Yesterday I got asked: How do you get your first opportunities as an artist? Not by waiting around. Here’s what helped me get noticed when I was just starting out and what I’d do again if I had to start from zero today 🧵
1. Start posting before you're “ready.” I used to wait until things were perfect. Big mistake. Post your process. Post WIPs. Post breakdowns. Share what you’re learning. People don’t just want results. They want to follow a journey.
2. Use the 70/30 rule: 📚70% of your content = valuable for others (tips, insights, visuals, questions, inspiration) 💁30% = about you (your work, your projects, your services) Don’t make your page a portfolio. Make it a resource.
3. “But I’m a beginner.” So what? Documenting your learning is content. Share what tripped you up. What clicked. What you're figuring out. It helps other beginners, and it shows clients you care about growth. I got DMs just because I explained how I improved a shot.
4. Be findable. Use words people search for. If you do 3D product renders, say that clearly. If you do VFX for music videos, mention it. Your bio shouldn’t be a riddle. Your pinned post should show your best work, fast.
5. Don’t just post, interact. I used to post and ghost. Then I started replying to artists I liked. Adding thoughts under big posts. Sharing insights. That’s when people started noticing me. Be visible in the places your clients and peers are already watching.
6. Make your first “clients” up. No work? Invent work. Rebrand a product. Animate a fake trailer. Do a fake Spotify ad. Make something for the type of client you want. These passion pieces become your portfolio. That’s how I landed actual projects.
7. You don’t need a huge following. You just need the right eyes. I had under 100 followers when my work started getting picked up. One of the best things you can do early on is show up consistently where opportunity might see you.
You don’t need to be loud. You just need to be clear. Clarity > cleverness. Consistency > perfection. You don’t need to sell yourself, just show yourself. Someone out there is literally looking to hire what you already do.
If this thread helped, repost it for the artists who need to hear this. Or drop a comment with how you got your first opportunities, someone might learn from it.👊