A graphic artist explains how to create an art portfolio with Mixbook

Figuring out how to create an art portfolio is a rite of passage for artists. Having the option to create one means you've created enough work and have become skilled enough to require a professional-quality showcase.

So, learning how to create an art portfolio book should be a real source of pride. It also results in a tangible resource to aid your art career, hobby, or academic pursuits, and is essential for artists in all media.

Some art forms are easier to translate to the printed pages of a photo book than others, but a physical portfolio book is always a useful tool for artists. The entrepreneur and digital artist Allard Lavaritte recently used Mixbook to create his first art portfolio, and the results are truly stunning!

In the introduction page to "Blueflaw: The Art of Allard Lavaritte," the artist explains why he decided to learn how to create an art portfolio with Mixbook:

"I've reached a stage in my artistic journey where I believe there are valuable lessons to share with others. Typically, I prefer letting my art speak for itself when posting it online. However, I believe that connecting with your audience is at the core of being an artist, sharing my work allows me to explore my boundaries and celebrate the milestones along the way."

Lavaritte wants to inspire other artists with the following takeaways and tips about how to create an art portfolio with Mixbook.

Related: How to Build an Effective and Stunning Artwork Portfolio

Research and inspiration

Lavaritte advises that the first step in creating your art portfolio is to look at other artists from your field. Get direct inspiration from portfolio books and other showcases of artwork, such as online portfolios, social media, art books, and coffee table books. Doing so is especially useful if your art form doesn't directly translate to the printed page. For example, if you're a sculptor or muralist, study how similar 3D and large-scale works of art have been photographed and represented on the page.

Go to the library and browse the most eye-catching art books from your own and related themes. Take snapshots and make notes about common themes, elements, layouts, text, and other features you love and want to replicate in your own art portfolio.

Graphic design knowledge

Artists generally understand graphic design principles, which are broadly relevant across all artistic mediums. However, Lavaritte advises that you brush up on the basic principles of graphic design and keep them in mind while working on your art portfolio. Pay attention to white space, leading lines, and the following concepts:

Symmetry

Eye of winter

Symmetry can be used very effectively in graphic design. The cover image of Lavaritte's portfolio, "Eye of Winter," is an excellent example of eye-catching symmetry. The striking circular design between two pillars draws the eye right to the center like a bullseye, mirroring the focus of the central character in the picture. This has the broader effect of drawing the reader into the book. Which examples of your own art could have a similar effect?

Rule of thirds and the golden ratio

Symmetry isn't always the best design choice. The rule of thirds and golden ratio are the most prominent alternatives. You can read more about this essential graphic design technique with our guide: Mastering Visual Storytelling: The Art of Composition with the Golden Ratio and Rule of Thirds.

Hierarchy

What is the most important visual element of the page, spread, or whole book? Pick your best works and those representing you as an artist to the intended viewer. Showcase these with layouts that communicate their place at the top of the hierarchy — for example, with a larger scale or more prominent position.

Lavaritte's "Eye of Winter" is one of his most important pieces, so it gets a two-page spread and the front cover of his art portfolio. Other key pieces are similarly showcased with a larger scale or stand-alone layout.

Grid layouts and variety

For the easiest approach to laying out the pages and spreads of an art portfolio, create an invisible grid and follow its lines. This helps your design look neat and professional. Lavaritte's portfolio is filled with examples of smart use of grid layouts, but note the variety among them. Don't use the same layout on every page – switch it up from page to page to add visual interest.

Related: Mixbook Studio Deep Dive: Layouts

Typography rules

Read up on some of the basic rules of typography for effective design and readability. One of the most important is limiting yourself to just one or two typefaces. On the cover of Lavaritte's portfolio, he uses a decorative – but legible — typeface only for the title "Blueflaw" but sticks to a modern sans-serif typeface for the subhead and other text throughout the book. The result is eye-catching yet well-balanced.

Tip: The Mixbook Studio is built around graphic design best practices. Use the Auto Layout feature to see recommended layouts and select alternatives.

Customization for different audiences

It's important to keep the intended audience for your art portfolio in mind throughout the process. Lavaritte suggests treating it like a resume and customizing it based on the viewer's preferences. Is your art portfolio intended to be viewed by potential employers, customers, admissions officers, or perhaps just yourself and your friends and family?

The answer will determine the best content to include and the overall style of the portfolio.

Lavaritte uses his portfolio to speak directly to other artists who want to learn digital art techniques alongside him. He uses text and work-in-progress images to inform readers about free tutorials on his website — the "Sky Collection" page is a great example. A potential employer might prefer to learn about the timeline of your process, while a buyer might like to see examples of your work displayed in someone's home.

With Mixbook, you can create an easily customizable art portfolio. This process allows you to cater to different audiences with minor changes to the content and text.

Choosing content for your first art portfolio

Your art portfolio should include your best work but also reflect the type of work that interests your intended audience. This focus could be a broad niche or a relatively narrow one. Lavaritte recommends aiming for around ten strong pieces or at least five high-quality works if you're a new artist. Go for quality over quantity.

Consider augmenting images representing finished works of art with various unfinished, work-in-progress, and experimental images (Lavaritte did this throughout this book). Perhaps you want to include a photo of visitors admiring your painting in a gallery, a shot of you at work, or scenes around your studio.

Organization

Your art portfolio book should tell a cohesive story tailored to your intended audience. Eliminate any images or text that do not directly relate to that story. Further, try to organize your work into themes or "chapters," with pages, spreads, or sections reflecting that theme. Lavaritte's portfolio includes collections around "Clouds and Sky," "Fan Art," and specific characters.

Discussing your work

You might believe your art speaks for itself, but a portfolio requires at least some brief explanatory text. Your portfolio needs to tell your story and promote you as an artist, so don't miss the opportunity to communicate with the intended audience.

Lavaritte's text additions include longer introductions and thank you pages at the front and back, which do not include images. This design approach keeps the focus on those critical messages. Smaller pieces of text throughout the spreads accompany the artwork with a different purpose. They communicate details about those images and the creation process, including links to Lavaritte's website.

What must your audience know about your art and individual works or collections?

Keep it brief but informative. According to Lavaritte, you should be able to provide context and details about the work and discuss the subject and stylistic choices. Explain why you chose each piece to showcase your artistic process. You might also want to dedicate pages to additional information such as awards, a bio, and testimonials.

Evolution and improvement

Just as an artist's work evolves, so will your art portfolio. The ability to alter your portfolio might seem challenging when you're ready to order copies of your finished photo book. However, Mixbook's platform allows you to return to your book at any time and make updates, additions, or other changes with ease.

Lavaritte advises artists to update and refine their portfolios regularly. He relates that Mixbook's tools for uploading and building his portfolio were enjoyable to use and suggests uploading two or three pages to test it yourself.

Before you get started, check out our overview: Exploring Mixbook: An Overview of Features and Tools.

Printing and design preferences

Artists know the importance of high-quality products for their artworks, which also applies to the pages, cover, and print quality of a portfolio book. Mixbook offers premium product features such as lay-flat books, premium matte or lustre papers, and large-scale books up to 14" by 11" and 12" by 12".

Mixbook offers thousands of attractive layouts, including simple photo book themes, professional photo book themes, and minimalist designs. These options are best for art portfolios. Lavaritte advises skipping the more "fun" design features like stickers, frames, and multicolored backgrounds. You might prefer to start with a blank canvas or browse the following themes that are popular for art portfolios:

• White Minimalist Portfolio
• Minimalist Portfolio Extended Edition
• Black Background Gallery
• Modern Portfolio
• Black Look Book
• My Artwork Photobook

Ready to learn how to create an art portfolio?

The "starving artist" stereotype may or may not apply to you, but getting a deal is always great. Allard Lavaritte's final tip about how to make an art portfolio with Mixbook is: "Don't pay full price! Wait for 30% to 50% off coupons!"

Check often for the latest Mixbook coupons, and sign up for exclusive offers and Mixbook news.