“My art journey started when I was 13,” recalls designer and digital artist Halit Benli. “At that time, I was simply drawing and painting my surroundings with basic drawing knowledge. Then I took a step towards studying painting in a fine arts high school with the support of my teacher.”

It wasn’t until Halit went on to university that he discovered graphic design as a discipline, a moment he describes as life-changing. “It was a completely different area than what I was familiar with, and there were many struggles at the beginning,” Halit shares.

Although he enjoyed the design process, Halit felt like something was missing. “I always wanted to find a way to create and express my feelings,” he explains. 

Autoportrait by Halit Benli

Halit began experimenting with different art forms to find his creative voice. His eureka moment came when he traveled to Poland with the Erasmus Program. “I gained a totally different perspective on life, art, and design. I learned to think and see more visually and to create powerful artworks, which led me to create more experimental works. I was able to rediscover myself.”

Psychedelic Horizons: Sunlit Realms by Halit Benli

Halit challenged himself to create art every day for over a year to help him develop his personal style. “I experimented with new software, techniques, tools, and everything I could,” he recalls. “I even got my first freelance job on Behance at the beginning of it, which encouraged me to continue!” 

Today, Halit calls himself an experimental digital artist. “The works I create are generally composed of reflections from the world I create inside my mind,” he explains. “Every day, by producing a piece, I try to expand the reality of this abstract world a little more. The works are meticulously crafted with layers, and the deeper you delve, the more intricacies you can discover, much like the world we live in.”

First Round of My Everyday Challenge by Halit Benli

Halit has been a Behance member since 2017. “Initially, it was just an art platform where I uploaded my works to have them on the internet, but it has since become my main portfolio. I am now trying to update my works more frequently, and this process allows me to showcase my style to people and potential clients on Behance.” 

In addition to using Behance as his portfolio, Halit has been able to expand his network and find new clients through the platform. “Most of the time, clients reach out to me through my services or direct inquiries on Behance.”

Halit is no stranger to freelancing, but he recently decided to pursue it full-time. A crucial step Halit took as a part of that transition was making sure that he had financial stability. “Having enough money saved up for five or six months can alleviate financial worries and anxieties about finding freelance work. This has been one of the biggest challenges for me before starting full-time freelancing, and having financial stability can make the transition smoother.”

Mindscapes: A Psychedelic Exploration by Halit Benli

Over the years, he’s picked up many valuable lessons about working with clients as well. “I always listen to the clients, understand what they ask for and need, and then combine these requirements with my art vision,” he shares. 

One mistake he learned the hard way was jumping into client projects without fully understanding the client or the scope of the work. “Sometimes, even if a project sounds cool, it might not be a good match,” says Halit. 

Divine Watch by Halit Benli

Halit’s unique vision and his commitment to his craft has helped him build a network of returning clients. He often creates work beyond the ask to fully explore the possibilities and find the right solution. 

“When I start a project and if I'm having fun, I like to see a few more options for myself. So I don't mind if I create one or five; it doesn't matter as long as I'm enjoying it. While doing this, I've realized customers notice that I'm deeply invested in the project."

NO/DELTA Psy-Pattern Series by Halit Benli

When Halit was commissioned to create an album cover and two to three accompanying looping animations for NO/DELTA, he ended up creating over 15 variations. “I was having fun and couldn't stop myself,” he reflects. 

He shared the additional variations with the client and gave them the option to pay for the additional work, or to keep the assets for free. "They ended up paying extra for my work. I realized people like this kind of approach,” says Halit. 

A Visual Odyssey of Emotions by Halit Benli

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