Oh believe me, I know a degree is not necessary to be a success. Some of the artists I admire never got a degree - Jhonen Vasquez was a dropout film student who went on to find fame making comic books and working on an animated television show.
I guess I don't really know how to market myself if I'm not doing it right. I show off my best work, I put stuff in my resume and really try and make it sound as awesome as possible. One thing we were never taught in either grad school or undergrad was how to whore ourselves out to clients. Cartoons are definitely my strong point, but I know everyone and their mother does cartoons and mine are nothing special (and wow, I totally don't remember ever showing my work here. Where was I? )
Just from what I have noticed personally, 99 percent of clients are cheapskates. They want original and professional quality art for pennies. People who want entire ad campaigns and interactive websites for $5.00, or who want to spend $20 for full-color wall murals. I even get turned down from freelance jobs where the client wants cartoon work. I can never find anyone to work for who is willing to pay a fair amount for the work they want done - I'll be damned if I'm going to pour my heart and soul into a painting for $5.00.
I've sort of given up trying to sell myself as an artist because of my complete lack of success with past endeavors, so now I focus more on writing since I get interviews for such jobs a lot more often. I just don't think I'm a very creative person, that's all. Even now, I'm not getting much writing work, so I guess I'm starting to suck at that too.
I guess I don't really know how to market myself if I'm not doing it right. I show off my best work, I put stuff in my resume and really try and make it sound as awesome as possible. One thing we were never taught in either grad school or undergrad was how to whore ourselves out to clients. Cartoons are definitely my strong point, but I know everyone and their mother does cartoons and mine are nothing special (and wow, I totally don't remember ever showing my work here. Where was I? )
Just from what I have noticed personally, 99 percent of clients are cheapskates. They want original and professional quality art for pennies. People who want entire ad campaigns and interactive websites for $5.00, or who want to spend $20 for full-color wall murals. I even get turned down from freelance jobs where the client wants cartoon work. I can never find anyone to work for who is willing to pay a fair amount for the work they want done - I'll be damned if I'm going to pour my heart and soul into a painting for $5.00.
I've sort of given up trying to sell myself as an artist because of my complete lack of success with past endeavors, so now I focus more on writing since I get interviews for such jobs a lot more often. I just don't think I'm a very creative person, that's all. Even now, I'm not getting much writing work, so I guess I'm starting to suck at that too.
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