How to Create an Online 3D Artist Portfolio (+ Examples!)

What does a 3D artist do? A 3D artist is also known as a CGI (computer-generated imagery) artist. 3D artists craft still and moving visual effects using computers. 3D artists make models of products and environments and in 3D animations. The demand for 3D artists is rising, as industries that use video games, films, TV, and virtual reality (VR) are popularized by technologies. 

Why is it important for these professional artists to build a 3D artist portfolio? A portfolio summarizes and collects the best works of an artist. It is a professional way to demonstrate technical and soft skills. Also, a 3D artist portfolio helps recruiters to understand the artist’s characteristics, styles, and inspirations.

When creating your very own portfolio, it’s a great idea to start by referencing fellow creators’ portfolios to understand what a 3D artist portfolio normally looks like. 

Junior 3D Artist Portfolio



Jeffry is a junior 3D artist who displays his 3D artist portfolio with wit and style. His main focus is characters.

3D Environment Artist Portfolio

Louis Stelfox showcases his work that was completed during his 2nd year at university. He explains the technical details of the artwork very well. In addition, he also won the Rookie Awards in 2019, which is an important milestone to display on his portfolio.  

3D Generalist Portfolio

Jack gave a very strong homepage impression. He shows the animation work directly on the homepage. His level of confidence is what we should admire. 

CG Artist Portfolio

Kjartan shows his talent in CG art by demonstrating a video. He has different categories of CG art, which makes it easier to browse through. 

3D Character Artist Portfolio

Brendon brings forth a strong impression of his character art. You can directly access his work on the front page. His style mimics that of video game characters. He also selected his best works so the website is concise. 

3D Game Artist Portfolio

Julia specializes in 3D, 2D, and illustration. Although you cannot see her artwork on the homepage, she has carefully crafted different categories of work for you to browse through, making it easy for potential clients or employers to find the type of work that is relevant to them. 

3D Animator Portfolio Website

Marco is not only a 3D animator, but he is also extremely artistic. His style conveys a preference for displaying grotesque and outlandish style. Since his portfolio has such a strong style, people are easily impressed by it. 

3D Environment Portfolio

Matty is another example of a 3D environment portfolio. He focuses on the objects of the environment. His work is well organized and neat, so people can navigate his portfolio easily. 

Freelance 3D Artist Portfolio

Alex is good at displaying his work. His short description talks about what he does and the kinds of 3D art he specializes in. 

3D Lighting Artist Portfolio

Allan’s portfolio is straightforward. He shows his 3D light work through videos and high-quality images. Displaying high-quality images is important as the audience wants to engage with details in lighting artwork. 

3D Architectural Artist Portfolio

Javier is a 3D artist that focuses on interior and furniture visualization. Javier’s work is unique because he knows his niche, so he doesn’t go beyond the categories of interior and furniture visualization. 

3D Modeler Portfolio Website

Unlike previous examples, Tsymbals Design is a collective of individuals who do 3D visualization and many others. Tsymbal design shows social proof by showcasing testimonials. Testimonials are important because clients may want to see your previous customers’ reviews. 

Entry-Level 3D Artist Portfolio

Rodrigo Garcia shows his entry-level 3D Artist portfolio by focusing on the process of his artwork. Many industry experts advise that novel artists can show their skills by demonstrating the processed artwork. 

3D Visualization Artist Portfolio

Gradinar’s portfolio focuses more on individual stories and inspirations. For instance, he has segments of texts to explain his service and specialization. It is a good approach in portfolio building when the aim is at getting more clients. 

There are four essential elements that need to be included in your 3D artist portfolio:

1. Your art works.

Showcasing your artwork to your employers can be tricky. Most employers seek to understand the technical skills used for your artwork first.

Always try to stay on specific categories or skills to gain the employers’ attention. For example, if you specialize in building characters, then focus on characters only. The best 3D artist portfolios are targeted and precise. 

2. Proper credits (if you’re adding group work).

Often, a 3D artist may collaborate with other artists. Aside from respecting the contribution of other artists who worked on the project, describing your contribution in detail can give potential clients or employers a clearer idea of your specific skills when looking at your 3D art portfolio. 

3. An “About me” section.

The “About me” section is one of the most important sections of a 3D artist portfolio. The About me section is an opportunity to elaborate on your backstory. You can talk about where you are from, what education you have received, and where you draw the inspiration from. 

Talk about your style, but also talk about your characteristics. Employers like to see your characters because they show your uniqueness. 

4. Your resume.

Include your resume in your 3D artist portfolio so employers can examine your qualifications through your working history. This would also be a great chance to show off your previous experiences, especially if you have worked with renowned clients or for renowned companies.

An essential step in creating your 3D artist portfolio website is to choose a third party platform. Here are a list of platforms you can consider when creating your online 3D artist portfolio: 

1. CakeResume

CakeResume provides a free portfolio with flexibility to do multiple edits. Some of the features include: 

• Texts
• Single images
• Grid images 
• Embed media (great for animation video!)
• Changeable color palette for backgrounds 

CakeResume is a good choice if you want to create your 3D artist portfolio websites for multiple portfolios. 

2. Artstation

ArtStation is known to be the platform that gathers 3D artists. If you want to showcase your online 3D artist portfolio to the right people in the industry, then ArtStation might be a great choice for you. 

Features of ArtStation include: 

• High-resolution images, videos, Marmoset and Sketchfab 3D scenes and more. 
• The platform gathers every professional in the art industry 
• All of your uploads will automatically update the portfolio website 

ArtStation is a decent platform if you are a creator who wants to seek out opportunities from people in the art industry. 

3. CGSociety

CGSociety is a platform for digital artists and creators. It provides a wide range of services to connect, educate, promote, and celebrate excellent digital art. 

Features of CGSociety includes:

• Workshops to learn more about digital art (3D character, environment design, motion graphics, etc). 
• Forums to connect digital artists and creators
• Gallery to see the best works (people can reward each other for different skills)

💡 Categorize your works. 

If you are a 3D artist with multiple styles and techniques, it is beneficial to categorize your works. Categorization skills can show your presentation skills, and it is easier for the audience to find your work. 

💡 Update your portfolio frequently. 

As a creator, it is important to update your 3D artist portfolio frequently. Try to include 3-5 pieces of your recent work to help the audience understand what you are working on right now. 

💡 Less is more.

A lot of artists tend to fill their 3D artist portfolio with a bunch of work. But the audience can easily get distracted when you overwhelm them with too many pieces of artwork. Focus on presenting only your best work.

💡 Display your art first. 

To grab the recruiters’ attention, display your artwork on the front page of your online 3D artist portfolio. The reason is that visitors stay on the website on average within seconds, and you want to get their attention as fast as you can.

💡 State the position you intend to fill.

If you are looking to get hired, make sure to state the position you are looking for on your online 3D artist portfolio. Recruiters will quickly understand what you are looking for.

--- Originally written by Diana Shih ---