ldakersWhat is this strange green and black portfolio that art students or artists always carry with them? Amylee answers.
Why Do Artists Carry A Portfolio?
You may have noticed it on the street, near an art school, or an artist’s studio, students or people frequently carry a large green and black speckled portfolio.
Why this portfolio?
What are they carrying?
The Annonay Pattern
“Here come the artist!” exclaimed my friends from the economic and scientific streams at the sight of a group of students holding a green and black speckled portfolio.
Recognizable at first glance, this flat rectangle does not go unnoticed with its black and green cover, a graphic feature more commonly known as Annonay Pattern (a classic French design)
GREAT TO KNOW : The portfolio is usually worn under the arm. It is placed against the leg to wait for the bus or to free your hands. Some portfolios have handles, I have remained faithful to the portfolio with ribbons!
Where To Find Portfolios?
Portfolios are usually sold in art supplies stores. It is also possible to find them in some supermarkets.
- Clairefontaine Portfolio
- I love art Portfolio
- Canson Prortfolio
These products are currently available at GreatArt Online or in the art supply shop in London Shoreditch..
My Student Memory
I have always felt a true affection for my green and black portfolio. It is practical and rather economical. It can hold a lot of paper, documents and continue to follow us around for many years.
First of all, I was proud of the status it gave me in the eyes of the world. My portfolio openly stated that I was an art student, that I was part of the community of creative minds, and that I was part of the popular image of the Artist with a capital A.
Tousled or coloured hair, pale complexion, scarf flapping in the wind, worn-out military jacket, tippy-toe scribbled Docs Martins, and corrugated portfolio under my arm… Each generation imbues its own taste and modernizes the portfolio in its own way! Welcome to the 90s!
Using The Portfolio
From school to university until the I started in my first ever studio, my portfolios have travelled a lot.
A4, A3, A2, the size of this varies according to our needs. In this particular type of portfolio, the capacity is impressive. Most of them are for paper creations and even some hold canvas if needed.
My ritual is to write the year of purchase inside all my portfolios. My oldest one lasted 10 years before tearing at the fabric spine. I didn’t want to throw it away immediately. As a result, it ended its days as a cutting board on the corner table in my studio.
Characteristics Of The Portfolio
It is available in different versions: Annonay pattern, varnished brown, kraft, black and white, coloured, and raw without gloss laminated, allowing the cover to be personalised with a few well-mastered strokes of the marker.
- made of thick, hard cardboard
- exists in several sizes
- ribbons or elastic closures and spine
- strengthened corners
- smooth cardboard, with external or integrated handles
Over the years and with successive moves, my school or professional artist’s portfolios are always in a good place near my desk. On the older ones the cardboard has taken age, of course, and they no longer leave the studio. They are used more for my archives and memories.
Content provided by Amylee Paris
The passion of Amylee Paris, painter, consultant and author is to share her paintings between galleries, art collectors and her community. Beyond her pictorial skills and her several eBooks available online, Amylee is also recognized as one of the most influential francophone artist-entrepreneurs. She helps beginners or professional artists to optimize their artistic activity.
You can visit her colourful portfolio,follow her on Facebook and Instagram, or find all Amylee’s posts published in GreatArt online Magazineby clicking here!
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