The Problem

I have a complex loop designed for showcasing my portfolio.

Here is the criteria:

• Portfolio is powered by a custom post type called PORTFOLIO
• Each post will be assigned a class of either 'landscape' or 'portrait' so that I can serve two different featured image sizes, and it's handled by dev logic, to add visual interest to the layout on each visit
• Needs to paginate
• I have included a graphic to illustrate what I am trying to achieve
• I have variables (count, classes, customClass), that won't work inside includes unless they are added as global variables, which I know is poor practice

Details & What I Have Tried

The code below is working, but I know it is not optimal. I am seeking input on how to improve this to be more digestible.

• I understand that WP as of 5.5+ allows arguments within template files: https://make.wordpress.org/core/2020/07/17/passing-arguments-to-template-files-in-wordpress-5-5/ – so when I try passing the variables like so: <?php get_template_part('template-parts/portfolio/portfolio', 'article', $count, $classes, $customClass); ?> it renders everything but the featured image.
• I have the article element housed in an include template, as it is repurposed so often. Is this the correct/best approach?

As noted above, I am also leveraging global variables which I would like to resolve, as I understand that is a no-no.

This is my existing working loop.

//----------------------- WORK PAGE LOOP
<div class="portfolio grid__container">
  <?php 
    // IMG ORIENTATION VARIABLE
    $classes = array(
      'landscape',
      'portrait',
    );
    $count = 0;
    $paged = (get_query_var('paged') > 1) ? get_query_var('paged') : 1;
    // ARGUMENTS
    $args  = array(
      'post_type'          => 'portfolio',
      'orderby'            => 'rand',
      'posts_per_page'     => 99,
      'paged'              => $paged,
      'paged'              => 1,
    );
    // LOOP QUERY
    $portfolio_loop = new WP_Query($args);
    ?>  

  <div class="grid__row">
    <?php 
      // POWER THE LOOP
      while ($portfolio_loop->have_posts()): 
      $portfolio_loop->the_post();  
      $count++; 
      $customClass = $classes[$portfolio_loop->current_post%2];
    ?>

    <!-- ROW 1 -->
    <?php if (in_array($count, array( 1,2,3 )) && $paged == 1) :   ?>
      <div class="grid__cell grid__cell__small--12 grid__cell__medium--4">
        <?php get_template_part('template-parts/portfolio/portfolio', 'article'); ?>
      </div>
      
    <!-- ROW 2 -->
    <?php elseif ($count <= 5 && $paged ==1 ) : ?>
      <div class="grid__cell grid__cell__small--12 grid__cell__medium--6" id="count-<?php echo $count; ?>">
        <?php get_template_part('template-parts/portfolio/portfolio', 'article'); ?>
      </div>

    <!-- ROW 3 -->
    <?php elseif ($count <= 7 && $paged ==1 ) : ?>
      <div class="grid__cell grid__cell__small--12 grid__cell__medium--6">
        <?php get_template_part('template-parts/portfolio/portfolio', 'article'); ?>
      </div>

    <!-- ROW 4 -->
    <?php elseif($count > 7 && $count < 12 && $paged == 1) : ?>
      <div class="grid__cell grid__cell__small--12 grid__cell__medium--4">
        <?php get_template_part('template-parts/portfolio/portfolio', 'article'); ?>
      </div>

    <!-- ROW 5 -->
    <?php elseif($count > 11 && $count < 16 && $paged == 1) : ?>
      <div class="grid__cell grid__cell__small--12 grid__cell__medium--6" id="count-<?php echo $count; ?>">
        <?php get_template_part('template-parts/portfolio/portfolio', 'article'); ?>
      </div>

    <!-- ROW 6 -->
    <?php elseif ($count > 15 && $paged == 1) : ?>
      <div class="grid__cell grid__cell__small--12 grid__cell__medium--4" id="count-<?php echo $count; ?>">
        <?php get_template_part('template-parts/portfolio/portfolio', 'article'); ?>
      </div>

  <?php endif; ?>
  <?php endwhile; ?>

  </div>

<?php if ($portfolio_loop->max_num_pages > 1) { // check if the max number of pages is greater than 1  ?>
  <nav class="prev-next-posts">
    <div class="prev-posts-link">
      <?php echo get_next_posts_link( 'Older Articles', $portfolio_loop->max_num_pages ); // display older posts link ?>
    </div>
    <div class="next-posts-link">
      <?php echo get_previous_posts_link( 'Newer Articles' ); // display newer posts link ?>
    </div>
  </nav>
<?php } ?>

<?php wp_reset_postdata(); ?>
  
</div>

This is my include file:

<?php 
  // GLOBAL VARIABLES
  global $count;
  global $classes;
  global $customClass;
?> 

<article id="post-<?php the_ID(); ?>" <?php post_class( $customClass . $count . ' m-b-20--sm m-b-75--lg'); ?>>
  <!-- COMING SOON -->
  <?php if(has_term('coming-soon', 'portfolio_status')) { ?>
    <?php get_template_part('template-parts/portfolio/portfolio', 'soon-badge'); ?>
  <?php } else { ?>
  <?php } ?>
  <!-- COMING SOON --> TEST: <?php echo $customClass; ?>
  <figure class="lazyload portfolio__image m-b-30--md m-b-20--sm"> 
    <?php if(!has_term('coming-soon', 'portfolio_status')) { ?>
    <a href="<?php echo get_permalink(); ?>">  
    <?php } 
      if ($customClass == "landscape") {
        echo the_post_thumbnail('portfolio-landscape');
      }
      elseif ($customClass == "portrait") {
        echo the_post_thumbnail('portfolio-portrait');
      }
    ?>  
    <?php if(!has_term('coming-soon', 'portfolio_status')) { ?>
    </a>
    <?php } ?>    
  </figure>
  <span class="block meta"><?php echo strip_tags(get_the_term_list( $post->ID, 'portfolio_categories', ' ',', ')); ?></span>
  <h2 class="h4 portfolio__title">
    <span class="h4">
      <?php if(!has_term('coming-soon', 'portfolio_status')) { ?>
      <a href="<?php echo get_permalink(); ?>">  
        <?php } ?>     
          <?php the_title(); ?>
        <?php if(!has_term('coming-soon', 'portfolio_status')) { ?>
      </a>
      <?php } ?>
    </span>
  </h2>
  <div class="portfolio__excerpt m-t-10"><?php the_excerpt(); ?></div>
  <?php get_template_part('template-parts/portfolio/portfolio', 'tags'); ?>
</article>