a collection of your artwork, sketchbook work, experiments, and final pieces

the main idea, theme, or approach you choose to explore in depth

the big idea or subject that your artwork is based on

the story or journey shown through your artwork and sketchbook

Presenting a portfolio: creating pages of documentation

Art and design

Identifying starting points

Resourcing ideas through personal reflections, narratives and objects

Effective annotation: different ways to present ideas

Analysing the work of artists and designers: materials and techniques

The work of artists and designers: elements of art

The work of artists and designers: principles of art

Connecting and combining: trials and experiments with materials

First-hand primary resourcing

Photographing for resources: what makes a good photograph

Personal response: appropriate resources and creating artwork

Creating a surface, armature, background: preparing your personal response

Personal response: layers and processes in different endorsements

Personal response: how to judge quality and refining work

Personal response: finishing an artwork

Curating the artwork: selecting and arranging key pieces

Evaluate the use of materials and techniques

Self assessment techniques: evaluating your own work

This is an independent, pupil-led unit where pupils develop their own creative process. Having learned the key components of shaping an artistic voice, they will now make choices about themes, techniques, and processes, articulating and evaluating their artistic journey.

First sustained project: working from a theme

a collection of sketchbook work, experiments, and final pieces

to show your progress, creativity, and skills

to include every piece of art you’ve ever made

to only display your favourite artist’s work

What is the main purpose of an art portfolio?

It makes your work feel more connected and meaningful.

Why is it important for a portfolio to have a focus?

Which of these could be a theme for a portfolio?

Community themes in art only focus on places, not people.

It shows your creative process and what you learned.

It hides your best work among weaker pieces.

Why is it useful to include mistakes or failed experiments in your portfolio?

Starter Quiz