How to generate a list of field items using the field item name programmatically in Drupal 7?
You're pretty much on the right track. Try something like:

function blocks_preprocess_node(&amp;$vars) {
  $node = $vars['node'];
  if ($node-&gt;type == 'portfolio') {
    $portfolios = field_get_items('node', $node, 'field_portfolio_description');
    $items = array();
    foreach ($portfolios as $folio) {
      $items['data'] = $folio['value'];
    }
    $vars['description'] = theme('item_list', array('items' =&gt; $items));
  }
}


Adding stuff to nodes like this is maybe better in hook_node_view() in a custom Module. Because you're altering the node's content before its shown (and its adding derived content to the node, not just changing some markup at the theme layer).

Code is untested and just Help. (but should mostly work)

Resources


theme_item_list function docs
field_get_items function docs
alternatively create a "Code Field" using Display suite to encapsulate this custom code field to a view_mode (aka, magic). See this tutorial on youtube on DS and custom fields.