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Jezebel · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2001 7:19 am

Anyone have any advice as to how I can pick up some freelance work? I'm not really ready for a typical desk job in art, I would like to see how I handle some small jobs first. Are there maybe any good websites or forums where I can find work? Thanks all

Beth

Hippie · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2001 12:51 pm

Hey Jezebel, as for websites there are some like guru.com or elance.com which you can post work for and people can browse and decide if they want ot hire you. Also you can browse to see who is looking for artist to commission and then make a bid on the project. The problem with these sites is there are rarely illustration jobs on them.

What I normally do if go to the library and in the reference section you should be able to find a 2001 Artist Market. This is a reference book with the addresses and names of art directors from book covers to magazine spot illustrations. And the book says what they normally pay and how many jobs per year they usuaally commision. It's the best way to look for work most of the companies have email addy's and you can send a query letter to the art director with a link to a portfolio on the web. But be prepared to print some artwork in case they want you to come into thier offices and show your portfolio.

Hope this helps.

pixualize · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2001 9:13 pm

Well I'm still far from being useful on this subject because I'm still looking for more freelance work too.

But...

The book cover commissions I did land came from my web site. I am also a member of the ASFA and they offer a small space to their members to post an online portfolio. You can check up on them here:
http://www.asfa-art.org/

As mentioned, the Artist's market is a great place to start but most art directors are still hesitant to recieve samples in digital media. Most want tear sheets and prints. Some even still accept slides. Wizards of the Coast will take portfolios on disk.

A cool place that will print a quality portfolio in book form is
http://www.giclee.com/

but they're kinda pricey.

artboy · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2001 2:50 pm

Can someone explain what a "tear sheet" is and show me an example of one?

Thanks,
-artboy

Loukus · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2001 1:38 am

HMmm. I was wondering, I didn't see it on the site. Is this membership fee for the asfa a Monthly/yearly, or otherwise thing.

Joel Loukus

pixualize · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2001 8:22 am

The "tear-sheet" comes from the printer. When a book or magazine is made, generally the covers are printed separately because they are printed on a different stock (or even in color) from the regular body of the book. A "tear-sheet" is basically something that would be "torn" from the book once it is put together. Sometimes a printer will supply extra covers to use as samples of your artwork. And a lot of times you can negotiate with your client for extra copies of the publication so you can tear off the covers and stick them in you portfolio.

ASFA dues are $30 per year and includes the Quarterly, their magazine and you can also vote in the Chesley awards. Now that you mention it - I think I'm up for renewal.