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I'm Back! Let me tell you what happened.
8 years ago
Hey guys! It's great to be back on FA and it's even better to be drawing again. I kind of disappeared without much of an explanation, so please allow me to tell you guys about my life adventure.
First, here is the TL:DR version: I started a new job, then moved to a new country. I was busy for a while and had no time to draw. I moved into my own apartment in the new country, but I heard I might get a salary cut. My current salary just covers my rent, and I'm currently living off savings - I don't make enough money to pay for food. I would totally appreciate if you guys would help me spread the word that I'm always taking commissions - I need them now more than ever to cover my expenses on groceries/food.
My salary is $350. My total estimated expenses on rent, internet, and food every month is $750. I need to make an extra $400 every month to keep up.
Long version below:
Early this year in February, I started a new job that wasn't anything art related (sadly). That job has been going alright (or so I thought) so far, and I thought I was doing a great job. The job was to set up a company's entire social media presence - which I did well. And in addition to that, I also made sure their online shop was built, write for their blog, set up their newsletter and mailing list system, create every graphic they need for any purpose - all on top on managing their social media. I also now completely manage their site and entire online presence. I do an insane amount of work on a daily basis for what you might call a small salary. Anyway, more on that later...
Some of you may know that I'd been looking to emigrate out of South Africa with my family and boyfriend. Reasons are plenty: the economy is crashing, the government is terrible - but worst of all is the rampant crime and frequent murders you hear about on every media outlet. A few months into my new job, we'd finally figured out a way to get out of the country, and potentially settle on a lovely African island called Mauritius. The few months to follow were grueling and trying... boy, were they hard. My depression got quite bad a few times during the whole thing. There was a lot of paperwork, fighting with my family, packing up and cleaning out a house where I'd lived for 15 years, you name it. But on the 12th of October 2017, I landed in Mauritius - my new home.
I was ecstatic to finally be free. I lived in South Africa my whole life. It's my birth country. But I lived every day in constant fear that I, or anyone in my family, might get hurt, raped, or killed. It was so good to finally be free of that - live in a country where you don't have to sleep with your gun near your bed.
I immediately got to work looking for an apartment, and I found a great one. It's not the fanciest building, but the rent is priced well. I was set to move in when I got the bad news that my work salary might get cut in February next year, because the website isn't making enough sales. Great. After all the work I put into their company, and this is the thanks I get.
My current salary is just enough to cover my rent and internet (electricity and water is included in rent). As mentioned above, my current salary is about $350 per month, and this is before the cut. I might get cut to $200, or less. I have no idea. I'm trying my best to find extra work to supplement my income so I don't eat through all my savings. I need to make about $750 total every month to keep up with my expenses.
This is where I could use some help - if you or anyone you know is looking to commission an artist, please let me know. I have my prices ready, and I'm just in the process of finalizing a formal pricesheet.
Thank you so much, guys. And thanks for sticking with me. I'll be positing some new art really soon, and I'm also working on a 3D model portfolio which will hopefully be ready in a couple of weeks.
First, here is the TL:DR version: I started a new job, then moved to a new country. I was busy for a while and had no time to draw. I moved into my own apartment in the new country, but I heard I might get a salary cut. My current salary just covers my rent, and I'm currently living off savings - I don't make enough money to pay for food. I would totally appreciate if you guys would help me spread the word that I'm always taking commissions - I need them now more than ever to cover my expenses on groceries/food.
My salary is $350. My total estimated expenses on rent, internet, and food every month is $750. I need to make an extra $400 every month to keep up.
Long version below:
Early this year in February, I started a new job that wasn't anything art related (sadly). That job has been going alright (or so I thought) so far, and I thought I was doing a great job. The job was to set up a company's entire social media presence - which I did well. And in addition to that, I also made sure their online shop was built, write for their blog, set up their newsletter and mailing list system, create every graphic they need for any purpose - all on top on managing their social media. I also now completely manage their site and entire online presence. I do an insane amount of work on a daily basis for what you might call a small salary. Anyway, more on that later...
Some of you may know that I'd been looking to emigrate out of South Africa with my family and boyfriend. Reasons are plenty: the economy is crashing, the government is terrible - but worst of all is the rampant crime and frequent murders you hear about on every media outlet. A few months into my new job, we'd finally figured out a way to get out of the country, and potentially settle on a lovely African island called Mauritius. The few months to follow were grueling and trying... boy, were they hard. My depression got quite bad a few times during the whole thing. There was a lot of paperwork, fighting with my family, packing up and cleaning out a house where I'd lived for 15 years, you name it. But on the 12th of October 2017, I landed in Mauritius - my new home.
I was ecstatic to finally be free. I lived in South Africa my whole life. It's my birth country. But I lived every day in constant fear that I, or anyone in my family, might get hurt, raped, or killed. It was so good to finally be free of that - live in a country where you don't have to sleep with your gun near your bed.
I immediately got to work looking for an apartment, and I found a great one. It's not the fanciest building, but the rent is priced well. I was set to move in when I got the bad news that my work salary might get cut in February next year, because the website isn't making enough sales. Great. After all the work I put into their company, and this is the thanks I get.
My current salary is just enough to cover my rent and internet (electricity and water is included in rent). As mentioned above, my current salary is about $350 per month, and this is before the cut. I might get cut to $200, or less. I have no idea. I'm trying my best to find extra work to supplement my income so I don't eat through all my savings. I need to make about $750 total every month to keep up with my expenses.
This is where I could use some help - if you or anyone you know is looking to commission an artist, please let me know. I have my prices ready, and I'm just in the process of finalizing a formal pricesheet.
Thank you so much, guys. And thanks for sticking with me. I'll be positing some new art really soon, and I'm also working on a 3D model portfolio which will hopefully be ready in a couple of weeks.
I will definitely keep you in mind whenever I see someone looking for an artist, you deserve to be seen and commissioned by more people who enjoy your art.