The art work of graphic designers, digital videographers and photographers will most likely already be in digital form. However, analog artwork such as paintings, film photography and sculptures will need to be represented on a digital file. To begin, place the artwork in a room with diffused, natural light so that the inherent properties of the piece show through, and so that the coloring is accurate.
Take a digital photo of the piece. Repeat this as many times as needed to get a quality image. Continue this process until all of the artwork has been photographed.
If the art is primarily two-dimensional, like photographs or small paintings, a scanner can also be used to capture digital images of the artwork. Scan each piece until all of the artwork is represented in digital form.
Artists can use several online services, like Behance and Carbonmade, to showcase their work. Most are free or very inexpensive. Any of the blogging platforms can be formatted to host an artist's portfolio as well. Research the platform that best suits the artwork, and follow the instructions on the website to create a profile.
Once the profile is created, the artist can then begin uploading the digital images of the artwork that were created earlier. The online portfolio services allow artists to highlight certain pieces, and group them into collections.
After the artist has uploaded and organized the art, it is time to publicize the portfolio. The purpose of the portfolio will not be fulfilled unless the community at large sees it. One way artists can make this happen is to link the portfolio to any existing social media platforms in which they already participate.
Enter a piece from the portfolio, or the entire portfolio, in a contest to increase visibility. A quick search of the Web will provide many opportunities for artists to enter their art into an online contest. Even if the artist does not win a prize, her art is still visible as traffic is driven to the site to view the contestants' entries.
Keep the electronic portfolio current by adding new artwork as it is produced. Also, occasionally rotate the collection to highlight different themes so that it always appears to be evolving.