Part time comic maker and part time other person

sarrowsmith10 2017-07-06 17:30:24 UTC #1

So it's an interesting world really. There are folks who make comics for a living. Being an artist is a full time job. (With the caveat that not all full time artists do comics full time of course) Then there is this other group of us who work full time or part time other jobs. Or are students or are parents or are just something else that pulls us away from making comics.

I'm one of those people. I work full time, I pick up my kiddo from daycare, I'm his parent until bedtime (complete with making dinner, washing dishes, doing laundry, feeding the cat, etc.). Most people that I know that are like me, this is their life. They might have a weekend hobby, or watch TV for an hour after their kid goes to bed. #adultlife right? Is it completely abnormal for someone in my situation to be trying to stay up all hours of the night making comics? I'm so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open, but yet here I am, still at it. My coworkers, while they think my art is cool, think I'm absolutely nuts. I am married, but my husband isn't around much because he's an EMT/Firefighter and his schedule is super bizarre. We see him once in a blue moon it feels like (and he does help and give me a break when he's home, so its not a true sob story haha)

I think what I'm looking for is just stories from other people in my situation. How do you make it work? How do you do all this other adult junk and still make comics?

eleoza 2017-07-06 17:56:21 UTC #2

I don't have a story like that but doing what makes you happy is the key here I think O:
As long as it doesn't have a bad influence on your other responsibilities. Kids should always come 1st ^_^ and you should stay healthy and cool at work, so I'd say get enough sleep, but use your free time to do what you love, making comics! Nothing abnormal about that heheh.
And there may be times when life gets so busy that you won't have time to draw, and that's ok. Draw when you like to draw and have time to do so :3
Also I think it's best not to have an update schedule for busy artists, update when you can, whether that's in 1 day or 1 week or 1 month. Don't give yourself a mandatory to update at least every day/week/month It will get stress off your back not to have a schedule I think.
But yeah, most of all; have fun, it's your life and you decide what you enjoy doing, nomatter if other people think that's 'nuts'

sarrowsmith10 2017-07-06 18:47:03 UTC #3

After my son was born and my maternity leave ended my upload schedule went to the dumps. I've always felt guilty about it. I really needed to hear this I think.

Chopythes 2017-07-06 19:08:31 UTC #4

I can't give you any advice, but I wanted you to know: I've always admired people who have jobs, kids and the whole family life while doing adult stuff as well.

How do you even handle it?
(I'm a bit scared that I might end up like my mum when she got kids, she stopped drawing and creating all together and that's a scary thought)

But please get yourself some sleep, you don't want to die of an heart attack due to stress D:

isaacfriedman 2017-07-06 19:44:01 UTC #5

I'm a mechatronics engineering student, a robotics researcher, an amateur video game designer, an amateur animator, I write scifi and fantasy stories in the hopes of winning scholarships, I run or participate in several DnD campaigns, and I write three comics which I can almost always update once a week each. The issue is, there are just so many projects I want to work on that I almost never have enough time for each one individually. I've been working on the same game for months and have made almost no progress. My comics are mediocre at best and I stay up WAY too late working on them. I haven't earned a single penny from my art or writing. The thing is, though... I really enjoy all of it. I love drawing ridiculous faces and monsters and designing a world that builds itself. I love to summon the undead and then go home and do some math homework. I love to spend all day on two seconds of animation and then the next morning wake up and work on something totally different. I'm not successful, but I'm definitely happy with what I do.

sarrowsmith10 2017-07-06 21:00:22 UTC #6

wow, engineering student, cool! The lab I manage is almost entirely engineers. (Of all varieties) What do you plan on doing with your degree?

I am not the most graceful example of making comics work. I don't keep a very good schedule and I struggle. (Seriously, I'm worse than Magicarp) I do like to draw with my son. I put my paper and markers next to his and loves to be like his mommy. Sometimes he steals my expensive copics, so I have to watch for that, but at least I'm doing art AND having fun with my toddler. It's not very focused though and I don't get much done.

Do what you can, right? Sort of make due with the situation at hand.

blanketfrog 2017-07-06 21:51:11 UTC #7

And here I am, feeling time-impoverished, with 2-3 hours per week night and entire weekends to make use of! I work full-time too (though no children), but haven't updated my comic in months because of "ughhh no time or energy or motivation" reasons... Reading about your schedule is making me re-evaluate my attitude a bit.

What is it that drives you to do this? I'm impressed by your motivation and energy, but wonder whether this comes at a cost to your health. Is it worth it? Do you feel as crazy as your co-workers think you are, sometimes? I hope none of that came across rudely, much respect for your hard work! C:

shaylafarley5 2017-07-07 01:27:58 UTC #8

I'm active military so I sorta feel your pain( no kids though) but if you have time over the weekends mainly Saturday or Sunday see if your parents or a close friend will come over and help watch the kids. That's should free your hands up for a few hours while you sketch/draw things out.

isaacfriedman 2017-07-07 01:57:16 UTC #9

Well, I'd love to go into entertainment robotics or entertainment additive manufacturing. The big dream is to either work for Disney as an Imagineer or work with Laika as an artist and model designer. I'd really like to make money doing both art and engineering simultaneously.

Kabushi 2017-07-07 13:06:46 UTC #10

I should preface this with: I'm not an artist.

For my full-time job; I own and run a small business in the heart of the city, with all the huge overheads that come with it. Today I started at 8am and left at 8pm. With 2-3 hour travel all up, it's a long day. Then I come home and finish up any work I didn't get a chance to do. I usually eat at my desk, with my work in front of me, and trying to maintain a relationship through the walls.

And then, at about 11pm, I start the comic stuff.

I'm the writer (of quite a few comics), graphic designer, brand builder, marketer, social media manager, and website(s) monkey. I sketch things and do some of the layouts on a few of our projects. I spend time animating panels and because I'm an insane perfectionist, I spend hours trying to make them as seamless and natural as possible.

Most nights I get about an hour to do some things and then I'll try to do smaller things throughout the day if I get the time. I don't have kids yet (a choice we made because, as you'd know, priorities change drastically when that happens and we're not ready to be that selfless) but I do have 4 dogs, 1 cat, and 2 guinea pigs... so there's still a lot of poop and vomit to clean. It can be so mentally and physically draining sometimes.

I think it all comes with the territory. That passion and drive, to not just succeed but to form something with your own brain and hands and ultimately breathe life into it.

You are definitely not nuts. You are a creative.

At the same time, always be kind to yourself. If you notice things are getting overwhelming, take a step back for a while. Much better to take a break than to burn out.

azureXtwilight 2017-07-07 14:19:50 UTC #11

I don't work as an artist full-time, as in, art has always been my part time work. I do comics because I want to finish a story and I also do commissions, but outside of that I am also a full-time doctor. I might not have a significant other or children yet, but I work in two hospitals, is seldom at home and sometimes have to force myself awake at night after a 36-hour shift to finish pages or do commissions. But art is a passion, and I want to finish my story for the sake of everyone reading it.

sarrowsmith10 2017-07-07 15:16:50 UTC #12

Wow. This is freaking awesome. I have my masters in business management, and I have nothing but respect for people who run small businesses that are brick and mortar. I'm also glad there is someone else out there who works all day and still does the art hustle at night. I have pets too. Between vet bills and vomit and poop cleanup, I totally get it. Some days, kid duty is easier haha.

We have 6 volumes in print already and 3 more in the works to finish the series. The writer sent me the rest of the story and it has me so excited. I want to finish this project so bad and get a tradeback printed. It would be a dream come true.

I have a friend who works as an Imagineer as an engineer. He loves his job. Says all the hype is totally true.

Dang. That's really amazing. I know how grouchy my husband is after a long shift working with patients, I can't imagine having motivation after doing what you're doing. (It's not that he doesn't like people, he loves people and loves his job, but sometimes patients are their own worst enemy)

DMBrigman 2017-07-07 16:29:34 UTC #13

I work a full-time job, no children, have a dog, and also have a firefighter significant other. I put out one comic page a week and occasionally make time for smaller projects in-between.

It is a balancing act between housework, dog walking, social activities, and other adulting stuff, and can be overwhelming. Especially since I put a moratorium on creative stuff when my SO is home.

I try to set goals and realize progress is progress. I draw for half an hour at lunch, and one hour each evening before bedtime. It means I cut corners to make deadlines but I haven't yet missed an update! I also found a collaborator who takes care of the lettering which saves me some time. It helps me to have specific time set apart for activities and to be in the mindset to do what I can in the time allotted and don't stress if it is not enough.

UbePie 2017-07-08 13:47:14 UTC #14

I worked a full time job in mental health. It was stressful, but I had been working in healthcare since I was 19 in one way or another. I went to school for psychology, after being talked out of Art. But when you love something you come back to it, no matter what.

Balancing work, and adult life is hard but if you are passionate about your comic about your art, eventually you'll make time, and you'll do your best. It might not be at the rate that you want it to be, but it'll be something you are proud of.

I'm like you staying up all night, finishing my comic, finishing my school work, and then going to the hospital to work PRN at six am in the morning. After the first week of posting my comic, my niece came to stay with me. I worked at the hospital on weekend, took care of her during the week. Cooked a home made meal for dinner every night for her and my partner. Tucked her into bed, sat down at the computer worked on my midterm project and then my comic.

It's worth it though, I'm lucky enough that currently I only have to work PRN. When I worked full time I was the main bread winner in the household, but my partner is so supportive we re budgeted everything so I can be PRN finish school and have time for my art. I'm also trying to break into the local art scene in my city, and will be setting up at a local event at the end of this month. I may not have a lot of free time but I've never been happier.

But it sounds like despite everything you are doing very well with your comic! Keep at it! Even if it's not as consistent as you'd like.