Career vs Comics

[Kayke]

I'm sure there has gotta be some cross over! I know there's a few cartoonists I follow that switched to other kinds of art (games, kids books, clothing design) that held my interest through the shift!

Also, your job sounds pretty cool even if there's no poolside oreos

[alaingrey]

totally- I think that's any studio in general- games or otherwise. Games studios just have a massive burnout rate. To be fair, I probably draw the most outside of work out of our art team, it just hasn't been comics. Mostly I've been trying to build up a super generic 'game art' portfolio in case I ever want to expand my career somewhere else. When I look at my comic it's hard to justify sinking the hours in because it's not a very game-y setting, and the art style I chose isn't the realism that's industry standard for games. I'd love to be able to go home and work on a comic, but the standalone art I've been making is just more useful. Bleh.

@Kaykedrawsthings yeah I cant lie I have a pretty awesome job B) I draw, drink beers at my desk, make jokes, animate, get to go to conventions and skip all the lines... sometimes we have oreos in the office, even.

The more Im thinking about 'what do' it occurs to me that short stories exist and can satisfy that updating need and also be good Game Portfolio work 9 - 9 There's always a happy medium.

[indagold]

I balanced out comics and having a job by making a large buffer so I don't have to deal with running behind on comics. I make some comics during the work week, giving an hour a day to work on parts of it and save some more time for the weekend. I work fast and do multiple pages at once so I'm not slogging along at barely one page a week.

[sarrowsmith10]

My day job can be exhausting and now that I have a little toddler I have to chase around when I get home, I'm constantly too tired to even lift a stylus. But when its something you love and are devoted to, I guess you sorta just figure it out. For my readers who complain about uploads being too slow, my thoughts are always well that's just too bad. It will happen when it will happen. I just do my best to balance my life and that's all any one can ask for I think.

[DMBrigman]

I don't think it is lazy pick a day job over comic work. After all for most the comic isn't bringing in any income. I guess you have to ask yourself, why are you making the comic, and what is it doing for you?

For me, I was only drawing at work, in a style that wasn't my "natural style". I also suffered from some serious burnout at work and decided it was time to look for a new job. The problem was, I didn't have much I could put in a portfolio, and since I neglected personal art, I didn't have an online presence or industry contacts. So, I decided to start doing personal work, and a webcomic. So, for me, I have achieved what I wanted. I have increased my web presence, have new portfolio pieces, gained industry contacts, have people looking at my stuff. All of that stuff helped me get a new job that is better than my old one. I could decide to drop my webcomic, but I find it rewarding and I am able to produce a page per week while still leaving myself personal time. If my work/life balance started to suffer then a hiatus would be a definite possibility.

[sainity]

So now getting a job is desperate. Lmao you should be happy that there are jobs in your place.

[Heck]

I think I would rather gouge out my own eyes with my thumbs than work at Target.

[sainity]

Say that when you move out of your parents' house.

[azureXtwilight]

Here's a bummer of a topic for you guys-- when have you had to choose between your FT job and your webcomic? Does making the choice mean you're a 'lazy' creator?

Not really, I would probably choose my full-time job as a doctor over webcomics when the choice arises... In order to balance it, I have to take a hiatus every once in a while to build a buffer. Nobody pays you to do this so you have to choose your well-being over anything else.

[solhawthorne]

I decided just a little while ago to forgo taking an extra semester to work on creative projects and instead jump right into a full-time position at my current internship. I work in a super serious programming position dealing with criminals and hackers and the like which I love and I throw my heart and soul into it but that doesn't leave a whole lot of room for comics. After working in such a field for awhile I can't help but feel something like disdain for "frivolities" like comics when it feels like I could be making a difference by spending more time at work or using my free time to study, etc. I know it's a fast-track to burnout but the calling is real.

I hope to finish the comic that I'm currently working on and aim to publish starting this fall but unfortunately I don't know if I could dedicate the necessary time and commitment to do creative work afterwards while full-time. It's a shame my personality gets in the way of making comics an "easy and relaxing" hobby. I have massive respect to those who try to do it anyway!

[Heck]

k
"I think I would rather gouge out my own eyes with my thumbs than work at Target."

[alaingrey]

Damn that's totally the same way I feel. Its like working on a comic with a small following just out of passion is 'frivolous' when I could be working on the 'big deal' jobs out there. It totally sucks feeling that way, because it does mean nothing is fun, and I'm on that burnout path too : P

Good luck with that programming job though, those are great to have ^_^

And guys, can we not criticize each others choices to work or not work? :"D This shouldn't be a Thread of Shame

[Shanny8]

And guys, can we not criticize each others choices to work or not work? :"D This shouldn't be a Thread of Shame

A job is a job. It may not be the sweetest thing in the world, but if it pays bills, puts food in your mouth, and allows you to buy art stuffs & pay internet so you can be on tapastic, then there's nothing bad about it.

[agentfink]

I was working a FT art job, freelancing, and trying to do my comic for a while.

I would wake up at 4am to work on my comic, go to work, then come home and freelance-- and when/if able-- work on the comic at night. I didn't need to freelance, but after a while I decided to stop it and only do a project at a time when it presented itself to me, not trying to find it. When I was at work, I wanted to work on my comic. When I was home, I wanted to work on my comic. When my job outsourced everyone last year I decided it was a good opportunity to concentrate more on the comic. So, I feel like I am starting a new career, still art related, so I am using all the skills I had before, just using it for my own projects.

I'm at a point in my life where I want to do something that makes me happy and my husband and I are getting by without my working. I'd probably be able to get a PT job close to home if we really needed it.

[schlisselart]

I first started making comics in my free time after graduating. When I got a job I didn't have much time anymore but I'd spend my weekends making them. Now that I'm a freelance illustrator working from home I have more time but I admit to sacrificing the quality of my work for my comics and vise versa. I want to make a living off of my comics but that seems like a pipe dream since my stuff doesn't get noticed.

[shaylafarley5]

I couldn't afford college so I enlisted, (which was a bad idea) because I have absolutely no free time. They won't even let me go to school unless I jump through so many obstacles to even get approval. So I only have time to draw on saturdays, but Sundays mostly and that's if I don't have duty.

I'm hiding right now as I post this so I can get phone service ,lol

[demthorshie]

I think I've always chosen my day job over my comic. I do my job from home so that's always a bonus, comics are just something I do for fun. I never intend to make any real money doing it, I just enjoy sharing it with the world. It's not going to pay the bills, feed and clothe me so it will always take a back seat before my daytime work.

[profparsec]

My comic was a lot easier to maintain when I worked in trades, as my schedule shifted between full-time and part-time. The financial instability was a bit stressful and eventually forced me to look for a new job.

Unfortunately, I didn't have just A and B to choose between, because about 8 months into my fulltime job, I got really sick and for months after, my life has been limited to going to work, getting the absolute bare minimum chores and tasks done, and sleeping. I haven't drawn a comic in months, and it's so hard to have to choose, but until I have financial stability or my comics garner enough attention, I can't choose comics over my day job.

I will say this though: I have a friend who works in the movies and games industries and just saves up money to support herself between contracts and uses that time to work on her comics. It seems to work out really well for her, so there is a bit of a have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too that exists for each person if they're willing to prioritize and dedicate time.

[colonel_ressentiment]

I'm really impressed by everyone working on art in their full-time position and then still being able to come back home and draw. I know I couldn't do that. Right now all of my work is technical and then all of my free time is more creative/comic-related though, so I've been able to find a pretty good balance so far.

[mg78]

i choosed my actual full time job because i was in need of money, there was no chance to work in the comic business (payed of course) AND i've got no chanches to be now or in the future in a "career way".
italy... so full of win XD

When I come home I feel drained from making art all day,

well, i come back home and im drained to do anything.

has your comic lead to opportunities that your day job hasn't?

my comic let me alive and let me live my passions. imho its the only fun solutions for a work/fun personal work balance.