Pursuing Passion Projects: Models for Creative Expression and Self-promotion
We may feel pressed for time in our daily lives. But dedicating time to pursue a passion project may be one of the best ways to improve your visibility as a creative solopreneur. At the core of passion project is an experiment in creative expression. What will you invent? What are you inspired to create from your interests and causes? What creative ambitions do you have to stretch your creative skills and break boundaries?
Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you’re passionate about something, then you’re more willing to take risks. — Yo-Yo Ma
There are two big reasons to pursue a passion project strategically. The first is to get out of a creative rut. When was the last time you truly challenged yourself and found new outlets for creative expression? The second is to bravely share your passion project with an audience. Interacting with an audience may provide additional dividends like boosting your exposure and attracting clients. The benefits of pursuing a passion project are two-fold: you find a mode for creative expression that advances your career and enhances your personal brand.
Where to begin? Explore Models
Begin with reviewing passion projects online to identify helpful guidelines or a framework to launch your own. Here’s a shortcut to some projects that may serve as a model and eventual jumping off point. The first is Filip Peraic’s project James Harden Illustrated. He created over 30 portraits of NBA basketball player James Harden. The portraits are stunning and surprising and showcase Peraic’s creativity to return to his subject again and again from a new point of view from materials like flowers, olive oil and human hair to emulating the visual styles of famous artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Milton Glaser.
The second model is lettering artist and author Jessica Hische’s Daily Drop Cap project. She designed multiple alphabet collections focusing on initial caps. At the time she was working on the daily drop cap project she posted daily. The site is still live today for inspiration and instructions for how to use and license her work. Individuals are free to use her designs for non-commercial purposes. Her stated cause is to help people make their personal websites and blogs appear more beautiful. Essentially, because of her generosity her work spreads and her brand grows attracting the attention of publishers and packaging companies.
The third model is a poster-a-day project from designer Travis Kane. Writer Emily Gosling profiled the designer and his passion project for AIGA’s Eye on Design. She wrote: “The poster-a-day project also led to freelance commissions, mainly across music and fashion (he’s created sleeves for German techno artist Klangkuenstler, for instance). Clients come to him for his style alone, giving him the freedom to create the work he loves, but now, for cash.” Moreover, Kane can sell his posters directly to fans. What initially started as creative outlet also provides another revenue stream on the side.
Helpful Guidelines
What underpins the making of a remarkable project? A remarkable project entertains and delights its audience. Viewers will experience awe, empathy or amusement from interacting with the content. Additionally, they may be motivated to share the experience with people in their networks.
Here are some guidelines to consider when you begin your passion project.
Set a project goal.
Are you seeking to stretch your skills? Do you wish to reconnect with your sense of play and creativity? Are you seeking to generate awareness for an interest or cause?
Set your project parameters or constraints.
For example, Peraic limited himself to making portraits of James Harden in a passion project. This constraint drove him to create something new from a familiar form again and again. It became a way to evoke and showcase his creativity. Or consider, Jessica Hische’s daily drop cap project. There are only 26 letters in the alphabet. So she made several alphabets in different themes and styles overall.
Commitment to a project timeline.
Will you create over 30 days, 90 day, 100 days or longer?
Give yourself a deadline.
Decide on the frequency of your posts. Will you post daily? Weekly? Other?
Maintain your momentum to build a body of work you’re proud of.
Make creating for your project a regular practice and habit. Or consider making a game out of the project. Challenge yourself to maintain your sequence and publishing schedule. No excuses.
Decide where you want to show up.
Which online platform is the best fit for you to share your work and connect with others? Where is the audience you wish to connect with hanging out?
Consider how you want to launch your project.
How will you announce the project? How will you help your audience track your progress?
Take stock of your project and reflect on the experience.
What did you learn and experience? How did you grow? What will you do with this body of work? Continue to expand it? Offer works for sale? Start something new? What’s next?
Final Thoughts
Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is the result of good work habits. — Twyla Tharp