How to Make a Professional Artist's Sketchbook

A sketchbook should hold all of your best work.

A professional artist’s sketchbook, or portfolio, is a book filled with the artist’s best pieces. This book is used to showcase the artist’s work for galleries, commission jobs and applications for a design position at a company. The best way to create a sketchbook or portfolio is to have a digital and hard copy version containing the same information to use in live interviews and as part of an online resume.

Things You'll Need

• Camera
• Photo book with black paper
• Acid-free glue
• Computer
• PDF software

Instructions

1. Ask a friend or another artist choose your best pieces. Place these pieces in a room with good lighting and take a photo of each drawing or painting.

2. Develop the photos and mount on to black paper. Use acid-free glue to mount the photos. You can also make a photo book with black pages online where the company will scan the photos directly onto the base paper.

3. Create a digital version of the sketchbook as a PDF file.

4. Write your contact information inside the book along with any other relevant information. Allow potential employers to see the book to showcase your best work.

5. Update the information inside the book and add new pieces to the book as you improve your skills.

References

• Luminous Landscape: Portfolio
• Empty Easel: How to Prepare an Art Portfolio: A Guide for Freelance and Self-employed Artists