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The Grasshopper and The Ant: Surviving Off of Your Art
12 years ago
General
Commission Queue • Ask Me Anything • Art/Life ProTips
Hey, new watchers, readers, and others! Here's a personal journal to start the day off. Skip to the bottom for a signal bump.
Sometimes I get asked about how I am able to make a living off of my art. And when people at furry cons figure out virtually all of my work in on FA alone, their ears really start to perk up (sorry). I thought I'd briefly summarize how I made the transition from doing commissions between classes to supporting myself solely on my art.
In 2009 I went to my first convention, SIGGRAPH 2009, before the start of my junior year of college. It was the first time professionals told me I was definitely good-enough to work in the entertainment industry, though a lack of focus retarded the usefulness of my portfolio.
Now, in 2013, I have too many commissions to handle. In fact, the biggest limit on my income is my ability to balance rush and/or non-disclosure jobs with my more involved furry commissions in the queue. Aside from loans, I'm living in a pretty modest place in the midwest, almost never eat out, and virtually never see movies, buy videogames, or other accessories to entertainment. While this model isn't easily sustainable, it's the difficult and scary road I chose to travel.
In art, or really, transitioning to anything you love, you have two roads to "success". Consider either one of these insects to be your Spirit Animal (again, sorry).
Ant Mode™. This is the road my brother picked. He graduated from school a few semesters early, took a job at a print shop that paid kinda-sorta decently—but didn't pay what he was worth—and any art he created was after he was tired and home alone and wanting to spend time with his wife/my sister (whose career is a completely different story altogether). His time for art is minimal, but he takes what he can get. His time working a consistent job has allowed him to save up for an emergency fund, plus several months of expenses, and helped his wife transition into her art career. He also got to attend a couple of illustration conventions to confirm his needed direction in art. Three years after graduation, he's in a great position to switch to full-time art without compromising his desire to provide for his wife, travel, and rarely purchase an accoutrement or two. He can also afford insurances. Practically, the only thing separating him from a fulfilling career in illustration is the switch, but even if his car breaks down or he gets mono for a month, he's probably going to be fine.
Grasshopper Mode™. This is the road I picked. I offered free sketches on FA in 2006, opened commissions in 2007, and didn't get commissioned until 2008! This was during college, (same college and major as my sister and brother), and often I'd compromise assignments for class work. I floundered around not knowing whether I wanted to do concept art, fine art, or illustration, and that kept me from having a young art-rocket career that everyone envies. My last two years of college I lucked out and lived without rent, hours away from my parents. By the time of my wedding, I had picked up and dropped off several food-industry jobs. These jobs were initially quit because I was making less than I'd make on art. but returning to those kinds of jobs is not fun, especially remembering when three years prior, people wanted to hire me to work the entertainment industry. Still, I'd rather be a fry cook than design logos in a business firm. Currently, my wife and I are able to meet our expenses while she works and completes school, we eat like kings thanks to our cooking prowess, and I get to draw every day for at least eight hours. Going to conventions, selling things online, and building rep is working in my favour. Yet, when I was struck with mono for a couple months, I was almost completely boned: I missed a convention that was supposed to fulfill my expenses for two months, and for almost a solid month I couldn't effectively draw at all.
I'd like to tell you there's a universally right and a wrong lifestyle choice, but it's not that simple. Grasshopper Mode™ can be a tough when an emergency happens and you don't know how you and your wife are going to make it. Ants don't have to worry about that, but I'm sure there are times when artists living in Ant Mode™ are mad at themselves for how little they get to draw. In truth, those modes are something you have to toggle. I'm convinced that today I have the greatest job ever, and I have more work experience than most of my peers thanks to FA. But I'm also walking a tightrope over a bunch of Hellraiser sharks covered in lemon juice and swimming in bleach.
Tl;dr: Art careers can be built on strong or shaky foundations. Each has its own costs. Grasshoppers rule. s:J
Signal Boost: A dear friend, a brother grasshopper, is being tested for the first time. His situation is more than familiar to me. Those generous and able participants in the fandom can trust him to create fresh and lasting visual solutions, so please visit
vet with my blessings!
Hey, new watchers, readers, and others! Here's a personal journal to start the day off. Skip to the bottom for a signal bump.
Sometimes I get asked about how I am able to make a living off of my art. And when people at furry cons figure out virtually all of my work in on FA alone, their ears really start to perk up (sorry). I thought I'd briefly summarize how I made the transition from doing commissions between classes to supporting myself solely on my art.
In 2009 I went to my first convention, SIGGRAPH 2009, before the start of my junior year of college. It was the first time professionals told me I was definitely good-enough to work in the entertainment industry, though a lack of focus retarded the usefulness of my portfolio.
Now, in 2013, I have too many commissions to handle. In fact, the biggest limit on my income is my ability to balance rush and/or non-disclosure jobs with my more involved furry commissions in the queue. Aside from loans, I'm living in a pretty modest place in the midwest, almost never eat out, and virtually never see movies, buy videogames, or other accessories to entertainment. While this model isn't easily sustainable, it's the difficult and scary road I chose to travel.
In art, or really, transitioning to anything you love, you have two roads to "success". Consider either one of these insects to be your Spirit Animal (again, sorry).
Ant Mode™. This is the road my brother picked. He graduated from school a few semesters early, took a job at a print shop that paid kinda-sorta decently—but didn't pay what he was worth—and any art he created was after he was tired and home alone and wanting to spend time with his wife/my sister (whose career is a completely different story altogether). His time for art is minimal, but he takes what he can get. His time working a consistent job has allowed him to save up for an emergency fund, plus several months of expenses, and helped his wife transition into her art career. He also got to attend a couple of illustration conventions to confirm his needed direction in art. Three years after graduation, he's in a great position to switch to full-time art without compromising his desire to provide for his wife, travel, and rarely purchase an accoutrement or two. He can also afford insurances. Practically, the only thing separating him from a fulfilling career in illustration is the switch, but even if his car breaks down or he gets mono for a month, he's probably going to be fine.
Grasshopper Mode™. This is the road I picked. I offered free sketches on FA in 2006, opened commissions in 2007, and didn't get commissioned until 2008! This was during college, (same college and major as my sister and brother), and often I'd compromise assignments for class work. I floundered around not knowing whether I wanted to do concept art, fine art, or illustration, and that kept me from having a young art-rocket career that everyone envies. My last two years of college I lucked out and lived without rent, hours away from my parents. By the time of my wedding, I had picked up and dropped off several food-industry jobs. These jobs were initially quit because I was making less than I'd make on art. but returning to those kinds of jobs is not fun, especially remembering when three years prior, people wanted to hire me to work the entertainment industry. Still, I'd rather be a fry cook than design logos in a business firm. Currently, my wife and I are able to meet our expenses while she works and completes school, we eat like kings thanks to our cooking prowess, and I get to draw every day for at least eight hours. Going to conventions, selling things online, and building rep is working in my favour. Yet, when I was struck with mono for a couple months, I was almost completely boned: I missed a convention that was supposed to fulfill my expenses for two months, and for almost a solid month I couldn't effectively draw at all.
I'd like to tell you there's a universally right and a wrong lifestyle choice, but it's not that simple. Grasshopper Mode™ can be a tough when an emergency happens and you don't know how you and your wife are going to make it. Ants don't have to worry about that, but I'm sure there are times when artists living in Ant Mode™ are mad at themselves for how little they get to draw. In truth, those modes are something you have to toggle. I'm convinced that today I have the greatest job ever, and I have more work experience than most of my peers thanks to FA. But I'm also walking a tightrope over a bunch of Hellraiser sharks covered in lemon juice and swimming in bleach.
Tl;dr: Art careers can be built on strong or shaky foundations. Each has its own costs. Grasshoppers rule. s:J
Signal Boost: A dear friend, a brother grasshopper, is being tested for the first time. His situation is more than familiar to me. Those generous and able participants in the fandom can trust him to create fresh and lasting visual solutions, so please visit
vet with my blessings!
ps u rock ok
Oh my god designing logos for people is hell on Earth x_x
I have sort of went the road of the grasshopper as well. I first started when I got kicked out of my mothers place and went to live with my dad. before the move I had to quit my part time job so I had no sort of income. So I decided to start taking lil commissions here and there to make a few bucks. At this point it was still just a BS way for me to make money. I had no bills at the time and nothing I really had to pay off so I splurged a lot when I did get commissions. Fast forward to about early 2012 I receive my first digital tablet and am living with my aunt. The tablet was a graphire 4, it was old and didn't have much pressure sensitivity but it worked for what I needed it to. This was about when I started focusing on my art more. I had found a few small jobs through a temp service which made life a lil easier. I was able to purchase a couple things like a phone which required monthly payments. I was doing ok but wasn't making enough to sustain myself. About late April 2012 I got kicked out of my aunts house and went to live in Columbus with a friend. I had very little access to internet and no job to pay my bills. I was back to square 1. About 2 months after living there I got jumped. This was a big eye opener for me. It showed me that, like I kinda knew already that I was not to street smart. Once my aunt and them found this out they had a change of heart and let me move back in with them until I either found work or another place. Luckily the day I move back with them I got a call from a place I had applied to earlier that year. So ya that was good news because it helped pay off a couple bills and made it so I was able to upgrade my tablet and buy my own computer. Was also able to raise a bit of money as an emergency fund. I eventually found a new place to live and a new job that payed better with some roomates. I worked heavy machinery which was really hard work. It payed ok, more than I had been paid per hour up to that point, so I was happy. And the hours were long. So each week was a good paycheck. Only thing is because of the long hours I had no time for art. Then when i did find time I was to burnt out to work on much of anything. Then came MFF 2012. This was a big stepping stone for me, not only because of it being a con, but also because it is when I got fired from my last job. Scared and in fear of being homeless I asked my grandmother in Michigan if I could stay with her for a while. This was a big step for me, asking for help when I needed it most. This was a good thing though. I lived with her for about 6 months. In those months my art exploded. I was able to release all that pent up inspiration I had backlogged in my head from not drawing for so long. I was able to experiment and grow as an artist. Because of this I guess more and more people started to like my work. This led to getting more commissions so I was able to pay my own bills and help with bills around the house and with food. Then I eventually started to miss the friends I had made in Ohio. heck they had helped me more than anyone when I got kicked out of my mother's place. So I moved back in with my dad. I was able to stay a float and pay bills while helping pay for food and stuff of the like while also saving up money for other things for myself.
It has been a long hard bumpy road these last 3 years with moving so much but in the end I wouldn't change a bit. It was because of FA that I am where I am today in my art. It has helped shape me in ways i would of never guessed. So ya I guess I am a grasshopper. Never really settling for one thing or place for to long and diving into things head first. I still have a long way to go to reach the point you have but thats what I keep working forward toward. So ya sorry for the wall of text XD
Though I could be totally wrong about every thing
but i have a really smart boyfriend who can support us both while i work up a good portfolio/resume/contacts
I also started my art carer at a young age, I was really big on graffiti when I was 16, a friend's dad owned an auto-body shop and gave me and airbrush, had me painting some demolition cars, which then became race cars, and then turned into motorcycles until I was 21 or so. I found the furry fandom and did commissions for a couple years while following cons, until breaking into the industry. Which was a bitch and felt like starting over for the first couple of years, but now my art is published in a bunch of places, and I have a full-time art job with a gaming studio. Which is pretty awesome, because steady paycheck, insure, and all that jazz while living my dream. Down time is spent on my comic. This only took 14 years, whoohoo!
I'm very much a grasshopper and I must say I enjoy it and don't at the same time. I enjoy being able to have plenty of time to draw and do art, but most of the time it's spent on commissions. Not that I don't mind doing commissions, but I don't get the same enjoyment from it as I get from my own personal stuff. In the back of my mind I keep thinking I want to work on my own personal projects and make something different and interesting to add to the art world, make a mark and really express my true self. But it's hard to do that when people want to commission you for the same things and don't like when you try to go outside the box. I feel that I can't work on art I'm really meant to do cause time lost on working on my own stuff means I won't be making enough money for bills off of commissions. So still a double edge sword.
And yes, when an emergency comes, it's very hard to deal with due to barely making enough off of those commissions. All of this is making me want to become an Ant, get a good basic job that pays decent,pay off school loans and then whatever time I have for art will go to my own personal projects.
the grasshopper is also an excellent cocktail. :D
I'm an ant at the moment, because I'm saving for a house through my retail job. My art covers utilities which is awesome.
Thanks for the journal!
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/gibbons/ is another grasshopper worth checking out.
It's wonderful that fa offers such a venue of art loving folk, and I'm really glad you're doing well. One days our groups will mingle again! We'll have to make many trips to Cracker Barrel