Client work and personal projects are both integral components of a creative’s portfolio. While client projects demonstrate an artist’s ability to meet professional standards, personal projects provide a boundless opportunity for experimentation and self-expression. In addition to expanding your creative horizons, the skills learned from personal work can enhance the quality of future client work and the projects can even help attract new clients. 

Freelance designers and artists from Behance discuss the significance of personal projects, and tips for incorporating them into your professional pursuits.

Approach Personal Work Without Pressure 

Personal projects are intended to be a judgment-free space where you can express your creativity without any constraints, so there’s no need for pressure or stress. "Personal projects are like your soul's home,” says 3D artist Danny Ivan. “They allow you to showcase what truly interests and excites you, providing inspiration and motivation for continuing your work.”

Danny pursues his personal projects during break or slow periods in his freelance work. His advice for staying consistent and motivated is to approach personal work with an ease of mind. “I keep it healthy without pressure or rush; it is more about a flow or idea, not a specific demand.”

Allowing himself to pursue creative interests without pressure has paid off for Danny. When he became fascinated with creating glass textures in 3D, he visited Murano Island in Italy to see how real glass sculptures were made. Abstract glassy textures have since then become a trend in technology imagery, and Danny had exactly the type of work that technology companies wanted to commission and license. “I felt lucky to be in the right time and place for tech brands to use my work.”

Melted Glass by Danny Ivan

Find Your Best Time 

Finding a schedule that works for you is crucial whether you’re working on personal projects or client work. “I understand that there are times when creativity is stronger, and other times when the capacity for execution is higher,” says designer and illustrator Denis Freitas. These may be the same times for you, or may occur at different times in the day. 

For Denis, the morning is his most creative time, and the afternoon is when he is most productive, so he structures his day accordingly to make the most of his strengths. “I usually wake up a few hours earlier to dedicate myself to personal projects, typically for one to two hours. After that, I move on to commercial projects.” 

Even if you’re not able to follow this schedule 100% of the time, having a guideline that optimizes your strengths throughout the day will have a positive impact on your productivity. “Although deadlines sometimes do not allow this routine to work perfectly, when I can follow it as planned, personal projects make my day better and my commercial work more complete,” reflects Denis.

Various Illustrations 2023 — 2024 by Denis Freitas

Make it a Habit 

As with any habit, consistency is key. For Visual artist Sebastian Cestaro, personal projects are a way for him to stay in constant learning. “Working on personal projects is important because it allows me to experiment and develop new ideas. Everything that arises when I explore new ways of expression, I apply to client work.”

Sebastian recognized the importance of consistency, and identified his most productive hours to make the most of his creativity. “My best times to work are in the morning and late afternoon to evening, those are the moments when I'm most focused. I made it a habit and it works for me.” 

Like Denis, prioritization has helped Sebastian get the most out of his personal projects. “I organize myself by setting priorities, which involves focusing on what’s important and avoiding all kinds of distractions,” he shares. “Once I learned to focus and not waste time, the change was incredible.”

This is Random #8 - Personal Project by Sebastian Cestaro

Give Yourself A Break 

Finding time for both personal and client work can be a challenge and overextending yourself means risking burnout. “A couple of years ago I was not able to find this balance and it unfortunately led to a burnout — a typical story,” recalls illustrator Olga Skomorokhova. Olga struggled to find motivation and balance in her work, finding herself rushing to meet deadlines for some projects and too engrossed in other projects. 

To avoid recurring burnout, Olga set boundaries. “Currently I am devoting at least one hour a day for personal projects during weekdays and as much as I want during weekends as I am not working on commissions on the days off.” 

She also shows herself kindness and indulges in meaningful breaks to fully unplug when she needs it: “Sometimes I don’t have energy and motivation to work on something personal and then I allow myself to be lazy for some period. I believe that your body and mind will tell you when you’re ready.”

Illustrations 2020 by Olga Skomorokhova

Showcase Your Work

One of the unexpected joys of personal projects is that they can lead to client projects. Danny’s 3D exploration caught the eyes of technology companies. Olga created illustrations of pickles for her mother who enjoyed making pickles (the very first project she shared to Behance), and it’s since led to several commissions. 

Pickled veggies by Olga Skomorokhova

Upload your personal work to Behance and get your talent seen by millions of creative professionals. Be sure to turn on the Hire Me feature in your profile to let visitors know that you’re open to new opportunities. You can also list a Creative Service to advertise specific projects that you’re available for. 

Learn more about how to get hired on Behance.