The Gap Years
After graduating from high school, I did not know what I wanted to do. There were many choices to make, so like many of my peers, I opted out of college and joined the workforce. What became one year turned into 6 years. Initially I thought that college wasn’t for me, but eventually changed my mind. This not only gave me time to think about what I wanted to do with my career but also gave me the opportunity to learn more about myself as a person.
Going back to college at the age of 24 brought so many emotions and feelings. I was uncomfortable, excited, nervous, and most of all scared. “What would others think of me? I should have gone to school at 18,” and the biggest thought: “I am so far behind and need to catch up to peers my age”. All of these are the words that ran through my head when I decided it was my time to pursue higher education.
One of the biggest questions that many asked and what I asked myself was “What do I want to major in?” Business Administration felt like the safest and best choice for my interests, a versatile degree! I registered for classes and was all set.
Rediscovering a Lost Interest
After 2 semesters had gone by, it was now Spring, a rediscovery of my love for art had transpired. I had taken a Professional and Technical Communications course in lieu of the required English 112 course. In that class, I had to write a 12-page research paper on the ways that Artificial Intelligence is being integrated into the business world. Once the paper was finished, my professor said that we would be making an infographic based on what we had written. I was so overwhelmed and did not know where to start.
So, I scrolled through Pinterest, Tik Tok, viewed students past work, and even went to the doctor’s office and looked at their infographics that were provided. This took hours, but I gained the inspiration needed and made my design. With the fear of going overboard, I was about to keep it simple, but that seemed like a cop out to me. Instead, I was true to myself and made something I would be proud of. I added different effects that many people would think of as 2000s robot futurism, and for the first time in years, I had enjoyed making something!
One infographic design had changed my outlook and I started getting back into the art scene. I decided that doing something with art as a career would be fun. After a lot of research, Graphic Design was the choice for me! It also aligned with the Business Administration degree I was already pursuing. The real question was: “How am I going to pursue this career after not creating anything in nearly 8 years? Start from scratch. This is what I did to build my portfolio from nothing to something.
Back to the Basics
Making a portfolio from the beginning can seem intimidating- and it is- but that should not be a reason to deter away from it. An easy way to slide back into the groove of creating is as simple as picking up a pencil and drawing. It does not have to be pretty, it can be small doodles, or if you’re feeling ambitious you can try still life drawings.
The motivation is now there! Here are some things that you can do to keep motivation and to remember the basics
- Practice old skills. Chances are you still have the skills; it’s just a matter of rebuilding what you already have.
- Gain inspiration from other artists by viewing their work online, in a book, or at a museum.
You do not want to get burnt out or overwhelmed with the idea of a project so keep it short and small
Organize Your Portfolio
Now that you have refurbished your skills, you are now able to make your portfolio! What kind of art do you want to incorporate into your portfolio? How many pieces? If you are planning on applying to a school and want to join their program, you can view their admissions guidelines and build from that.
- Make a brand guide. Reaching a dead end can occur, so having an outline of the colors you want to use and the font can be extremely helpful for your future self.
- Finding the right art for portfolio. With rediscovering your art style, you probably have made different pieces. What do you want to include? Digital art only? Paintings? Drawings?
Choosing Your Platform
There are 2 notable ways people choose to make their portfolio. Some opt for physical form and curate it from there, while others choose the digital route. A question for yourself is: “How are you going to share your portfolio?” Think about that and start building from there.
- The world is evolving and having a digital portfolio can be very beneficial for you. Making your portfolio online can easily be made into a website and can be shared in as little as a link.
Putting Everything Together
The final steps of finalizing the choices of pieces you’ve made and choosing what platform you want to use have been completed. The next thing to do is fit everything together to make it as cohesive as possible. Your portfolio should create a story that is welcoming and inviting to the audience while also showing your personality.
- It is important to remember that quality beats quantity. Having too many pieces can be overwhelming for viewers. Narrowing down what you want to 7-15 pieces is more than enough.
- Do not forget to add information about yourself. Your audience wants to know who you are and why you made the portfolio. If someone likes your work, you can add a professional email or a work phone number for yourself so you can get in contact.
