Your first client… you!

Build a portfolio of self-initiated work to get your career started.

I built my early career on self-initiated work by being my own client. I simply worked out the kind of work I wanted to do and filled my early website with that kind of creative. Editorial illustration, animation, comics and even illustrative packaging design. I can’t emphasise enough how crucial it was for developing my style, showcasing my skills, passion, and ultimately attracting real clients.

Getting Started

Realising the power of self initiated projects comes firstly from knowing yourself and exploring what your passions and interests are. A good place to start is by looking at gaps in your portfolio and then use those holes as a springboard to set yourself a project. So look at what’s missing, make a list and then get started with your next project. Whether it’s editorial illustration, illustration for brand… whatever it is, put it down. For me initially, it was editorial illustration and I used to find articles that interested me from different news outlets and then I would illustrate them. Set goals too. I often do 30 day challenges, like my 30 Days of Positive Vibes series, where I illustrated a positive quote or idea every day for 30 days.

Also, a big thing for me in my work is storytelling with visual metaphors. Years ago I even did a 100 days project to help hone my skills here where I illustrated 100 idioms over 100 days. An idiom is a phrase that has a figurative meaning that's different from the literal meaning of the words. Idioms are already quite playful so it gave me the perfect opportunity to play visually with the figurative meaning and the meaning of the words.

These projects are always fun and even if work doesn’t necessarily come from them I feel that they’re still worth doing and showing off because of the skills you’re teaching yourself.

Also, there’s a focus that comes with these kinds of projects and enables you to have a freedom also, exploring your unique style and creative expression. Particularly with my positive work, it enabled me to also share my unique voice as they were often quite personal.

Don’t forget discipline and make sure you're motivated too. 30 days is ok, but 100 days work can require a little bit more determination. If you’re passionate though, you’ll find the mojo to carry out the work.

Promotion

As with anything self-initiated, it’s a bit of a stab in the dark whether you’ll get any work from it. If you do, that’s great. If you don’t, then at least you’ve learned some new skills along the way. Commissions or not, there’s always something that can be taken away from these projects.

Your website is a great place to start promoting your projects. I have a Squarespace site, it’s simple to use and has many options for displaying your work from gallery pages to portfolio template options too. Also, if you have a mailing list, start spreading the word to your subscribers. No subscribers? Then why not reach out to creative directors and companies you’d like to work with? A simple LinkedIn search / stalk can help you find out some names and sometimes contacts too.

Social media is also great. I used to get a lot of traction and interest via Instagram but in recent years this has dipped. Still, it’s my main sharing platform along with LinkedIn. I am beginning to look into Pinterest soon. Pinterest is a whole other article, but for now I say it might be worth exploring.

Beyond your website, newsletters and posting on social media, why not try sharing it with an online creative news outlet? With my positive vibes illustrations, I actually sent it out to the online creative magazine, Creative Boom who did a feature back in 2020. Just ask, I say as you never know what might come of it.

Embrace you and explore

For me, these self-initiated creative projects are more than just portfolio builders. They are a journey into creative discovery, a chance to refine your style and skill set and an opportunity to show off your creative voice and what you’re made of. By embarking on these projects you’re captain of your own ship and truly doing the work you want to be known for thus building a body of work you are proud of. So embrace you, the client, and see where your creative endeavors can take you.

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Thanks for reading

Pete :)