Product Description

For those embarking on freelance careers in graphic design or illustration, this text seeks to provide the answers: how to get started, how to sell your work, how to promote yourself, and what to do once you are working. The volume is designed for beginning professionals, working professionals wishing to make a change, and entrepreneurs wanting to go out on their own. It details every business aspect of commercial art, including creating a portfolio, making initial contacts, developing a financial plan, acquiring supplies and equipment, pricing one's work, and marketing on the Web. In a market-by-market survey, the author devotes entire chapters to explaining the nuances of selling one's work to magazines, ad agencies, book publishers, greeting card companies, small businesses, and Web sites.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21886 in Books
• Published on: 2001-12-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
“A great deal of information obtained only by the ‘live and learn’ method is packed into the book’s chapters.” -- The Artist’s Magazine

“Quick and easy to read, full of examples of humorous illustrations.” -- How Magazine

From the Publisher
Starting Your Career as a Freelance Illustrator or Graphic Designer shows readers how to find jobs and analyze what markets are right for them. Entire chapters are devoted to explaining the nuances of selling one's work to magazines, newspapers, ad agencies, book publishers, greeting card companies, small businesses, Web sites, and more. Freelance illustrators and graphic designers will find the author's Ten Commandments of Freelancing as well professional viewpoints from dozens of industry veterans.

This indispensable guide also details: •preparing a portfolio •making initial contacts •developing a financial plan •acquiring supplies and equipment •pricing one's work •marketing and self-promotion •Internet tools for illustrators and graphic designers

From the Author
For beginning professionals, working professionals wishing to make a change, and entrepreneurs wanting to go out on their own, Fleishman emphasizes the need for balance and self-discipline. "Behind the glitter of those ‘important' jobs lies your everyday world," he observes. "As a freelancer, you must diligently face the small daily drudgeries with the same aplomb you show these ‘bigger' responsibilities."

Customer Reviews

A Good Reference, specific chapters applicable
I bought the book primarily for chapter 12, "What Goes in a Portfolio", because I am preparing to graduate. It is helpful and would benefit any graphic designer's library.

More for graphic artists than illustrators, but good inspiration
My interests are much more in illustration rather than graphic design, so I frequently had to scan past a lot of the material that a graphic designer could use. There is a lot of great information here on the real nuts and bolts of running a home business - especially an artistic one - but I think anyone who wants to run thier own business could use a lot of the information and tools in this book to manage their time, money, and goals in an effective way. I have benefitted greatly from the use of this book and would happily recommend it to others.

essential
so you want to go freelance... you really, REALLY want to go freelance? Tired of working for a boss? Want your own hours? Sleep late? Get this book, read it and then decide. It'll give you a well-rounded education of what they don't tell you in art school because what your professors were really interested in at that time wasn't your education, but getting a piece of co-ed you-know-what while they collected their paycheck.