The Working Artist: Striking the Balance. (Part 1)

When someone is starting out as a freelance artist, they have to decide which projects they want to be involved in and apply for it. After registering and joining online hiring platforms, agencies, or whichever service provides the artist work opportunities, the great balancing act begins.

Artists must often weigh the value and effort of their work with the cost of the project.

PRIDE OR PRICE?

The fear experienced by freelance artists venturing to earn money through illustration is primarily getting that first contract. You should have a good grasp of your skills, what you can do and the rates you can charge clients (Well at least you should!)

Many artists lower their starting price or rate per hour to attract prospecting clients to hire them, especially if the online hiring platform has a “rating” system, this indicates how many successful projects an artist had completed in their system. One of the most common misconceptions for starting members of the platform is that lower rates and costs are keys to getting hired when applying for jobs. Though it may hold true in some cases, but the drawbacks of using this strategy however is that the competition between other new members and artists who are willing to work at rock bottom prices are greater and more ruthless.

Declare your rates truthfully without undervaluing yourself and your skills (I'll discuss this further on another post). I usually add that I'm willing to discuss terms and negotiate rates with the client in my application messages.

Sometimes, you receive job invitations from clients directly, it saves time in looking for a new project, but you are not obligated to accept the job just because they sought you out. Your primary goal should always be getting the right contract with the right client at the right price.

In all my years working online, I have met and worked with artists who can actually draw decently are sometimes taken advantage of by devious clients. These clients seek out new and starting artists, offering this job can bulge your portfolio and other benefits by working with them, knowing they can get quality artwork for a very low price. Some will try to convince the artist to accept a lower compensation for not having enough reputation online. In some cases, clients requests for a sample work to be delivered to "aid" the selection process, but eventually not continuing the selection since they got what they wanted for free. Other clever tactics are known to be used, but fortunately, these types of clients are only a minority group, and protection against unfair practices for freelancers and clients alike are constantly improving.

SHOW THEM WHAT YOU'VE GOT!

Your portfolio is your "Superpower". If you don't have one, you're just as regular as the next applicant. Showcase what makes you unique.

Building the portfolio should be top priority. A strong portfolio should showcase the artist’s best skills, this reduces the need for having a good reputation online, It should clearly state “I can do the work, and you won’t regret it!” The portfolio should be updated regularly with the artists current works . If an artist presents their portfolio, it should be enough for the client to determine if one’s skill level could complete the task. If the client still requires a sample or “test” before deciding, unless it’s a paid test, chances are they’re just looking for free work, and should be reported to the hiring platform’s help desk immediately.

One of my first online contracts was actually a big one. The client did not care if I was new to the platform. My online portfolio on Odesk together with my DeviantArt gallery was more than enough to convince them I was the one they need. If the artists had not invested time building their portfolio for prospecting clients to see, they will be facing difficulty and failure pretty quick.

Next Topic: The Working Artist: Striking the Balance (Part 2) Previous: The Working Artist and the Challenges we Face