find "Visibility" settings
2. Choose:
   • Public: Visible on your profile and in applications
   • Private: Only visible in applications (not on public profile)

Step 8: Add Tags#

Tags help categorize your work:

1. Scroll to "Tags" section

2. Add relevant tags:

   • Medium-specific: "oil-painting", "ceramics"
   • Thematic: "landscape", "portrait", "abstract"
   • Style: "minimalist", "expressionist"
   • Series: "urban-fragments", "memory-series"

3. Tags help your work appear in relevant searches

Step 9: Link to CV Entries#

Connect your portfolio works to your CV:

1. In the work editor, find "Link to CV" section
2. Select relevant CV entries:
   • Exhibitions where this work was shown
   • Awards this work received
   • Publications featuring this work

Step 10: Save and Review#

1. Click "Save Work" when finished
2. Review your work in the portfolio view
3. Check:
   • Image quality and display
   • All information is accurate
   • Links work correctly
   • Visibility settings are correct

Portfolio Best Practices#

Image Quality#

• Resolution: Use high-resolution images (1200px+ width)
• Lighting: Ensure good, even lighting
• Background: Use neutral backgrounds or context-appropriate settings
• Color Accuracy: Calibrate your monitor for accurate color representation
• File Size: Optimize images to reduce file size while maintaining quality

Work Selection#

• Quality over Quantity: Include your best work, not everything
• Variety: Show range in your practice while maintaining coherence
• Recent Work: Include recent work to show current practice
• Representative: Choose works that represent your overall practice

Organization#

• Consistent Formatting: Use consistent titles, descriptions, and formatting
• Clear Information: Make sure all details are accurate and complete
• Logical Order: Organize works in a way that makes sense for your practice
• Regular Updates: Add new work regularly to keep your portfolio current

Examples#

Example: Painting Portfolio Entry#

Title: "Sunset Over Industrial District"

Year: 2024

Medium: "Oil on canvas"

Dimensions: "48 x 36 inches"

Description: "Part of my ongoing series exploring the intersection of natural and industrial landscapes. This piece captures the moment when sunset transforms the industrial skyline, creating unexpected beauty in overlooked spaces."

Tags: ["landscape", "industrial", "oil-painting", "urban-series"]

Additional Images: Detail shot showing brushwork

Example: Installation Portfolio Entry#

Title: "Temporal Layers"

Year: 2023

Medium: "Mixed media installation: found objects, projection, sound"

Dimensions: "Variable (approximately 12 x 8 x 10 feet)"

Description: "An immersive installation exploring how memory layers accumulate over time. Visitors navigate through suspended objects while projected images and ambient sound create a sense of temporal displacement."

Tags: ["installation", "mixed-media", "interactive", "memory-series"]

Additional Images:

• Installation view from different angle
• Detail of found objects

Video: Time-lapse of installation process

Troubleshooting#

Next Steps#

After building your portfolio:

1. Create Your CV: Document your exhibitions, awards, and achievements
2. Apply to Opportunities: Use your portfolio in applications
3. Keep It Updated: Regularly add new work
4. Read More Guides:
   • Creating Your CV
   • Applying to Opportunities
   • Best Practices

Related Resources#

• Portfolio Features
• Image Guidelines
• Portfolio Examples

Your portfolio is your visual voice on Artsumé. Take time to curate it carefully, and it will serve as a powerful tool for showcasing your artistic practice!