Freelance Illustration: 5 Things I WISH I KNEW!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ต.ค. 2022
- In this video I discuss 5 things I wish I knew when I started my career in illustration. I've been working as an independent illustrator for the past 12 years and I've done work for clients like Nickelodeon, Adidas, Cartoon Network, Google, and countless others. Before becoming an illustrator I was a graphic designer, my career in illustration was a bit of an accident and I've been winging it ever since. As a result I've learned a lot of things the hard way. If I knew the 5 things I talk about in this video from the start, things would have been a lot easier. Hopefully you find this information valuable-if you do please give me a thumbs up and subscribe! I'm planning on making a part 2 very soon!
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Great insight! some valuable tips for sure.
Thanks Alphonzo!
Man, that last tip 😮💨 my husband was just telling me yesterday “stop panicking, you’re taking projects you’ll regret when you know better work is coming and you have personal projects on hold, take a breather” and listening to this today really finished driving that in for me 😅 I’m gonna try and enjoy the slow time
It’s always a struggle! Lol
just gonna say this, i feel a kinship with ya just through the fact that we're both anxious punks.
Haha that’s awesome! 👯♂️💀
This was really helpful. Do you have anymore videos like this? I feel what’s holding me back from starting a business is understanding the tax side and setting a contract in place. 🤦♀️😊
Speaking of budget negotiations, yeah having the client throw out the first number is HUGE. I've had it go both ways, where they throw out a number that is much higher than what I would have put out, but also times where their budget was much lower than what I would have thrown out and I would have for sure given them sticker shock. Even when their budget is low, that doesn't always means that I won't work with them. Maybe their project sounds really fun to me (or I just have some time in my schedule I'd like to fill with paying work), or I'd get to do the kind of art I wish I was doing more often and knowing their budget is lower they might be willing to give me more creative control than I might normally expect. Or I might be able to offer an art style that isn't the style I'm best known for, but an alternate style I find fun because it's fast and still an effective attractive look.
Yeah that all makes a lot of sense, I’m definitely willing to negotiate and figure out how to make budgets work in certain situations. Thanks for sharing!
Out of all the artists i ve watched over the past 2-3 years who make similar contect as yours, you are the only one i ve subscribered to because for some reason i like the way you are in the videos its like im having a conversation with a friend i never had that feeling before. Thank you for your videos its almost therapeutical to me its relaxes me and i feel like my enxaity are getting better when im watching your videos, pretty wierd i know i dont even know what to make yp of it my self but it helps . Thank.
Wow, thank you so much! ❤️ I’m so glad you enjoy my videos. This is also super motivating for me as my channel is new, so it can feel like a lot of work for little return. Feedback like this really makes it feel like it’s worth the effort!
As an accounting professional, I was glad to hear your comment about setting up separate business accounts and keeping all business activity in your business accounts whether checking or credit card or... That is the absolute first thing I tell my new inexperienced (and lots of experienced) clients-KEEP IT SEPARATE! If I have to wade through a tangled mess of co-mingled transactions my bill easily goes up 3X it would be otherwise-not to mention the extra hassle on the client side too! Good Stuff!
Thanks so much Brad! It feels good to have an accounting professional tell me I’m doing something correctly! Ha!
The freak out part is me everyday right now 🥲
Once again, great video Chris. Very relatable
Oh man, well it usually gets better-if that helps! Glad you liked the video!
Dude! I like the hammer intermezzo! I immediately hit the button. Another interesting video :-)
Thank you SOO much for these tips, seriously. Especially the separate bank account. Loving your vids 💛 More about contracts, yes please!!
Thanks Jessica! So glad you’re finding them useful!
THIS IS SO HELPFUL!!! 💜💜💜 I would like to hear more about contracts or stories around contract revisions. It seems boring but I think that’s where a lot of my anxiety lies when approaching client work. I’m new to your channel, so I will check out more of your videos and do independent research, too! But getting your insight is invaluable! Thank you for making it accessible for us. It’s uplifting. Also, I’m a fellow designer turned illustrator, so it is nice to see the nuances between the two paths.
So glad you found it helpful! I’m definitely planning on making more videos about the boring but important stuff.
@@chris-piascik Thank you so much!!!!!!!! 🥹💕
Having ADHD, taking information on is tough, the way you create content is so easy to understand, good job man.
Edit: i commented before the bank account tip, the thought of paper work kills me i feel the same, that tip alone has just revived me lol
Thanks so much, I’m so glad you find my content easy to follow. Maybe I explain things in a way that makes sense to my adhd brain.
@@chris-piascik most definitely, but im sure it will cross over, if my brain can understand it I’m sure the general will.
Really helpful, and great to hear this from a fellow neurodivergent creative, thank you. 😃👍🏼
Thanks! So glad you found it helpful!
Just stumbled across this gem but I am so glad I did! So many great things to remember and learn to do that are easy to overlook. Appreciate your sharing what you’ve learned and wish you knew with us! I’d love to learn about any and all of the related tangents! Especially contracts and pricing! And how to effectively communicate with clients 😅
Glad it was helpful! Thank you!
Thank you so much for your candid sharing of such valuable things! AlsoI love your awkward humor style!
Thanks! I appreciate that!
Ohh finally a good video!!! I was trying to find something about Upwork, and suddenly bumped into your video. After like 5 horrible, super amateurs ones. What a relief! Amazing infos! Thank you!
Ah thanks so much!
Lol right now I'm on a *slow time* and the last part of the video hit me like a meteorite 😅😂
It seems like it’s a slow time for everyone!
Thanks!! I really enjoyed this one, full of useful insights.
I appreciate that!!
Fantastic video! Thank you!
Really enjoyed this! Good practical advice. I live in the UK and sometimes I’m not sure how transferable advice from illustrators in other countries is. I’m on that scary precipice wondering how to become an illustrator with my cartoon style of drawing and this feels helpful regardless of location👍👍🧙🏽♀️
Glad you liked it! I’ve actually done quite a bit of work in the UK over the years and it seems pretty comparable in my experience.
thank you so much for sharing all the info , talking about numbers is always hard and can be weird but very helpful too , this was great ,thanks Chris
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! I did learn the hard way with client revisions and not setting rules when I first started out. Keep up the good work with your videos Chris!
Thanks so much!
Dude. You are hilarious. Subscribed.
Hey, thanks!
Definitely digging all the videos you're putting out man, keep up the great work!
Thanks so much Curtis! I really appreciate the feedback!
You had me rolling. I love your sense of humor! Great video! Minute 14! I can relate.
Haha thanks so much! So glad you appreciate my weird sense of humor!
So much value! Thank you so much!! 🙏🏼✨❤
Glad it was helpful!
I love your videos, I’m majoring in Illustration and Graphic Design in college, and this helps a lot to know what’s gonna be like after I graduate. Any type of videos about projects or working with companies or stuff for beginner professionals artists would be wonderful to hear about!
Cool thank you so much!
Yes! Thank you. Liked. Subscribed. Looking forward to more. 👍👍
Thanks so much Derek!
Thanks so much for this insight! Another banger! Wish I could ask you a million questions but that’s unreasonable 😂🤙🙏
Glad you liked it! Also, I like questions-so feel free! I'm committing to posting weekly so you can think of it as content suggestions! I'll always need those.
Great video Chris, great info. Love the drawing videos, but these bizness tips are invaluable, more please, if possible
Thanks! Glad you found it helpful!
Smashed it! 😅 Thanks for another awesome video.
Lol! Thanks so much!
So informative and you can do a whole series of these!
Thank you! I’m definitely planning on at least one more.
Thanks for the insights!!
You’re welcome!
This is super helpful! I'm sure you're talking about high end clients for them to have those kinds of budgets and usages.
Glad you found it useful! Although bigger clients will certainly have bigger budgets (especially because the bigger they are the more value they're getting out of your work), usage is still an important factor for pricing any illustration project. The rates would just reflect the size and scope of use.
Sharing Illustration Usage Income is cool!
😎
6:01 that part had me dying 🤣🤣🤣. Humourous and informative video - thank you!
Lol thanks!
So Rad!
Thank you!
Awesome video! Yes, please do more videos about the business side of illustration. 💵💵💵👨🎨
Thanks Ian! Glad you liked it!
Hahahaha 🔨
Great tips Chris! Thank you so much!
Great info!!!! IM a graphic artist/Illustrator from NY. I have a FT job as a graphic artist but Im trying to break into the freelance world with Editor illustrations. I DO email about 10-15 art directors every week with no reply. I did got ONE job after many many emails but I like to do more work. Any suggestions? Thank you! I did subscribed your channel great info!
Thanks! I recently made another video that should help: th-cam.com/video/Ok8lv-6TGbw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=mq_KU4AOhumNPGHy
Do you actually make a contract, or is it more of a proposal? I would wanna make an Illustrator contract, but also just a Character Art? Also, can you explain a little more about the business account? Are you using a credit card for your business account?
It’s an actual contract to make sure everything is clear. The contract is pretty much the same regardless of what the illustration is, I just update it with the specifics for each project. There’s a lot of templates online if you do a quick search. My business bank account is just a regular bank out, but I only use it for business related things. When I’m paid for a project I deposit it into that account. If I buy stuff that’s work related I use that account. I do have a business credit card in addition now. But for a while I didn’t.
I was wondering what your thoughts were on someone going to school to be and illustrator with having to compete with AI. Is it even worth it anymore.
To be honest I’m not worried about AI. I think it’s a tool and a solution for lower quality/information content. But it currently can’t create fully original ideas or express uniquely human feelings/emotions/ideas. I do have another video where I talk more about AI stuff. In regard to higher education, I do have mixed feelings about that and don’t think it’s necessary or the right decision for a lot of people.
How do I get started with prices with not much experience? I’ve done some work but, had no idea about the usage of my work. What to charge is always a challenge.
Yeah, it can be tricky for sure. Maybe I can try to put together a video about it.
Not for nothin, but why aren't you using a vector brush in fresco? Seems like your line work is perfect for the vector brush.
Sometimes I do, but if it doesn’t need to be vector I prefer the better control/flexibility that pixel brushes have.
🔨🔨🔨🔨🔨
Do you think you can share the Contract template you use with your clients?
Shoot me an email!
@@chris-piascik SENT!
@@chris-piascik What's your e-mail?
@@madebymarco hey I got your email! I’m sorry I haven’t responded yet, I’m actually traveling this week so I haven’t had a chance to make a generic version yet.
I smashed the button a little too hard, got a new phone screen?
Oh no! Lol
4:21 if it's budgeted
6:15 to avoid unlimited revision. Wasted time, wasted development money $$$¥¥¥£££
Come on 9k views and 1k likes 🤨 look. Likes and shares don't cost you. Support good information. He's paid the price. To help you out.
❤️❤️❤️
Yeah I don't think any one of us is getting paid 40k for a project
I know quite a few illustrators that have had bigger projects like that.
I can tell you're a graphic designer because real artists don't draw and "paint" on computer screens
lol ok.
Chris, you are hilarious love your humor 😂 I have just started opening up commissions recently for my illustrations/Digital art for TH-cam content creators, be it profile pictures,emotes banners etc and always find myself not knowing what to charge fairly for it. Would love to get some insight from you if possible. I have done some research as to what others are doing and what others charge varies greatly. I too am ADHD so while researching I have been distract and start looking at art supplies for traditional art 😅 🫣I consider ADHD as a super power 💪🏼 😁
Thanks so much! I feel like I have a weird sense of humor, so I'm glad you appreciate it. I don't really have much experience doing those types of commissions. They're a bit trickier to price because even though it's illustration it's sort of more like a design project in terms of how it would be priced. The reason for that is because you're creating branding materials as opposed to creating illustrations for specific usage cases. It's a bit confusing to break down here, but let's say you create an illustration for an advertisement, your pricing would be based on where they were using it, how long, etc. With the TH-cam stuff you'd likely be handing off the artwork for them to use however they needed. Also, I agree ADHD can definitely be a super power-but with great power comes great responsibility, lol.
Thanks for the reply Chris! 😁 I will continue researching on the topic 👍🏼
Anytime! I’m sorry it wasn’t more helpful!
Lol right now I'm on a *slow time* and the last part of the video hit me like a meteorite 😅😂
Oh man, I think it’s a slow time for everyone right now.