[LAUIL602] Study Task 6: Portfolio

Mock Website (Not Live): 

• Portfolio of 6 paintings created on my mock-website that isn't live, sitting within a professional context

Instagram:

• On my existing instagram (@gleamedart) I am able to present my finished / completed canvases and have the capacity to describe dimensions, title, materials, and thoughts and intentions. There is also an Alt Text feature that gives me the ability to describe extra details of the painting for screenreader users using Instagram such as myself. Accessibility is very important to me.

• I am also able to present magazine articles within this space, poetry and audio poetry in the caption and video functionality, and a myriad of works that aren't necessarily at a completion stage - more testable and experimental pieces - including less refined mono prints and oil pastel pieces, building up ideas.

• There's a versatility to instagram that allows me to collect everything I make, no matter the format, and document my artistic journey which I like as a portfolio space.

I talked with Amy about what is required for this task and what a/my portfolio could include.

My takeaways from this conversation are that:

• A physical portfolio is not required because of COVID-19 reasons (and isn't be required for the MA Fine Art course application where I wish to progress next. A reference from a creative practitioner and a written statement from myself are the components that are needed upon application).

• Students don't feel ready to host a fully functioning website at this time as they may feel it is not required at this stage in their practice. I am in the same thought process, still developing where I want to be so have constructed a mock-website and portfolio age for now highlighting how it could look for potential clients and customers.

Digital Portfolio on Google Slides:

• Google Slides seemed like the most accessible and appropriate way of housing my work together that I created this past year both inside and outside of university.

• Implementing visual identity.

• Combining elements of fully completed canvases showcasing texture, portraying my work in a publication context (In the Middle magazine), poetry, audio poetry collaboration, and more open-mode experiments of texture and pattern.

Overall Reflection: 

In terms of a working portfolio, instagram serves me well at this stage in my emerging practice to an open space studio to showcase completed canvases, magazine publications, poetry in the captions, and audio poetry in videos. It has all of the functionality in one place to combine image, video and audio with accessibility through alt text for each post. I created a mock-website, that isn't live right now as it isn't relevant to my practice at this time, to show how my canvases could look in the context of a professional website. Google Slides was the most appropriate and accessible way to combine multidisciplinary and multimedia selected works from this past year - giving consideration to image and texture, professional photographs, poetry and video.

Reflecting on Molly Fairhurst's practice, she utilises her website for clients to present professional services, and uses Tumblr and instagram for more work-in-progress and behind the scenes photographs. I think there is a versatility in this approach that allows for potential space to grow while still considering and connecting with (existing) clients, customers and the audience to look through two different lenses. The professional lens of the website and the more casual lens of instagram.