Build Your Artistic Portfolio

Build Your Artistic Portfolio

Look everywhere for opportunity to build experience. Every artistic job benefits from a portfolio showcasing your skills.
If you are interested in retail merchandising jobs, take over the ugly announcements window at school and revitalize it. Volunteer to create seasonal displays at the nearby nursing home or day care; help design and build sets for the school or local theatre. The practice will improve your skills and the pictures you take will build your portfolio. This not only shows off your talent, it also shows you have taken the initiative to practice your skills.
Interested in landscape design? Rework and plant your grandmother’s yard or another elderly neighbor’s. You may be able to make extra money, while building your portfolio. Take pictures through out the seasons, because the plants will change the look over time.
Interested in fashion design? –Make costumes for the kids community theatre or Halloween costumes for your siblings or neighbors.
Interior decorating? –Design or rework dorm rooms for friends. Volunteer for the party decorations committee for any club or association where you or your parents belong. Create inspiration boards as if you were designing a room for a client. Demonstrating that you understand design and scale will be very important in the future.
I met a florist for a 5 star hotel who got her start as a volunteer at a nursing home. She would rework fading bouquets for the residents, into fresh healthy looking arrangements. She always captured the look she created, in photos, while she learned which plants had staying power and other tricks of her trade.
As your work gets better, you can remove the older or lesser quality projects. But keep the pieces/pictures if you can. You may want them for future inspiration.
Always make sure you take quality pictures of your work. You will be thankful you did when a teacher, school admissions officer, internship recruiter or employer needs to check out your talents.