“I started freelancing when I realized that my Behance inbox, which once was filled with messages I assumed were scams, was actually full of real inquiries from potential clients,” shares illustrator Lâm Tùng Nguyễn, how goes by Tung Nam on Behance. 

Lam grew up in Hanoi surrounded by nature thanks to his father, a gardener. “That early connection with plants and quiet landscapes shaped my artistic sensibility from a young age.”

After studying art, Lam joined a publishing house, where he spent a decade designing book covers and creating visual identities for Vietnamese editions of works by renowned authors including Matt Haig, Haruki Murakami, and Kawabata Yasunari. “This experience helped me develop both technical skills and a deep understanding of the connection between image and text,” shares Lam. 

Anne of Green Gables Boxset by Tùng Nâm

When Lam first discovered Behance, it felt like an “endless gallery of creativity.” He quickly saw the opportunity to build his portfolio there: “Posting my work there gave me the exposure I needed to connect with potential clients and grow professionally.”

Lam’s big break came when his work was featured in the Best of Behance gallery. “That moment gave me a huge boost of confidence and helped me finally let go of a lot of self-doubt I’d carried,” he explains. “It made me believe in my artistic voice and trust my instincts more. Since then, it’s truly changed the way I draw, not just technically, but emotionally as well.” 

Where Words Wander by Tung Nam and Pham Ngoc Diep

Getting featured wasn’t just validation—it also led to his first freelance gig: “My first real freelance client came shortly after I received my second Best of Behance feature, for my personal project Solitude of a City.” 

“That project seemed to strike a nostalgic chord with people, and it brought in more attention than I expected,” Lam shares. After the feature, Lam received multiple inquiries from clients specifically looking for winter-themed visuals, which lead to several freelance projects including illustrations for a website, and seasonal postcards.

“[The feature] gave me the confidence to take the leap and respond,” recalls Lam. From there, I started saying yes to more opportunities, and slowly, freelancing became a new path for me.”

Solitude of a City by Tung Nam

Supercharging His Career on Behance

“My experience working with clients through Behance has been genuinely great,” shares Lam. 
“Since they reach out to me directly through my art, they already understand and trust my artistic voice, which makes the whole process feel smooth and creatively satisfying.”

Another feature that sets Behance apart from other freelance platforms is the seamless workflow and built-in protection: “The platform offers multiple inquiry and payment options, including upfront payments, which helps protect artists from being scammed or ghosted.”

Vintage Poster Collection vol. 3 by Tung Nam

Lam upgraded to Behance Pro last year and has used the premium features to further grow his career. He’s saved on platform fees on the 18 projects he’s completed on Behance, and customized his profile to better curate his work. “The ability to organize my work into different categories has helped me present my projects more clearly and professionally,” he says. 

Lam also leverages Advanced Analytics to refine his portfolio. “The insights feature has been especially valuable, it shows me how people are finding my work and gives hints on which keywords to use to attract more viewers. That kind of data helps me tailor my projects each time for better visibility.”

An encounter by Tung Nam

How to Get Featured on Behance

Getting featured on Behance is more than just a badge of honor — it opens doors to new opportunities. “Being featured on Behance can significantly boost your exposure and bring in new clients,” says Lam. We asked him to share his best tips for catching the eye of Behance curators.

1. Tell Your Unique Story 

Think of each Behance project as your canvas to tell a story. “When I create a Behance project, I’m always thinking about what story I want to tell and what kind of emotions I want the viewer to feel at first glance,” Lam explains.

Lam’s advice is to curate your work with intention. Lam usually shares between 5–10 illustrations per project, mixing in one or two process shots to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look — without overloading them with technical details.  

Most importantly, find and nurture your creative voice. “Developing your own style helps you stand out and attract the right kind of clients who are drawn to your work.”

Endangered Species Stamp Collection by Tung Nam

2. Study Featured Projects 

If you haven’t been featured yet, you have a great opportunity for learning. “If you don’t get featured right away, study the projects that do,” Lam advises. “Learn what makes them stand out and what you might be missing.” 

Take note of how featured projects are structured, what kind and quality of visuals included, and how storytelling is integrated into the presentation. Then, reflect on what you can apply to your own projects. 

White is the bluest color by Tùng Nâm

3. Don’t Give Up 

Here’s the hard truth: success on Behance rarely happens overnight. “It took me nine years to get my first Best of Behance feature,” Lam shares. “One day I woke up and saw that tiny blue Behance ribbon on my site. I literally screamed so loud in my room!” 

“Patience and persistence are key,” Lam says. His consistency — uploading work consistently,  showing progress and refining his style — has paid off. Nam’s work has been featured over 20 times across multiple galleries, including Illustration, Graphic Design, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Best of Behance.

A Literary Garden by Tùng Nâm

Lam’s journey is a reminder that showing up, growing your craft, and sharing your work with the world are the true building blocks of creative success. As he puts it: “Keep creating, keep sharing, find what you’re missing and trust that your moment will come.”

See more work by Lam and hire him for freelance projects on Behance.