This blog is about creativity and some people are really creative. But their abilities are about creative avoidence. How not to work or do things. Its amazing all the exscuses that people come up with to keep from doing work. Oh, my portfolio isn’t done. I don’t have the reference or the right paper, i have to make dinner or wash the car.
Folks we only have so much time on the planet. You need to get started on that project that you have in the back of your mind. It’s time to get of your duff and start. You don’t have to have and end in site but you need to get going. You can always change directions later or even start over if it really is the wrong direction. But you won’t know unless you get started.
Even if your on the right track you can get run over if your standing still. Start that project now.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
A PROPER PORTFOLIO
All right, lets get back to portfolios. This is what you are using to represent you to prospective clients or employers.
Your portfolio should always be professional and clean. Purchase a standard portfolio or if you are inclined you can make your own. It should contain only your best work. It should start off strong and should end strong. I always like to see a section in the back of a portfolio with life drawing or concept roughs.
What you put in the body of your portfolio is up to you. But do not put in unfinished work. If you like a piece enough to present it then you can finish it. I like to see the work presented in a format. Meaning a consistent border or layout. I would recommend that you have titles and explanations if necessary on each piece. There will be times when you can not present your work in person and the work will have to speak for itself. Have your name and number easily found and consistent in the layout.
Always have a leave behind for clients. They may not have work for you at the moment but maybe later. A handout will keep you in there thought process.
Also as a tip I recommend that you always ask for a recommendation of an associate to show your portfolio to. Even if the showing didn’t go as well as you would like it to they may know someone who could use your work.
I have been speaking of the old school physical portfolios. Now days a professional also has an online portfolio too. But again the same rules apply. Create a format. Keep it clean and easy to use. A mistake of online portfolios is that they do not create a print page. A single sample page that can be printed with a couple of samples and your contact info to go into hard files.
Remember that your portfolio will never be finished and you can always change your portfolio. So get to it!
Your portfolio should always be professional and clean. Purchase a standard portfolio or if you are inclined you can make your own. It should contain only your best work. It should start off strong and should end strong. I always like to see a section in the back of a portfolio with life drawing or concept roughs.
What you put in the body of your portfolio is up to you. But do not put in unfinished work. If you like a piece enough to present it then you can finish it. I like to see the work presented in a format. Meaning a consistent border or layout. I would recommend that you have titles and explanations if necessary on each piece. There will be times when you can not present your work in person and the work will have to speak for itself. Have your name and number easily found and consistent in the layout.
Always have a leave behind for clients. They may not have work for you at the moment but maybe later. A handout will keep you in there thought process.
Also as a tip I recommend that you always ask for a recommendation of an associate to show your portfolio to. Even if the showing didn’t go as well as you would like it to they may know someone who could use your work.
I have been speaking of the old school physical portfolios. Now days a professional also has an online portfolio too. But again the same rules apply. Create a format. Keep it clean and easy to use. A mistake of online portfolios is that they do not create a print page. A single sample page that can be printed with a couple of samples and your contact info to go into hard files.
Remember that your portfolio will never be finished and you can always change your portfolio. So get to it!
CHASING THE MUSE
Knowledge is power and Einstein has said that imagination is more powerful than knowledge. But where does imagination come from? Imagination is the ability to take limited and random information and make a leap into magic.
A simple process of training your mind. We all have the creative spark when we are children. It’s as we grow older that we become ridged and stifle our imaginations.
A way to restart our imaginations is to see the imaginations in others. Seek inspiration where ever you can. to that end I have a couple of fun web sites and magazines that I can recommend to inspire. Spend time in the book store just checking out the magazines to find something on your own. But while your there look for Step by Step magazine, How magazine or Cinefex just to name a few.
The web is an infinite source to inspire. some really fun web sites that I recommend are....
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/
http//characterdesign.blogspot.com
http://animationbackgrounds.blogspot.com/
Darkroastblend.com is full of random images to inspire and jog the brain into new directions. Character design.blogspot has interviews with amazing artists and examples of their work. It takes a while to load if you have a slow connection but has beautiful work to inspire.
Animation backgrounds.blogspot allows you to explore the beautiful work and varied styles of animation backgrounds. So many times we can’t focus on the amazing work because of the action in front.
Use all the sources available to you.
A simple process of training your mind. We all have the creative spark when we are children. It’s as we grow older that we become ridged and stifle our imaginations.
A way to restart our imaginations is to see the imaginations in others. Seek inspiration where ever you can. to that end I have a couple of fun web sites and magazines that I can recommend to inspire. Spend time in the book store just checking out the magazines to find something on your own. But while your there look for Step by Step magazine, How magazine or Cinefex just to name a few.
The web is an infinite source to inspire. some really fun web sites that I recommend are....
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/
http//characterdesign.blogspot.com
http://animationbackgrounds.blogspot.com/
Darkroastblend.com is full of random images to inspire and jog the brain into new directions. Character design.blogspot has interviews with amazing artists and examples of their work. It takes a while to load if you have a slow connection but has beautiful work to inspire.
Animation backgrounds.blogspot allows you to explore the beautiful work and varied styles of animation backgrounds. So many times we can’t focus on the amazing work because of the action in front.
Use all the sources available to you.
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