Career (non-art) Creators Thread

[cyanste]

Hey all,

I wanted to start a thread for any of us non-art career folks... it feels like we're a rarity in the comic world, but that can't be right.

How do you juggle the 8-4:30/9-5 schedule and making comics? Do you carve out a lot of time to do it daily or try to bust em out on the weekends? Scribble on sticky notes while trying to brainstorm? (GUILTY!)

Comment below!

[Jrej]

Haha! I do think we actually are a majority.
A lot of small creators would work a non creative job during the day.

I personally work on my pages during my lunch break.
This leaves me an hour per day. And I really do a lot under pressure.

I also draw on the bus from and back home. That gives me an extra hour in the day,

I found it's all about priority. I stopped Tv shows, Video games, and too much time on facebook!

[scottwuming]

Working on an average of 6 days a week, 8 hours each, non-art related field and nocturnal, the only time I could find to work on comics and art commissions is on that one day off. o_o

[gateofselidor]

I draw in my breaks and at lunch. My commute is about 45 minutes, but it's no use for drawing because the longest single stretch is 20 minutes on the train, and I often don't have a seat. I work on scripts on my phone while travelling, though. I also draw when I get home, but the bulk of the work is done at the weekend.

It's difficult to find time, but luckily I like my job, so it doesn't tend to disrupt my mood or leave me feeling unable to draw. The biggest problem with it is that the heavy computer use can cause my RSI to flare up, so I have to be very careful.

[ErithEl]

1) I waited until I had about a 40 page buffer before even considering posting my comic anywhere, and
2) I basically have no social life because pretty much all I do on my days off are work on new pages.

I'm sure it would be different if I had a set schedule that was the same days/same hours every week, because then I could get into a routine. Sadly, that is not the case, and trying to work on anything creative after work always depends on how exhausting the day has been (physically and mentally).

[ashriott]

Agree with above, I think those who are non-creatives are a majority here on Tapastic. I work a 9-6 job and it sometimes goes to 7 or 8pm depending on how busy it gets. I'll mostly work at night or on the weekends, since I have no life :]

I'm a couple chapters ahead of my comic atm, and I like to keep it that way. So I always to try to churn out twice as many pages as I upload with regular breaks now and then.

[MGO]

Nice thread!
In my case I'm working fulltime as a lawyer assistant at a lawyer's firm, so I draw at night. I don't have much time on weekends since I usually have family stuff, but I'd love to have more hours :/

As for the script, I think about it everywere. Usually on the bus/train or when taking a shower :')

[cyanste]

It always felt like there were more students and art folks doing comics nowadays. Started to feel a little lonely out here, haha!

[brunoharm3]

I'm In the same boat. I work 9 hours a day, 5days a week. got a wife and kid and cat, I own a house that requires a ton of work. don't get me started on the lawn. How I get a strip out every week is a miracle that I barely understand. I draw a little every night, and jam out the coloring on the weekends.

[scythe]

Do designers/illustrators count as art folk? Because they mostly work 9-5 schedules too.

I know I do. I have to get up early to work on my comic. Between work and that, most days I'm putting in at least 14 hours. It's a grind, but what else am I going to do?

[cyanste]

Do you guys count as art folk? I don't know -- I imagined the use of art skills and concepts in design and illustrating, so I shuffled it towards that. If I'm wrong, just let me know.

So with everyone working on comics, does anyone else try to schedule time to just practice, practice practice? Yeah, it kinda seems silly to post, but uh... yeah, work and everything else makes everything difficult.

[Wolven_Sister]

I'm in the same boat. It's really exhausting juggling an overbearing work schedule, everyday life/house maintenance routines, working on comics, and a social life. I've had to practically give up reading and video games. Currently saving up for a Cintiq Companion 2 so I can work on art during my lunch breaks XD

[scythe]

I had to give up video games just so I could partake in life. Giving up reading books, or I should say, postponing reading books has been one of the hardest things.

[ErithEl]

I had to give up video games just so I could partake in life.

This is the reason I never got into video games - because I knew it would end up taking up all my extra time! I also have to be careful about starting any new TV series (especially on netflix where you have the option to binge watch the whole thing!).

The reading thing was easy for me to solve. I've never been a good reader (I get distracted too easily), so I started getting audiobooks, and I can listen to them while I work on my comic!

[GlanceReviver]

If I go into a full time career, I won't be able to fulfill my quotas for comic sites I work for. But, what I get paid doing that doesn't pay all my bills either. It's kind of a no win situation. For a while I lived with my parents and I was able to support myself just from art, but after moving out and needing to make rent, I had to take a part-time job as a cashier. I wish I could do something more respectable (or better paid), but it's the only job I could find that allows me to work flexible hours and take off time for conventions and such.

[Wolven_Sister]

Giving up reading books, or I should say, postponing reading books has been one of the hardest things.

I totally agree. If I catch myself looking at books, I want to dive in nose first for a good, long reading session but then reality calls back and I have to put it away :c I cut down to reading manga since they take less time to read, but even then I only have time to read them during my 15 minute breaks at work and I have to choose between a quick nap or indulging in a good story :/

The reading thing was easy for me to solve. I've never been a good reader (I get distracted too easily), so I started getting audiobooks, and I can listen to them while I work on my comic!

I did this too for a while! :'D I went on an audibook binge and got several from my library, I got through 2 stories: Dracula (personal favorite, never get tired of that story) and the Thirteenth Tale though i started realizing if I got too immersed into art I "tune out" the audio and I'll have missed a whole chapter LOL!

[scythe]

Yep, I found this too. I gave the audiobooks a go, but found I was tuning out too much as well. I'd probably do an autobiography or something of that nature while drawing, but I wouldn't waste a good fiction on an audiobook while drawing. In the car sure, but I'd also be worried that by pulling my mind in two different directions both my drawing could suffer, and I'd miss the connection with the book.

I do this all the time when I get in the zone while drawing and I'm listening to music. I'll often blast through a whole album without really remembering what I've been listening to.

[GlanceReviver]

I watch way more TV than I ever used to, because that's the only activity I can do while I'm drawing. And I can't watch anything with subtitles or a heavy visual narrative while I'm drawing or I'll miss the whole story. I wish I had more time to read books, but I only get in about. 20 minutes or something before bed to do anything like that.

In addition to that, I find that keeping up with housework is troubling when I'm working like 50+ hours a week between my job and comics. The sink gets piled up with dishes and I forget to fold laundry or put things away. I don't really enjoy keeping a messy place, but all my family thinks I am a slob due to this problem, haha.

[ErithEl]

i started realizing if I got too immersed into art I "tune out" the audio and I'll have missed a whole chapter

Interesting...if it's a good story, it helps me concentrate more because then I want to just keep listening, and I end up drawing for hours! I've found I actually listen and concentrate better when I'm doing something with my hands, so it's interesting to hear how you guys are the opposite!

@scythe and @Wolven_Sister do you have music playing while you work, or do you end up getting so engrossed in your art you don't even need background noise?

[scythe]

I often start with music, but then the album stops and I don't realise. Then I do realise, and think, I'll put something on again after I finish this part... then another hour passes and I realise I really need to go pee.