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In putting together a portfolio, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
Whose body of work do you most like? Who are your idols? What kind of paintings would you like to be doing in ten years? Think about what kind of portrait you would like to be painting. This is the critical question. Do you admire loose brushy work, or wish you had the time to spend developing a more nuanced portrait? Decide what you want to be doing in ten year, and do it NOW!
THE PORTRAITS IN YOUR PORTFOLIO WILL BE THE PORTRAIT YOU WILL BE COMMISSIONED TO PAINT.
Decide what you want your career, your body of work, to look like, and start NOW to fill your portfolio with that work. The sooner you have that portfolio, the sooner you will be commissioned to paint that work.
I suggested painting kids because that is the easiest way to fill a portfolio. If you want to do corporate commissions, paint a bunch of exquisite 3/4 corporate portraits. Society portraits? Paint those. Your portfolio is the single most important selling tool you have.
One additional thought.
You will be judged by the weakest piece in your portfolio. Eliminate all but the very best portraits. Be brutal. If you only have one good portrait, show only one painting.
Peggy
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