Well my dear chums, off we go! The life of a jobbing freelancer is a sorry tale of great times of famine or feast. You may have a great commission on the go or if you're really lucky, more than one at the same time (although of course this can lead to trouble, afterall, you've only got one pair of hands!) When you have nothing 'official' on, then that is the time to calmly panic. I find the worst part of freelancing is the great balancing act, you must promote yourself as much as possible, emailing companies, updating your sites, checking the various art job webs and of course, producing more samples. You do this with the aim of getting a commission, you may get one, so then, all of this side of your business technically stops so you can concentrate on the brief for your latest job, you do said job and then the whole process starts again! In an ideal world, this would be a fluid transaction, but in reality it never seems to fall like that. For example, last year I had two commissions on the go at once (plus a third small regular one as well) I must have averaged about 4 hours sleep a day if I was lucky, my family nearly forgot who I was and I started to go 'Photoshop Blind'...(you start seeing the real world like your PS work area and wonder what button you have to click to change your trousers!) It was worth it, as that is my choosen job, but just as soon as you think you've made it, it all slows down to a grinding halt. I'm at that stage right now, I've been busy creating fresh greetings card stock to send off and am awaiting various companies replies with baited breath. I know I'm on a countdown again, the money only lasts so long until a new commission, you always have that tiny fear in the back of your mind 'what if nothing else comes through?'....you just have to get on with it and have faith in yourself!
Above is my very latest stock card, I've had a thumbnail sketch of this one for a while now and was eager to do a Tardis (nerd I know but sue me!) I'm pretty chuffed with it! Let's hope it sells!
15 comments:
I think that the balancing act is the biggest part of freelancing, no matter how good you are at the actual illustrations, you need to be able to work under pressure, mad hours, and then not crumble under the thought of 'will I ever have work again?' the next day. It's crazy really, but maybe thats just what we are!!
Thanks for showing us your new illo, fab work as usual Goth, hope it finds a profitable new home soon.
Penny.
Cheers Penny! Don't forget to check out Pennys work everyone....in links section, Naturalattril and Penny's Illustrations.
ok, ok, enough of the promo, sounds like you might be regreting your paintbrushes at dawn challenge?!
P.
(seriously though, ta for the link)
Hi Goth, great new blog and thanks for the links. Well done on pestering George to upload more work too!
cool design Goth and can identify with lots of what you've said-go on the freelancers! :0))
A blog at last eh! ;0)
I shall link to thee!
I'm on the 3 job juggling act at the moment. My husband will soon be contemplating divorce because I keep saying "I CANT take a holiday I HAVE to work - all the time - yes weekends too - no I can't paint faster".
I also feel guilty turning down jobs because I only have one set of hands - how stupid is that (not turning them down for shit money tho... no guilt there).
ha ha! I really like the card!
Also, you've just described my life in your post. I'm glad I'm not alone!
About flippin' time you stood on your own two, (boot clad), feet!
And thanks for such an uplifting post;¬) I'm in a strange place at the moment myself.
Maybe one day I'll wake up and find that in reality I'm a successful breast augmenting plastic surgeon to the stars. And I don't mean for the likes of Simon Cowell! :¬)
I'll keep popping by to see if I can leach any good promotional ideas off you;¬)
Great Post Mr Goth, always nice to hear other artists experiances especially the pitfalls and aspirations. I'll look forward to updates and i'll put yeah in the sticky links next time I update
Great card!!
Is that fat bloke with the white beard the next Doctor Who then or what ?!?!
Nice work Gordon!
Great card Goth, sure to be popular.
I can relate to all you say in this post, and I am just feeling human again after a particularly long stint of working 14hr days, every day.
Been rethinking my own blog thing too... mine is all but dead so don't bother visiting. It never really got off the ground. I may make a totally fresh start...
Thanks for all the comments everyone!
This is brilliant. Love it! Anyway, if you're a nerd, I am too. Love Dr. Who.
Don't worry, with cards like this, new commissions can't be far away!
Great gag! Nice art work! I shall send them to all my Dr Who-fan friends this coming Christmas...
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