Being a Digital Painter: Creativity and Business
Becoming a professional means, you must earn your living from an activity you used to practice as a hobby. When working in creative fields, you need to learn how to combine this business part with your creativity. Without incomes, you won’t be able to keep painting, so your attitude towards money makes you take decisions throughout your career. Several elements should be considered to go on a successful path as a digital painter.
More freelancer or employee at a studio?
These two statuses exist to work as a digital painter. Choosing between them depends on your skills, job opportunities you have, but mostly on your personality. Do you prefer being alone or part of a team? Can you manage your time all by yourself? Not everybody can handle stress of waiting for the next project or feel like working 24/7 when they are self-employed. It is important to have self-control because it can require a lot of patience to set boundaries between private and professional life when you are always at home. A trick to be a lasting freelancer is having or few clients who gives you tasks on regular basis, it is easier morally and financially. Some artists say that this way of working allow them to keep their creative freedom, which couldn’t happen being an employee.
Indeed, being part of a studio can orientate your painting according to its art direction. It isn’t necessarily a restrictive aspect; it is also a way to develop specific skills and be surrounded by other artists and non-artists giving a fresh point of view on your work. If you want to work in a studio, target places compatible with your style and specialization. For example, big companies can search for character artists where a smaller one would search for a generalist profile. There is an infinity of possibilities in choosing where you want to be hired! Try to still find time to keep painting for yourself and make your personal portfolio grow.
“When bankers get together for dinner, they discuss Art. When artists get together for dinner, they discuss Money.”
Importance of a strong social network
Being a painter isn’t just to draw locked up your studio, you need to go out, meet other artists and potential clients! If you don’t make the first move and show what you are able to do, it will be hard to continue this profession. Practice a lot to have always something new to show and post your works on professional social media to get noticed. They should be regularly updated: name your paintings, mention software used, tell where you currently work, put a picture of you… Artstation and Behance are two of professional social media where it is good to be active!
It isn’t always easy to please people and still be yourself but finding a balance could be beneficial for your career. During workshops and conferences, meet artists, gallery owners, managers… and exchange business cards. The more contacts you get, the more chances you have to meet people that could help you find some work or just support. Having many connections help you build a reputation, which is as important as your portfolio. Search for reviews about your work especially if you’re a freelancer, it can help you put things into perspective.
Communication, marketing, accounting, art… selling your creations, you need to be multi-function. Even when you work in a studio, it is good to reinvent yourself and look for new opportunities. The worst thing that could happen is boosting your motivation and creativity! In a career, it could be interesting to test freelancing and being employed to understand where you are comfortable to create your best art pieces. And most important you must love what you do!