I've been doing commissions alongside uni work since first year but much more this year. Its nothing big enough to make a living off yet and I find it quite difficult to juggle with university work too, but it has meant I can sustain myself and havent needed to get a part time job too. I hope that after I graduate I can continue this and keep building up a portfolio and working on new jobs. I understand that I probably won't be able to go straight into being a full time freelancer after uni, and thats absolutely fine. I remember at Laura Carlin's talk last Summer she talked about how she was a waitress for 4 years after graduating before she was able to be a freelance illustrator full time.
My plan is to get a part time job in Leeds (I definitely want to stay here and not move back to Warrington) and continue to do commission work in the hope that I can gradually phase out the part time job. I think there should be no pressure to be able to be a fully fledged freelance illustrator after graduating as money worries make this pretty unattainable and stressful. To have a job to keep yourself afloat and take away the anxiety of rent payment is definitely the best option for me in the beginning but I think I am driven and passionate enough to try and make it work and eventually get to the point of being a full time freelance illustrator at some point. I would love to be able to rent a studio rather than working from home, having a group rented studio would be cheaper than a solo studio and better in my opinion for the benefits of combating loneliness and isolation, and provides the ability for collaboration and motivation. Also I think the act of physically travelling to where you work rather than a desk in your bedroom provides a lot more motivation. So if money allows this is something I would love to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment