One of the best ways to keep up with your art learning is building a learning portfolio. Your portfolio comprises of written assignments, material tests, sketches, and pictures of your works of art in different stages. You should update your portfolio immediately after completing an assignment, so that when the semester is finsihed, you will have all of your learning compiled into one place.


Choose a platform. Where do you want to build your portfolio? You might want to make a blog, build a slideshow or maybe even create an art account on Instagram or another social media platform. Depending on how your teacher prefers to work, you might be able to choose a platform on your own, or you might be presented with choices. Either way, once you have a platform, you can start building your portfolio!

Write an introduction. To let viewers know who you are, write an introduction. Depending on your platform, this might be the first page or the first post. Write about who you are, what is your experience with art, what you would like to learn or try. Set a few goals for yourself.

Update the portfolio regularly. Once you have completed an assignment, it's time to upload it into your portfolio. Write a short introduction to the subject (ie., if you have an assignment about graffiti, you can write down a few facts about the history, style or technique of graffiti). This way, it will be easier for you to look back on what you have learned! Below are guidelines on how to include different types of assignments in your portfolio.

Think. Written assignments can be included in the portfolio as such. If you have done a think-assignment verbally with a partner, write down a few thoughts on the task.

Test. Include your sketches and smaller test-assignments - you can take photos of these on your phone, for example, and upload them into your portfolio. Write down in a few words what it was like to test out these things, what you have learnt and how you might be able to use these skills later.

Create. When making create-assignments, remember to take pictures of the work in different stages! Include these in your portfolio along with an image of the finished artwork. Write down in a few sentences what it was like to make the artwork, what did you succeed in and what you could have done better. You can also think about the assignment; was it fun to do, did you like it or not and why? 

Write in the finishing words. When the semester ends, your portfolio should be almost complete. Write down a few words at the end. What did you succeed in, what did you learn? What would you still like to learn in the future?


Below are some helpful questions you can use in your portfolio for either an assignment or your finishing words: