Expert: Gianina L. - 9/23/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hey, I have been trying to get into learning more about caricature art and expanding my knowledge on the subject. My blog tells my slow story of acheivement.. www.bathilliard.blogspot.com ....... could you give me some pointers on expediting this career and tell me if I have a slim chance of quiting the day job? Thanks.

ANSWER: Hello Bat,

I think everyone has a slim chance of quitting their day job, and if you're truly passionate about what you do, then your chances are even better. However, for a quick reality check, living as an artist can be difficult and sometimes comes with sacrifices, but it is completely possible.

I looked at your blog, and also looked at the About Faces profile. Is About Faces your day job or a side gig? Before I can answer your question and give pointers for advancing your career, I need to know where exactly you want to go with your career. If you're working as an artist as your day job, what do you want to achieve instead from working on your own?

Thank you for sharing your work with me. You have a lot of great samples on your site. I will say that in the spirit of career advancement, you should give your site a more professional edge. Also, be careful of honest or sarcastic remarks that put yourself down as an artist (i.e. I shouldn't have drawn that, I didn't do that like I wanted, I should have done this, or "they may have been cursing my name all the way home"). These comments, even if you believe them, showcase an insecurity about your artwork, and if you don't believe in your work, no one else will put faith in it either. You have to display stuff proudly and never point out your mistakes to others. If you didn't point them out, others would probably not know they existed to begin with.

:)
Sincerely,
Gianina L.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Thanks Gianina! great response.... I work at a bank and do the caricature work on the side--- even though I usually make more in one weekend doing caricature's than I make in a full 40 hours of work (So far it's been consistent, but I don't think it is always like that!). About Faces is an agency that hires me out to do some events... I have a few others that I have my profile with also, so hopefully business will be steady. I also do some commercial logo work and T shirt design on the side too, but I have just recently began and like you said don't feel that my site is professional enough yet. I will work on being my hardest critic also!!

Thanks again!

Bat

Answer
Hello again!

You're absolutely welcome. You seem to be off on the right foot. If that's the direction you want to go in, then having your profile with different companies is a great start. I definitely suggest you create a professional website that includes a portfolio of work as well as services you offer, how you can be contacted, and in the case of caricature, the rates you are currently offering for different types of events/situations. Print out some nice business cards that you can pass on to everyone you know, letting the world know you are "open for business." Create a myspace (or other networking site) profile for your business and go from there!

Good luck!
Gianina