03-09-2013, 12:27 PM
Hey dude, I feel for your recent state of mind. It is easy to get sucked into the "do anything just to get by and hope it works" out mentality.
I recently decided not to do any more freelance unless it satisfied 3 things:
It was work I would enjoy doing for the next 20 years if that is all I got,
it was work I could see going into my portfolio,
it was well paid.
After this decision I was so much happier. Granted I have a day job that I don't really enjoy, and I've been doing similar jobs for the last 7 years. That is my compromise, but I now get to do art only I want to do until I get good enough to get decent pro work and quit my slave labour. You are doing art full time, so you have to be more pragmatic on what you will accept doing, so doing vector stuff is a valid way of handling it. Just remember, I do 40 hours a week on something completely unrelated to art, at least you do get to exercise your skills even though logos aren't the most exciting thing to do. It's all about your perspective and finding the right balance of compromise that works for you.
About the opportunity thing, well I believe the internet has made things a little easier for us nowadays, so as long as your work is really good, and you promote yourself well, i think where you are physically becomes less important...as a freelancer of course.
For me, I focus on one thing and one thing only....getting better. I believe if your work is incredible...no one can argue with that and the jobs will start coming. It's a simple theory but I think it works, and keeps me motivated.
Hope you sort out your balance mate and Good luck!
I recently decided not to do any more freelance unless it satisfied 3 things:
It was work I would enjoy doing for the next 20 years if that is all I got,
it was work I could see going into my portfolio,
it was well paid.
After this decision I was so much happier. Granted I have a day job that I don't really enjoy, and I've been doing similar jobs for the last 7 years. That is my compromise, but I now get to do art only I want to do until I get good enough to get decent pro work and quit my slave labour. You are doing art full time, so you have to be more pragmatic on what you will accept doing, so doing vector stuff is a valid way of handling it. Just remember, I do 40 hours a week on something completely unrelated to art, at least you do get to exercise your skills even though logos aren't the most exciting thing to do. It's all about your perspective and finding the right balance of compromise that works for you.
About the opportunity thing, well I believe the internet has made things a little easier for us nowadays, so as long as your work is really good, and you promote yourself well, i think where you are physically becomes less important...as a freelancer of course.
For me, I focus on one thing and one thing only....getting better. I believe if your work is incredible...no one can argue with that and the jobs will start coming. It's a simple theory but I think it works, and keeps me motivated.
Hope you sort out your balance mate and Good luck!