class Portfolio_model extends CI_Model {

    public function get_items() {
        $this->db->select('name, description, image');
        $this->db->order_by('date', 'DESC');
        $q = $this->db->get('tablename'); // your tablename here
        if ($q->num_rows() > 0) {
            return $q->result();
        } else {
            return null;
        }
    }

}

class Portfolio extends CI_Controller {
    public function index() {
        $this->load->helper('html');
        $this->load->model('portfolio_model');
        $data['items'] = $this->portfolio_model->get_items();
        $this->load->view('portfolio', $data);
    }
}

if (!is_null($items)) {
    foreach ($items as $item) {
        echo $item->name . '<br>';
        echo $item->description . '<br>';
        echo 'Image src: ' . base_url() . $item->image . '<br>';  // might need slash after base_url, don't remember
        echo img($item->image);
    }
} else {
    echo 'No items found!';
}