Art Portfolio 101

[Cindy]

Hi Peeps,

Uh... I don't post often, but I do random drawings for the mag. I don't know most of you yet, but I hope I can soon!

Anyways... for my question, I really want to make my own art portfolio, you know, the kind you take to interviews and stuff. Since I haven't done art class since grade 9, I have no idea how a portfolio should look like.
I've seen only one before, the girl used it to apply for OCAD. It seems to be about 20 pages, with some description under each piece of photographed artwork.

I've tried looking online for portfolio tutorials and formats, but not really helpful. Does anyone know what kind of description should go with the art? Probably title date of creation, art medium and size? I wonder if you have to include if it was published, and the time it took to finish it?

Right now I'm collecting all the art and designs I've done these few years. I'm planning to print out the digital art with photopaper. And maybe take photos of stuff like shirt designs, clipboards etc. Think that's a good idea?
I used to have a portfolio website, but the sever is down. I'm using DeviantArt for now (http://miutopia.deviantart.com), it only has personal spare-time art in there though.

Please recommend any websites/books/references! Thanks a lot!

Cindy

[Chidori]

the only advice i ever got was to put together 5-6 piecies of your very best art, i applied to ocad 3 and half years ago, at the time they only wanted to see your 5 best pieces of whatever style u like, drawings, paintings, digital art work.

i got in...but my parents forced me to attend u of t.

i think 20 pages is just too much because the interviewer has time pressure and will not be able to look at all the pieces.

[Tim]

Hi Cindy,

I agree w/ Chidori, though I would like to mention some points my HS Art teacher told me when putting together a portfolio (mind you, this would be a portfolio of photographs -but I guess it can apply to other pieces of art): You should have 5-10 pieces (yeah 20 is too much) and if possible try to link them to a theme or concept -but not so much that they're 5-10 versions of the same thing (if you know what I mean). The idea behind this is that you show that you're able to think beyond what you do. If you don't have an idea to link your work together, then I still wouldn't worry if I were you. Like I said, the advice I got was for photography -and for that you need to have a theme (eg. documentary photography). Anyways I hope that helps, I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Cheers.

[Cindy]

Thanks peeps, I think I'll try looking up stuff and ask around after I finish exams ^_^

I think a theme would be kinda hard for me.... all my drawings are so random and spontaneous.
The only thing I can see, is that after I got into university all my recent drawings are really.... dark. And gloomy.
Wonder why

Thanks!