Art Portfolio Students Put Their Artwork on Display at the Helen S. Smith Gallery

By: William Baliton

Staff Writer

Published December 6, 2018

The Helen S. Smith gallery is highlighting the works of several artists in The Artist Portfolio class and helps aspiring artists become marketable.

The Artist Portfolio class (ART180) is a class that helps students looking to pursue art as a career learn valuable skills that will help them progress in the art industry. The class is only available during fall quarter during Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m. Throughout the course, creating new art is not required, but if students feel inclined to produce any new art they are welcome to do so. At the end of the course, all students are required to display their artwork in the Helen S. Smith gallery that serves as a culminating project.

The class itself is geared toward how artists can make themselves marketable to showcase their talents in galleries or to take on art jobs offered by businesses. Students of all genres of art, from animators to illustrators, learn how to create résumés that help highlight their talents and skills. “They teach you how to get your art put in galleries, how to build a professional portfolio, how to make a professional résumé, how to take proper pictures of your artwork to put on your website, and so much more,” said Gretchen Immel, a student in the Artist Portfolio class. “They provide all the building blocks we need to start our professional careers as artists.”

Students learn how to create résumés that show their artistic abilities through past accomplishments–much like a regular job résumé–only structured in a way that takes artistry and experience into account. Experiences regarding artistry encompass but are not limited to if an artist has published or showcased their work previously, how long they have been working at their craft, has there been a history of artistic collaboration, and what an artist’s individual level of education might be.

The class requires time and careful planning in order to organize their art in an aesthetically pleasing way to intrigue an audience. Students must be meticulous in how they mount their art, how they present it in a portfolio, and how to arrange them on gallery walls. All the grading is done at the end of the course, so students must keep a steady pace to receive a high score at the end of the quarter.

The class is taught cooperatively between two teachers. This quarter, the class was taught by both Sarah Dillon Gilmartin and Cindy Small; the teachers for the class rotate every quarter. Students have opportunities to meet artists in the industry and learn from their experiences as well. “The most valuable information in this class is all the real-life experience the instructors have,” said Immel.

There are two prerequisites before an individual can enter the class: Beginning drawing (ART105) and Beginning Design (ART109). The class is designed only for those who are seeking to make art their career. The class, however, does not discriminate according to artistic skill level. The grading system is based around how well an individual assembles their art in a pleasing manner.