Hey there future PLAFers! We’re back with another article in our PLAF ATTENDEE 101 series. This time, we’d like to dive into a subject near and dear to anyone who’s looking to grow and expand their skill set — portfolio reviews. Promised Land Art Festival is a place where each attendee gets unprecedented access to some of most talented professionals from the creative industry: illustrators, designers, animators, modelers, sculptors, and more. Throughout the festival, you’ll have ample opportunities to meet and chat with them, and even discuss your own path including how to best proceed forward, level up your craft, gain a fresh perspective, or something else that you’re particularly looking for. And it’s best to come prepared, so we asked some talented artists and Promised Land Art Festival friends — Spiridon Giannakis, Pablo Carpio, and Pablo Dominguez — to join us in compiling a list of do’s and don’ts for portfolio reviews. Check it out below!
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- Present your most current works and ones you believe are your best
If you want to grow, your starting point is where you are now, not where you were some time ago. That means the person reviewing your work should see the stuff you’ve worked on most recently. You should also focus on the things you believe are your best pieces, or the ones you really feel strongly about. After all, what’s the point of having someone review work you’ve already given up on and have no intention of returning to, right? Onward and upward!
- Don't interrupt the review you get
A portfolio review is different from a regular conversation with a friend or colleague. Remember that you asked the person you’re speaking to for their time to share thoughts on your work, so let them speak! Hear them out fully, and don’t interrupt them with justifications. If there’s a specific element of your work you’d like their feedback on, you’re more than welcome to ask — just take the time to listen to their thoughts first, as what they focus on or notice may surprise you!
- Don't interrupt others getting a review
Be respectful of those undergoing a portfolio review around you. You might not be getting one at the time, but you wouldn’t want someone to be shouting their lungs out next to you or a random person joining the conversation if you were. And if you’re in the middle of a portfolio review, with others receiving the same around you, be mindful of your own voice and volume. It’s not a lot, but it certainly goes a long way.
- Make haste, not waste
Be aware you won't be the only person asking for a portfolio review at Promised Land Art Festival. That’s why you should prepare your portfolio accordingly. Try to aim for a presentation that will take no more than 2-3 minutes, with a maximum of 15 images. If your reviewer would like to go back and spend some more time on a particular piece, they will let you know.
- Don’t apologize or make excuses
When you have your work being critiqued by a professional with years of experience under their belt, you might feel the urge to say sorry and explain why the work is as it is. Or you might feel that your work or skills are subpar and want to apologize for that beforehand. Don’t! It’s normal to make mistakes; that’s how people learn and improve. We aren’t born experts, but we become better over time, with lots of practice. Instead of apologizing and providing reasoning for why something is bad, listen to what your reviewer is saying, note it down, and embrace the feedback to move forward.
- Know your audience and your path
If you want to speak to a particular artist working at a particular company, that’s great — it’s a good idea to aim for reviews from people who are relevant to you and your career. But keep in mind that most companies work on a variety of projects, not just one, so don’t paint yourself into a corner by tailoring your selection of works to a singular IP or company style. Showing variety in your works can also help round out the feedback you receive!
- Bring creations, not recreations
Making fan art is amazing, but when you’re looking for a professional portfolio review, it’s best to bring something fresh and never seen before. Just how far you want to push it is up to you, but know that the more of yourself you choose to showcase, the more you’ll gain from the feedback you receive, as it will pertain directly to you and what you can do, and not the work you’re trying to emulate.
- Be yourself
At Promised Land Art Festival we’re all equals, even during portfolio reviews. Showing your reviewers respect is not the same thing as treating them with excessive deference or acting like someone you’re not. Remember, your art speaks volumes, but so do you. So act naturally — after all, today you’re the one who’s receiving peer feedback, but tomorrow they may be the ones in your shoes.
- Be a pro and don’t fan out
Promised Land Art Festival is an opportunity to meet your heroes and heroines — and it’s an opportunity you should take! However, during portfolio reviews, it’s best to keep things professional. The artist you're meeting is there to help you up your game and isn’t looking for praise or celebration of their own work, so respect their craft and focus on taking their feedback. There are always plenty of other opportunities to ask them about their own work, whether it’s during a Q&A at their talk, a structured networking session, or during the more laid-back afterparty.
- Respect people’s time
Speakers, especially before the activities they’ll be hosting, have a lot on their plate. Some artists also don’t feel comfortable giving a review, or might just not have the mindset for it. Take that into consideration when pursuing a review with them — if someone says they can’t do it or don’t have the time for it, respect their decision and move on. There are plenty of talented artists across a variety of disciplines who are available to give you their feedback, so take this opportunity to branch out!
- Try to take ALL feedback positively
The purpose of a portfolio review is to help you grow as an artist — sometimes, the feedback may feel harsh, but it’s always given from the mindset of improving your work and abilities. Don’t forget, artists at Promised Land come from all over the world, so remember that their cultures might differ from your own, leading to different styles of feedback as well. Do your best to not take it personally — reviewers want you to succeed, and the feedback they give you is given to help you overcome your weaknesses and move past them in order to realize your full potential. Remember that when coming into a review and don’t get disheartened. Take this chance to embrace the feedback and grow as an artist!
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And so we’ve reached the conclusion of yet another PLAF ATTENDEE 101. We hope you’ll find these tips useful and they help you make your portfolio reviews during Promised Land Art Festival all the more productive. If you’re a PLAF regular and have even more tips for newcomers about portfolio reviews, feel free to drop them on our Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn under the post linking to the article. And be on the lookout for another article in the series soon!
