Last year was my first year as a freelancer. I spent a good portion of that year wondering if I'd always be hoping the next phone call would be from a client that had more than $50 and wildly inventing ways in which I could try to sell my art work. Many days were spent preparing for and being at local events where I sold merchandise I had created that ranged from
woodburnt art earrings to prints and cards. The hardest part of that year was not the worry that I had made the wrong decision but rather was in making the decision to quit my full time job in the first place. I knew in my heart for years that each day I went into work I was in the wrong place and I struggled to understand why my dream job wasn't turning out like I had always hoped it would be.
Perhaps the expectations and dreams of fresh eyed students entering the work force should be given a more realistic perspective? Most likely though, I think the beautiful passion and hope that I was granted via my parents and the instructors I studied under at school are to blame for me not throwing in the towel when I felt illustration was a ridiculous industry. Students entering the work force this year will need a healthy dose of optimism in the face of our global economic downward slope so that no matter how long they are forced to sit in the moonlight working and gathering overtime hours under employers who give care only about their bottom line will still make it through and not trade in their diplomas for something that seems more promising.
But here I am, not even two years later, swamped in work that I feel so blessed to be a part of that I could cry with happiness and managing to make money in the process. Sure, I've traded in a few benefits - maternity leave (in Canada, this is a full year), a steady pay check and co-workers but my list of newly acquired benefits would make that list seem quite silly now... anyone else feel the same way?
As this is my 199 post my next post will be a "giveaway" post - so stay tuned!
