Llife's Never Been This Good To Me
It's the title of a very funny Coaster's song from about 1959, and that's the way I'm beginning to feel right now as I work on my second elaborate piece for my new client who reappeared after a 3 and a half year absence.
As an illustrator/artist doing it full time since 1983, I've learned to live with the insecurity of only being "as good as my last job" and wondering where the next one would be coming from. Clients have come and gone, and, for the most part, most were "one shots", clients for whom I did but one job. This was not necessarily a reflection of the quality of the work I did, or a reflection of how they may have felt about me, just the way it has gone. It has, however, been a real challenge for me. I had always thoiught that the longer I worked at my profession, the easier it would be to get jobs due to repeat clients and good word of mouth.
Now, just perhaps, it is happening. Shhhhhh...don't put a hex on it!
My client and the people he is showing my work to are all pleased with what I've been generating. I have been too. And, I am truly generating this work: the conception is coming from me, and these are my babies. I love them. It's very exciting to be doing the best work one can do for a happy client who is also treating me well. It must be too good to be true, after all, life's never been this good to me. (it's a great song, you really ought to look it up).
At this moment, I have a number of other jobs too, and they are all rewarding on some level. I almost have more work than I can handle. Hey, I said, "almost". If this keeps up through the end of the year, I will feel that I have truly turned a big professional corner.
And, if and when I have some down time, I'll begin replacing the art that sold over the last month at the festivals. I must be in Art Heaven!
As an illustrator/artist doing it full time since 1983, I've learned to live with the insecurity of only being "as good as my last job" and wondering where the next one would be coming from. Clients have come and gone, and, for the most part, most were "one shots", clients for whom I did but one job. This was not necessarily a reflection of the quality of the work I did, or a reflection of how they may have felt about me, just the way it has gone. It has, however, been a real challenge for me. I had always thoiught that the longer I worked at my profession, the easier it would be to get jobs due to repeat clients and good word of mouth.
Now, just perhaps, it is happening. Shhhhhh...don't put a hex on it!
My client and the people he is showing my work to are all pleased with what I've been generating. I have been too. And, I am truly generating this work: the conception is coming from me, and these are my babies. I love them. It's very exciting to be doing the best work one can do for a happy client who is also treating me well. It must be too good to be true, after all, life's never been this good to me. (it's a great song, you really ought to look it up).
At this moment, I have a number of other jobs too, and they are all rewarding on some level. I almost have more work than I can handle. Hey, I said, "almost". If this keeps up through the end of the year, I will feel that I have truly turned a big professional corner.
And, if and when I have some down time, I'll begin replacing the art that sold over the last month at the festivals. I must be in Art Heaven!
posted by Rich Sigberman at
5:04 PM
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