{"id":50785,"date":"2024-09-15T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-15T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/?p=50785"},"modified":"2025-10-29T15:07:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T15:07:19","slug":"i-wish-i-knew-that-freelancing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/spotlights\/i-wish-i-knew-that-freelancing\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI wish I knew that!” – Freelancers speak out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Juneau Projects, Artist Duo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Juneau Projects<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Being a creative freelance duo for the last twenty years has been a real rollercoaster of a ride. We\u2019ve made a lot of mistakes over the years but have also somehow managed to get some things right too. We\u2019ve learnt a lot about what not to do: during our early years we had periods where only blind naivety and optimism kept us going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years though, we have learnt to look at the bigger picture. Projects and commissions come erratically: at some points we have had much less work than we would like, at other points we have been snowed under. We have learnt to accept the pattern of these things, the ebb and flow, and to work with it and to support each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There isn\u2019t a map of how to work together, it\u2019s an ongoing process and the most important part is to enjoy it and have some fun! It\u2019s a different process to working on your own: it takes time to develop a shared language, and even longer to share that language with other people. We tend to think of it as a conversation, and just like a conversation, it\u2019s really important to listen as well as to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juneau Projects is the collaborative practice of artists Philip Duckworth and Ben Sadler. They have worked together for over twenty years and have been based in Birmingham, UK for most of that time. Most of their projects involve working with people. They began making performances together and their work has evolved over the years to focus on creating public art works, with and for communities, that are inspired by the natural world on our doorsteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find more from Juneau Projects on their\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Liv Collins, Artist, Writer and Graphic Designer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Liv Collins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One thing I wish I\u2019d known ~ is that everyone is just winging it, truly everyone<\/em>. It can feel like you\u2019re the only one who\u2019s a scrambled egg, but actually everyone is just figuring it out ! It\u2019s best to learn as you go.<\/em> Don\u2019t wait for everything to be perfect. Just jump in, and you can learn and change things as you go. We\u2019re all capable, creative beings, and it\u2019s totally alright to learn on the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes it can be hard to narrow down what services you want to offer. It\u2019s best to keep it simple. Start with 1 or 2 offers – and set your prices high (!!). Yep, I know this is scary \u2013 but so often when we start out, we undersell ourselves. So charge what your work is worth, and up your damn prices already!! Also, try to promote your services\/ offerings often. Don\u2019t worry about being cringe or salesy, just tell people what you do in a way which feels good to you. That\u2019s how you find new clients + earn that shmun <3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freelancing can be isolating, especially when you\u2019re working from home. Finding a community of fellow freelancers, whether irl or url, is so important. For me, The Content Club<\/a><\/em> has been a lifeline \u2013 I actually couldn\u2019t imagine being a freelancer without the support, advice + love of the amazing people in this community. p.s if you need a cheerleader get in touch !! I\u2019ll hype u up xx<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liv is the founder of Liv Collins Studios, a creative studio which champions womxn, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists and biz owners. She writes articles, exhibition reviews, designs funky graphics, and is about to start a new Substack which shares positive queer and cultural news every Tues. P.s she is still absolutely winging it, and making it up as she goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find more from Liv on\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Substack<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Kanj Nicholas, Artist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Kanj Nicholas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If I was to give my younger self any advice on how to be successful as a freelance artist, is that variety is the key to having a sustainable practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Widening my net and exploring new opportunities, applying for grants, commissions and projects has enabled me to have a sustainable practice and provided me with a steady stream of income. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaborating with other artists has enriched my practice and helped me grow. There is a saying I love: \u201cIf you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go with others.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be afraid of rejection\u2026 Try and try again! Never give up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find more of Kanj’s work on her\u00a0website<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Erin McClean, Freelance Illustrator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Erin McClean<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I wish I knew that it wasn\u2019t always going to be easy and straightforward, and that working another job didn\u2019t make me a failure. I was perhaps a little na\u00efve when I was a fresh graduate with an ambition to be a freelance children\u2019s book illustrator. I thought it would happen quickly. I had determination, an illustration degree, and a portfolio website. I was ready to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reality, however, was it took me years to land my first commercial freelance job, and even longer to land my first children\u2019s book. I balanced a fulltime \u2018day-job\u2019 while working on re-doing my whole portfolio, making industry connections and building a social media following. I felt like a failure because I couldn\u2019t live off my freelance work and relied on my day-job to pay my bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wish someone had told me that it\u2019s ok to not be an instant overnight success. Having another job gave me benefits (mentally, socially and financially), stability, and allowed me the creative freedom to work on my portfolio and not take jobs that were badly paid to make ends meet. I now realise that most artists are not overnight successes. Years of hard work, that we often don\u2019t see, are behind their successful freelance careers. My advice would be to not be too hard on yourself. Don\u2019t worry if you have another job, or multiple income streams. You\u2019re not a failure. Just keep going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erin is a freelance children’s book illustrator. She graduated with a BA in Illustration from Falmouth University in 2017 and has been illustrating ever since. Erin loves drawing cute, energetic characters and incorporating bright colour palettes and traditional textures into her work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find more from Erin on her\u00a0website<\/a>,\u00a0TikTok<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora, Artist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My personal experience of freelancing as a visual artist over the last 18 years was very tumultuous in my twenties and much more sure footed in the last 6 years. There have been great highs with brilliant commissions and projects I have worked on, and my biggest challenge has been to find consistency in both the kind of work I wanted to make through commissions and funding and making it a financially viable and stable career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my twenties when I was first starting out, I found it a difficult path to navigate and found the number of commissions and opportunities very unpredictable at times. Coming from a working-class background with immigrant parents, I was taught how to work hard, but the nuance of understanding the art world was something I had to learn through years of experience. Perhaps because of that reason I have always had a part time or full-time job alongside my freelance arts career, in the last 14 years I have taught Photography and currently I\u2019m a lecturer on the BA (Hons) Photography course at Birmingham City University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A big turning point for my freelance arts practice was after having my second child in 2018. I was getting more steady commissions; I was far more confident in myself and working in this sector and so I stepped up my commitment to my arts practice dedicating 2 days a week to it. In the last 5 years I have consistently made between 10-15k a year freelancing alongside my teaching salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora (Panjabi, Brummie,<\/em> artist, mother and educator<\/em>) is an award-winning multi-disciplinary artist whose work focuses on a socially engaged practice, working with local communities. She is interested in celebrating untold stories while exploring visual representations of gender, ethnicity and place, working with the aim to empower and give voice to marginalised communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find more from Jaskirt on her\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Nicole Cicak, Illustrator and Entrepreneur<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Nicole Cicak<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I wish I knew that, while things would be really tough in the beginning, it wouldn\u2019t take long for my freelance business to gain traction. Getting those first few clients is so hard. After that, it gets much easier because words spreads quick if you do a good job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When first launching a freelance business, my advice would be to tell everyone you know several times that you\u2019re freelancing. Shout it from the rooftops and clients will come out of the woodwork. Even if a family member, like a grandparent, seems like they couldn\u2019t find you work, chances are they know someone who knows someone who could use your services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My best advice for keeping clients happy is to never let them contact you asking about the status of a project. Check in frequently with updates so they don\u2019t have to. Make them feel like their project is in the best hands. When you mess up, own it and apologize. And always be true to your word and finish the project on time. Unless the scope of work changes. Then, give the client plenty of heads up that the project will take longer than anticipated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find more of Nicole’s work on her website.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Hannah Walker, Freelance Fashion\/Graphic Designer and Content Creator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Hannah Walker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jumping into content creation and freelance design after a 7-year career in fashion design wasn\u2019t exactly on my bingo card. But I wish I had known just how much showing up online, sharing my work, and revealing my process could pivot my entire career path in just a few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I\u2019m an Adobe Express Ambassador, a freelance fashion\/graphic designer, and a content creator. Most of my time is spent working with female-owned small businesses, helping them elevate their content and connect with their online communities and goals\u2014and I absolutely LOVE it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few things I wish I knew before starting this journey:<\/p>\n\n\n\n