freelancing is definitely a different beast for everyone, but also not for everyone. as someone who's juggling a full time job as a graphic designer, a freelance designer, and trying to finish my thesis in the midst of all this, it's important to also figure out when to say no or turn down jobs for the sake of your own mental and emotional health. that kind of neglect can lead to burnout, so everyone make sure to take care of yourself! (i'm also a bit older than sara and have dragged my butt through similar undergrad workloads... definitely not a workload i'd ever try to manage again haha)

@KreativeHogwartsLegacyGUIDES

3 жыл бұрын

i dont see how you do it all. being a freelancer is already really hard

@verusalka

3 жыл бұрын

@@KreativeHogwartsLegacyGUIDES well, I guess the only thing I got going for me is I don't have a social life thanks to covid haha

I’m also a freelancer and i’ve been accepting more commissions than i can handle to be able to support myself, and this month i tried to take a break and focused on my personal art or stuff i really want to work on. I made 3 orignal paintings and put them up for sale, 2 paintings got sold in 2 days! It’s really amazing how taking a break and doing what you really love and being able to earn while doing it feels really rewarding!

@phukhangphan7533

3 жыл бұрын

Which site did you put them up for sale, I really wanna try selling some of my artworks.

@NikNakz

3 жыл бұрын

@@phukhangphan7533 I have a Facebook page, you can check my channel and you can find the link on my videos, on the description. 😊

@phukhangphan7533

3 жыл бұрын

@@NikNakz Thanks

@ani_n01

3 жыл бұрын

@@NikNakz the link doesn't work, what's the name of the page

@NikNakz

3 жыл бұрын

@@ani_n01 It's Niknakz 😊

Freelancing is really rewarding, but a different beast than a regular job. I am lucky enough to have 2 consistent clients and make a steady income, but I do sacrifice a lot of my time to manage everything. There is not shutting off or distancing yourself from work because it is a full-time thing. I didn’t jump into freelance right away, I’ve worked at multiple companies for 7 years, freelanced on the side and built freelance relationships. While this is a tougher way to work, I am much happier and enjoy what I do.

I'm a Freelance or contractor for a toy company and its seriously insane how fast you gotta work. this job is constantly in rush hour mode. also no one told me at first how many apps you gotta download in order to keep in contact haha

I wanna see your realistic schedule as a freelancer

@sophiedarnell467

2 жыл бұрын

agree I actually think it would be helpful to see an example of someone's schedule as an artist freelancer, but also someone who struggles w/ mental health and how they juggle things whilst also trying to accommodate for mental health things as well which is something im currently struggling w atm.

Damn your sched is so hectic, bruh I hope you're still takin care of yourself man

Being a university student is not good for anyone mentally 🥲 I'm a university student too and art has helped me cope mentally and emotionally. But I would want to be a freelancer to help with income 🥲 thank you for this

Yes please do a part 2. Struggling artist is real for me 😂😭

i grew up with a freelancing single mother. as her work field was in marketing research and this was pre-online questionnaire era, busy months mean she'd be travelling to other cities or provinces for a period of time, only coming back home to then leave again after few days. meanwhile "chill" months mean scrambling to find other gigs. nearing retirements she was already at the top of her game and one gig could financially support us for maybe a quarter. but holy shit all the grind that led to that point was extremely gruelling. i've been trying to do some freelance gigs as well as early as high school and in all honesty idfk how she managed it, lmao.

Here's the best news. I'm a horrible artist but I have more clients than I know what to do with. Mostly I do design for label and POS displays that comply with USDA regulations, but my current clients are jerky, eggs, nuts and coffee companies. The jobs range from video, cartooning, artwork, designs... anything. It never gets dull and I've been able to pick and choose what I want to do. The money is out there in the industry. Especially in design. I've never had to market myself or look for clients and charge a standard $75 per hour... been very lucky.

loved all of this

This is fantastic advice. I've been considering freelancing so I really appreciate your POV.

I really like your portrait and transparency on the struggle to get to where you wanted it to be. It's hard to create, especially when you get burnt out.

Yay a new video

yesss pls make a part two, this is so interesting to hear! *-*

Ty for this, I'm graduating soon so I think this gave a lot of insight on this career path 🥺👉👈

Thank so much for this!

This was very informative and helpful, and i would love a part two. Your art is so beautiful and you’re work ethic is inspiring.

Beautiful Sara as always such a huge inspiration! much love

You always upload a video on topics near the time I'm thinking about them, your power 😌💅✨

I'd be really interested in a part 2 of this! thanks for being so honest here^^

thank you so much for this video! i just accepted my first design freelance job working for a fairly large company so this really helps with keeping myself accountable and working with deadlines. 💖

Thank you for sharing these tips and for being honest with us. It's what i always love about you sara 💖 i hope you are taking care of yourself and not putting too much burden on yourself. 🤗😌

100% agree. To get ahead in your career, you really have to stay prioritized and focused. In the end it will be worth it. Thank you for a great video!

omg i literally just love your art so much!!! and you’re definitely right about working with clients you don’t want. my dad uses the same philosophy, if it’s a job he really doesn’t want to do, he raises the price and hey if they say no, you don’t have to do it🤷‍♀️ but if they do accept then you make bank!!

I think this is my favorite piece so far

Thanks for the video! I've just started freelance work myself and this was helpful. Looking forward to any other videos you do on the topic. 🙂

thank you for the honest truth on this. I had watched this one in combine w ergo josh's advice from yesterday and I recently went on a bing watch on his vids this week. It's nice to here from just diff perspectives from diff types of artists. All are valid as well which is something people who want to do art as a freelance that they need to consider because just because they may say something that they don't agree w/ doesn't mean it isn't factual it's literally just their own experience and that they're trying to help others which is what your doing here and you did a very. nice job. another helpful vid adding to the collection of artists' advice type of vids I watch and yes I would love to see a part 2!!!

Yes!! Do the part 2 please

Thank you for your honesty, it helps to know I'm not alone with this struggles :) It's a wonderful painting!

Great video! A part 2 would be really awesome!

Thanks for the honesty in this video. I thought that was very good.

This was super helpful, thank you! I’ve been preparing to open up my commissions so I’ve been doing research and I would absolutely love to hear more freelancing tips and advice from you!

Please do a part 2, I'm looking into being a freelancer going forward and this really helped!!!

Nice video again 🌸

tysm for this! i'd love a part 2

Thank you so much for this! I recently started to get into commissioning and freelancing!

This was very helpful, thank you so much for the video! I've always heard that freelance work can be super hectic... take care of your self!

I feel so understood ahah part 2 pleasseee!

Very insightful, it's very scary for someone who is very new and doesn't even have skills yet to start freelancing to even think about it, although I do want to try some day, would love to hear about it more in a part 2

Part 2 please. Thanks. Great video.

I’d love to hear how to handle taxes with a W2 (a normal salary job) and how tipping would work! There’s a website called ‘ko-fi’ that’s the same as Patreon, just allowing someone to do a one time tip, and I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the taxes side of it all. Love that you posted this! 💛

@daniel-zh9nj6yn6y

3 жыл бұрын

I think those tips can be considered donations, but I'm not an accountant.

would love a part 2 !

yeah freelancing does take a toll on family and just life stuff in general, it can be hard but rewarding since you are doing what you want. just have to watch for burnout and other problems that might show up. I know my worth when it comes to art and do charge based on my skills, (having a degree helps but is not always necessary) but yes if it was a certain job/company I wanted to I would charge accordingly. and yes if it was a difficult customer and a project I really don't like, they would be charged more lol

I would love a part two 🥺👉🏻👈🏻

Yes I loved this! I would love a part 2. I have been working freelance for the past year and have struggled with self management the most, but Im making progress on it every day. I was wondering if you had any advice on transitioning from individual client work to company work. I feel a bit lost with what options there are and how I can secure a position, what work even is there, and how can I best represent myself to these companies. Thank you!

I work as an inhouse art lead and this advice sara gives also applies to any job that isn't freelancing. And please do yourself a favor and anytime you feel the dread of any task, take a strol on the parkl or clear your mind asap.

thanks for sharing that you cried lol I get so frustrated sometimes too!

oh university. I refuse to do energy drinks for you. I feel like crap if i don't sleep, have a really hard time staying awake which, is probably good in the long run. Photography, traditional printing (2d), crafting (3d), multimedia/digital media, painting and sculpture, visual communication, drawing, modern art history, all these just 2nd year. 1st year illustration, and animation minus printing and crafting. Still hoping one day the whole education system gets a drastic fix

This painting is amawing.

I'm an illustration major with a game art minor and I'm honestly having trouble keeping up with my freelance work in school. Some of my classes require more work than others and at the end of the day I'm not left with much time to work on my portfolio or commissioned illustrations for income. A part of it IS about motivation and I wish I could kick myself into productivity more effectively lol. I hope when I graduate I can find a permanent, more regular job because I honestly think that'll help me.

I pushed myself too hard this month cuz I gotta pay the bills for next month and so I can buy a certain equipment goal. But now that I've experienced doing too much it's really2 hard and tiring😅. So after the last one I'll take a break for awhile.❤️ My prices aren't that high yet too since I just started last june. But maybe next year hopefully...my drawings are good enough for higher prices.

can you make a video explaining how you colour your drawings? (not greyscale) it would be very helpful!!!!! thank you!!!!

I no longer freelance but what I found then and now working in house, is modifying your art style so that you can work faster. It can't be help that they have a budget and you have bills to pay.

@charlottemartell9045

3 жыл бұрын

Oh gosh, this is something I'm learning right now as a freelancer, haha. I tend to do too many details and overshoot the amount of time I estimated(and thus earning less per hour than I intend). I think it's time to adjust my style, haha.

Hey Sara! I'm an illustrator who is currently working a 9-5 lab job for a few Orthodontists. I want to begin transitioning to fulltime freelancer. In the next video, can you discuss efficient and affective strategies for building a portfolio and acquiring work in the beginning of a freelance career? More of these videos would be very very relevant to many of us, and I would really appreciate your help. Thanks! -Christopher Fox

how to get clients and sponsers. and thank you for ur video

What canvas sizes do you normally use, if you don't mind me asking?

@peachradvan5807

3 жыл бұрын

It's 5 inches wide by 6 and 3/4 inches tall, there are rulers along the edges of the program showing you scale :)

There is a perception out there that freelancing/entrepreneurship is preferable to 9-5 jobs but those people have also never had to discipline themselves to make that work. I've got my toe in a lot of creative projects/fields and I highly disagree. As much as I love the type of work I'm doing, I'd take a steady 9-5 given the choice. Unless you're wildly successful (which takes all that miserable grinding to achieve) *stability* is rarely part of the equation.

Lo que es tener talento xd💓

Will this be available as a print?

🍪

Hiya I used to have this extremely realistic art style and now I dont remember how to draw bodies and I'm confused on what my style is. If you don't mind just to help me and other struggling artists, could you do a body tutorial. Remember, there is no pressure, take your time...

Can anyone give me some advice on landing my first clients? Like good platforms or places to request or find commissions? I have a presence on most of the typical platforms, but it will take a while to make myself substantially "known". I definitely have the capability (not a new or inexperienced artist... just recently have decided science and academia are no longer for me and going back to my dream of making my own comic series and being a freelance illustrator/ painter). Not trying to be vain or boastful, just letting you know my scenario. :) Any input appreciated, thanks guys

Tbh Skillshare isn't much better than youtube for me. A lot of parts of the 'classes' are kinda fluff that wastes my time. The teachers often have very specific programs that use and many don't really know how to teach... I mean they are trying, but they just don't have the experience or skill of teaching so well. Also the automatic minivideo function when you scroll down is super super annoying. I hate it so much. I do however appreciate that artists can earn good bucks with skillshare.

I feel very frustrated because I can't find any client as a freelancer artist, where or how do you get in touch some?

How do I draw a collar bone 😭

@virtualarmageddon6232

3 жыл бұрын

Look at a lot of references tbh its something that will come with learning anatomy.

Does anyone know what brushes she's using?

@edwardmanhattan6517

3 жыл бұрын

plain airbrush

@fraise2244

3 жыл бұрын

@@edwardmanhattan6517 thank you! :)

@edwardmanhattan8350

3 жыл бұрын

@@fraise2244 anytime :)

Ive tried selling art and nobody ever purchases it...

I don't know if I can pull off three all nighters per week, but if that's what I have to do to make it as a freelancer, then so be it😖

@nalcarya

3 жыл бұрын

You absolutely don't. Not even in her situation. It's her choice to overload her schedule or courses per semester like that, don't ever think you _need_ to do that to make it. It's very unhealthy in the long run and can be unhealthy even in the short, over a few weeks run so don't force yourself if you're feeling unwell.

@Dancinglemon

3 жыл бұрын

@@nalcarya Thank you! Your physical and mental health should always be a priority. There’s no point injuring and burning yourself out at the beginning, your body needs to last your whole career.

@aspenram3885

3 жыл бұрын

I was overworked by my school, family and job. Ended up with my heart stopping once (so I died, but it happened with nurses around and they revived me), I thought my family would take care of me after that since they always told me I was just exaggerating about being overworked but that they love me so much because we're family. They didn't take care of me and pushed me to do even more after. Family I guess means you take care of them endlessly with nothing in return. I ended up deathly ill again from overwork. I had to cut my family out and quit my job or they would have used me up while complaining I don't do more for them. Please take care of yourself and don't rely on others to care about you, because they might just not be capable of caring about you enough and lots of people absolutely will work you to death. :( I'm very very lucky that at least my husband cares about me. He takes care of me and encourages me to rest and take care of myself. He even makes dinners in the evening if I've done too much that day and start getting dizzy at the stove.

Listening makes me want to throw up. Is this what a young person has to go through to get by, and the justification we have is "Its just the way it is" said matter of factly in a small voice?

@aspenram3885

3 жыл бұрын

As long as some people are willing to do this, they are the ones that will be chosen to do the work by the people with money. I agree that it's sad and gross though. D:

wait what 17 credits? Girl you should be making some time to take care of your mental health because of the work load if you can handle it or not. Damn that's a lot.

I just discovered your videos and have been binging them. Please try to speak a little more clearly. I was hesitant to ask this of you for fear it sounds mean, but I have a hard time understanding you. Please slow down and enunciate. You have great talent and thank you for sharing with everyone.

@bethsleepien9817

3 жыл бұрын

You can turn on captions (the button with two C's) if you're struggling to understand people! :)

@mallorydurrick

3 жыл бұрын

@@bethsleepien9817 Yes. Thank you, I do. But for some reason her videos don’t have them Thanks for the support. 🙏