Portfolio

How to create an artist portfolio for a career in game development.

Design

• PortfolioContents - how Art Directors evaluate portfolios for: Animator, Character Artist, Concept Artist, Environment/Prop Artist, Generalist, Technical Artist, User Interface Artist.
• Your Portfolio Repels Jobs by Jon Jones describes the do's and don'ts of artist portfolios.
• GDC Vault - Killer Portfolio or Portfolio Killer: Advice from Industry Artists (Part 1)
• Work at Bungie: Getting Past the Gatekeeper details how to make the best impression on Bungie's hiring manager.
• NateWhitePortfolioAdvice by Nate White has a solid summary for recent graduates about what their portfolios need.
• Quick portfolio site tips for 3D artists building their first site by James Taylor
• One Step: Portfolio Horror by Jim Zubkavich describes what you should never have in your portfolio. It's from a comic publisher's perspective, but the basic advice applies to game artists as well.
• Should portfolios demonstrate versatility? Polycount forum thread
• Advice about improving your portfolio from EarthQuake (and others) Polycount forum thread
• What should be in your portfolio? Polycount forum thread

Examples

• Game Art Portfolio Wall by Matt 'mats effect' Nelson
• Your favorite portfolio? on the Polycount forum has links to members' favorite artist portfolios.

Methods

• Need the best free website design site Polycount forum thread.
• Setting up a quick portfolio site Polycount forum thread.
• Model Presentation has tutorials and techniques for rendering your models.
• has links to cool shaders for rendering your models.
• Where do you host your portfolio? Polycount forum thread on hosting sites, posts include prices and reviews.

Art Software

• on the wiki lists which art software professionals use.
• Free or low cost 3D and 2D apps on the Polycount forum has advice about free and low-cost software to use.

Getting a Job

• on the wiki has tips about getting and keeping a job as an artist in games.