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TheArtofFreelancing:FindingYourAuthenticStyle
Introduction
Lookaround.Everywhere,ineverynookandcranny,thereisevidenceofart.
TheCommunitiesofPracticeinArtandDesign;indepth,thefreelanceartistsdiscourse
community.Thefreelanceartistsdiscoursecommunityisahighlyinquiredgroupofthe
modernsocietyintermsofartisticcommissionalfulfillment.Theconceptofafreelance
artistisbeingaselfemployedartist,whotakescommissionsbasedontheirclients
requestsandexecutesthemasmuchinfavor,andusuallyunderashorttermcontract.
Thefreelanceartistscommunityisacrucialorganizationconsideringthegrowing
statisticsoftheinfluenceofartinmanyothercommunities,whetherornottheyarein
relationtotheartanddesignfield.Thenotionofbeingunderashorttermcontractallows
theclienttolenientlycooperatewiththeartist.Withoutthefreelanceartistscommunity,
ortheCommunitiesofPracticeinArtandDesigningeneral,manyothercommunities
wouldnotbeassuccessfulasitistoday.Advertisements,fashionindustries,architectural
designs,etc.wouldbenonexistent.Forexample,themajorityofmainstreamfashion
companiesbuydesignsfromothersmallercompanies,whichareusuallycreatedby
groupsoffreelanceartists.Artisalsoahighlyadmiredsubjectandiskeentograb
attention,hencethecreationandentityofartmuseums,fashiondistricts,film,dance,etc.
Anartistisnotonlylimitedtoaformofexpressionthroughpaperandpencil;thevery
existenceofanartistisatoolthatshapestheworldeveryday.Thefreelanceartists
communityisaprominentcontributiontosocietyforitsfluidityinshapeandadaptation
toawidevarietyofothercommunities.

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Wordcount:271
Methods
Inordertobringfurtherinsighttomydiscoursecommunityofinterest,Ihave
executedaseriesofinterconnectionsandresearchwithmembersofthegroup.The
conceptoffreelancingisarathervagueanddiverseterminanyfield;hencetheamount
ofdepthandintellectitrequirestosucceedisambiguous.Thebasicfoundationofbeinga
freelanceartiststartsofffromtheindividual.Therefore,muchofmyresearchwasbased
offofandledbymypersonalinterestsandmethods.Itargetedthelargerartcommunities
onlineandthenalsolookedintopersonalartblogsformoredetailsinthefield.Itrequires
constantdedicationandhardworkinordertoholdaplaceinthisparticularsociety.One
mayseeitasafreeconceptionbutbecauseofitsbroadandabstractnotion,manyartists
tendtostrayfromtheirpathorlosetheirmotivationaldrive.Sincetheconceptismostly
selfmotivatedandrathervague,itmayseemdifficulttograspatfirst,howeverextending
onesexposuretotheirchosenfieldonlinecanbeanadvantageinthistimeandage.
ManyoftheresourcesIfoundwerebasedoffofpersonalopinionsandadvicesfrom
countlessamountsofartistsfrommanydifferentgenres.Also,theexistenceofsocial
mediaandtheInternetcanserveasasignalboostforonescareerandanimmediate
outreachtothecommunity.Allinall,thebestmethodtoventurefurtherintothisfieldis
apathonepavesontheirown.
Wordcount:253
FactsandDiscussion

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ThefreelanceartistscommunityisaprominentassociationoftheCommunities
ofPracticeinArtandDesign,especiallyinthistimeandagewherevisualsarekeyassets
tosuccessinmanybusinesses.Thoughtheconceptoffreelancingmaybean
individualisticperception,thecommunityasawholeisadurablefoundationoftheart
world;theyarethemanybranchesofonetree.Insimplerterms,thefreelanceartists
discoursecommunitiesaretheclosestdirectassociationwithsociety.Todayspopular
fashionindustries,productmarkets,andinteriordecorsarebuiltfromfreelanceartists,
whoareusuallyunderashorttermcontract,basedonthedesignatedcompany.The
notionofbeingunderashorttermcontractisaconvenientaspect,whichallowstheartist,
orartists,tocooperateandprogresswiththecompany.Societyinfluencesartandart
influencessociety.Withitsdynamicflowwithsocietysdemands,freelanceartistsadapt
andcreategreaterandmoreefficientworksthatinfluenceandchangethisworld
everyday.
Therearemanythingstopreparepersonallybeingafreelanceartistbecausethe
supportingpillaristheindividualhimorherself.Withoutastablecoreandfoundation,
startingacareerinthisfieldmayormaynotbechallengingdependingonthe
circumstancesandcurrenteconomicstatus.Thecommunityisalwayschangingand
developingnewconceptsbasedontheeventsandperiodsoftime.Thecenterofthis
discoursecommunityisacollaborationofdifferentindividualswithawidevarietyof
distinctiveattributesinartisticskills.Sincetheconceptoffreelancingisbeingself
employed,selfpromotingisabeneficialfactor.Freelanceartistsareeitherassociated
withacompanyonashorttermbasisorwithanindependentcontractor.However,the

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methodofgettingoutintotheworldcompletelydependsontheindividualandisa
crucialaspecttoonescareer.Thefreelanceartistscommunityisasimplycomplex
discoursecommunitybecauseitbranchesoffinunlimitedextentsdependingontheartist;
itisanabstractapperception.Therefore,itisratherdifficulttopayspecialattention,or
pinpoint,thecommunityitself.Inaddition,theartworldholdsacompetitiveambience.
Manymembersofthisdiscoursecommunitybecomeinvisibleorburnoutsincethe
conceptofartissuchaflexiblenotion,whichrequirestheartisttobeconstantly
metamorphosingtosocietysmold.Hence,itismostlyaboutwhetheroneiswillingto
takeadvantageofthepressureandexpand,orsimplybeoppressedandfalloutofthe
community.
SocialMediahasandalwayswillbethemajorcommunicativemechanisminany
discoursecommunity,andinthiscase,especiallyartcommunities.Connectionsmaystart
offonmajorsocialmediaoutlets,suchasFacebook,Tumblr,Reddit,Pinterest,etc.and
thenexpandtospecificwebsitesandautobiographicalblogsbasedontheartbranch.For
example,artcommunitywebsites,suchasConceptArt.organdStashMagazine,isopen
tothepublicandallowsaccesstocountlessamountsofefficientartists,eachdesignated
toacertainfieldofexpertise.TakingadvantageoftheInternetcanbeaseriouslifesaver
andcanserveasaselfextensiontosociety,allowingtheartisttobeconstantlyupdated
withthecurrenttrendandaccessibletoopportunities.Beinganartist,itisimportantto
holdaplaceinthediscoursecommunity.Aspreviouslymentioned,thecompetitiverates
arephenomenal.Ofcourseitisessentialtohaveoriginalityandcreativitybuttobe

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successful,asinanycareer,onemustsignificantlycontributeandbeactiveinthe
community.
Thetermcommissionisacommonlyusedlexisinthefreelancingartists
discoursecommunity.Thebasicdefinitionofcommission,basedoffofWikipedia.com,
isthehiringandpaymentforthecreationofapiece,oftenonbehalfofanother.Itisa
businesspartnershipbetweentheartistandtheclientforthecreationofanartworkbased
ontheclientsinterests.Intermsofformingacontractwithaclient,bothpartiescan
scheduleapersonalmeetingforamorethoroughdiscussionaboutthecommission,or
contactthemviatext,phonecall,email,etc.Inaworldruledmainlybycapitalism,being
afreelanceartistisnotthebestcareerprocedure,butwithoutitthevibrantcolorsand
shapesusedinmarketingwouldnotexistandbusinesseswouldbecomestagnantand
bland.Forexample,ifyoulookatthecompanyApple,peoplearecaptivatedbythe
electronicssleekanduniquedesignanditsfigure.Thephoneisadeviceusedtoconnect
peopleviatechnology,butAppledoesitinstyle.Ofcoursenotallfreelanceartistsare
connectedtolargecompaniesbutmanyareapartofsmallindependentcompaniesthat
assistthegreaterones.Foranindividualfreelanceartist,financialissuesareoneofthe
greatestdilemmas.Manynewfreelanceartistsstruggletomaintainastablemtier
becauseoffinancialmisconductandpoorlyratedchargesfortheircommissions.Being
thoroughlyawareofthefinancialcommongroundhelpsartistsweightheirworth,asin
anyotherbusinesses.AccordingtostatisticsasofMarch31,2015,presentedby
payscale.com,theaverageconceptartistcharges$15.95$72.72hourly,anillustrator
$10.13$49.59hourly,andawebdesigner$10.287$41.64hourly.

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Oneofthekeyaspectsofbeingafreelanceartistinalargecommunityissurvival.
Someessentialtipstosurviveasafreelanceartist,fromArtStationMagazine,arethe
following.One,workforacompanyfirst.Manyfreelanceartistswantstostartoffright
awayasanindependentartistbutitsbeneficialtogainsomefieldworkexperiencebefore
starting.Experiencealsogivestheartistaccesstoknowhowsandconnectionsinthe
field.Second,haveapositiveandeffectiveselfpromotion.Itisgoodtobemodestbut
selfvaluingisaessentialfactor.Third,usesocialmediabecausetheInternetisanartists
extensionofself.Companieshaveadvertisementstogainacknowledgementand
connectionsandthesamegoesforfreelanceartists.Fourth,haveaconstructive
interactionwiththeclientbecausebeingabletocommunicatewiththeclientwillhelpin
gettingtheconcretedetailsofthecommission.Fifth,berespectful.Itisgoodtoshow
onespersonalityandstylebutitisalsoimportanttorespectoneanother.Remember,this
isstillbusiness.Sixth,stayorganized.Considerthisasanyotherprofessionaloccupation;
organizingfilesandfinancesisanimperativeattribute.Seventh,haveconsistencyin
routine;itsgoodtokeepanorganizedschedule,andmakingitahabitbenefitsthe
workflow.Eighth,havededicationtothejob;treatthisasafulltimejobandhave
commitment.Ninth,stayinspired.Keepingaconsistentcreativeoutletformotivationis
significantandisoneofthecorevaluesasafreelanceartist.Andfinally,tenth,have
reasonableselfvaluation;thisismorethanahobbyofartsandcrafts,itsaprofession.
Respectthat.Thereforeitisimportanttokeepaclarifiedlistofcostsandregulationsof
onescommissions.Dependingonwhatartfieldtheartistworksin,theamountof
workloadvariesandthecomplexitydiffers.AccordingtoKatieHofgard,apainter,

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illustratorandfreelanceartist,andmanyotherfreelanceartistsbelievethatfreelancers
haveatendencytonevertrulybeawayfrom[their]work,regardlessofthetimeordayof
theweekbutitisalsocrucialtospendpersonaltimejustlikeanyoneelsedoingany
otherkindofwork.Therearealsomanyotherobstaclessuchasmotivationaldeficiency,
financialsupport,businessethics,andetc.butinordertosurviveinacompetitive
community,itisimportanttostayactiveandconnected.Sincefreelancingisaself
empoweredworkethic,comparedtoanorganizationorcompany,itisuptothe
individualtopavehisorherownroadtosuccession.
Artisanabstractconceptandaneverchangingperceptionofthecommunity.
Takefashiondesignasanexample.Therearedesigntrendsandconceptualmovements
thatareconstantlychangingasfastastheseasonsdoovertheyearswithcountless
amountsofcolorcoordinationandfabricsequencestomeetthedemandsofsociety.To
belucrativeinsuchfieldrequiresapassionatedrive,theabilitytomultitask,awarenessto
thesurroundings,andmuchmore.Notonlyinthefashionprofessionbutalsoin,ifnot
all,artdiscoursecommunities,aconsistentdriveisavitalfacet.Therearedifferent
attributestoeachbranchoftheartcommunitywithadifferentsetofskillsand
requirements.Additionally,dependingonthedifferentcategoriesofart,thelexisalso
changes.MostfreelanceartistsspecializeinonemajorprofessionsuchasFineArts,
Design,Photography,etc.andthenbranchofftoavarietyofotherminorprofessions,
wideningtheircapabilityspectrumintheprocess.
Thoughnotalwaysrequired,havingadecentfoundationofthefieldis
recommended.Buildingapresentableportfolio,someworkexperience,andtaking

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possibleinternshipsserveasboostsinthisprofession.Ifpossible,travelingisa
recommendedadvice;anartistshouldseetheworldforinspiration.Honestly,itsall
aboutwhatoneiscapableofdoingandhowmuchcommitmenttheyhave.Havinga
thoroughknowledgeandawarenesstowardsthesubjectiscriticalbecauseofhowtedious
jobdemandscanbe.Itisalwaysbettertoknowmorethantoknowless.Intermsof
commissions,withoutathoroughunderstanding,itisdifficulttoproduceasatisfactory
pieceofworkfortheclient.Asanartist,onemayfeelcompelledtokeeporiginalityand
theirownauthenticstyleengrainedintotheirworks,butinaworldwhereartistic
demandsarehigh,itisstrenuousfortheartisttoalwaysgowithwhattheybelieve.Tobe
prosperous,onemustlearntoadaptanddeveloptotheexpectationsexpressedbythe
discoursecommunity.Itistruethatindividualismisaprominentfactortoselfvaluation
buttobeabletocooperateandbeapartofacommunity,onemustmakesacrificesand
adjustments.
Despiteallofthis,anartistisanartist.Itentirelydependsontheindividualto
choosehisorherpathtostarttheirjourneydowntheirprofession.Aspreviously
mentioned,artisaflexiblefluidconceptthattakestheshapeoftheartist.Basedonwhere
thefocusliestheirgoalsarelocateddifferently.Therearecountlessamountsofartists
whosimplyenjoytheblissofcontinuingtheirlifelonghobbywhileotherstake
advantageoftheirtalentanduseittoitsfullestpotential,contributingtheirabilitiesto
society.Beingafreelanceartistmayseemlikealenientcareerbutinfactduetoitsvague
essence,itisaverychallengingcoursetotake.Howeverthecommongoalofenjoying
onescraftandaspiringtobebetterwillalwaysremain.

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Workcount:1780
Conclusion
Inconclusion,beingafreelanceartistcomeswithmanyselfresponsibilityand
preparationbecausethepillarsofthisdiscoursecommunityaretheindividuals.The
centerofthisdiscoursecommunityisacollaborationofdifferentindividualswitha
varietyofdistinctiveattributesinskills.Sincetheconceptoffreelancingisbeingself
employed,selfpromotingisbeneficial.Freelanceartistsareeitherassociatedwitha
companyonshorttermoranindependentcontractor.Themethodofhowtogetoutinto
theworldcompletelydependsontheindividual.Freelancingartisasimplycomplex
discoursecommunitybecauseitbranchesoffinunlimitedextentsdependingontheartist;
itisanabstractapperception.Itisratherdifficulttopayspecialattention,orpinpoint,
thecommunityitself.Manyartistsdefinethemselvesasartists,andmanybelievethat
theyarebornthatway.Stereotypically,artistsareknowntobeunemployed,
narcissisticpsychopaths.Especially,freelanceartists.Insomeperspective,beinga
freelanceartistisnotthebestwaydownthecareerpathbasedonmonetaryvalue,butitis
anaspirationdesiretobeachieved.Beingafreelanceartistmeansbeinganindependent
individual,whichrequiresoneselftofindtheirselfwhilststrivingfortheirdream.The
discoursecommunityoftheartsisavery,verycompetitivecommunitywithconstant
repressionbetweenthemembers.Butitisuptotheartisttoricochetoffthepressureand
expandtheirfield.Manymembersofthisdiscoursecommunitybecomeinvisibleor
burnout.Theconceptofartissuchaflexiblenotionwitheverchangingideasthatitis
difficulttoadaptwitheachtrend.Hence,itismostlyaboutwhetheryouwilltake

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advantageofthepressureandexpands,orsimplybeoppressedandfalloutofthe
community.
Asafreelanceartist,itisbeyondbeingapartofacommunity,orcompany,andit
isnotonlymajorlybasedonmonetaryvaluesandprofit.Itsaboutfindingones
authenticstyleandrelayingthemessagetotheworld.Withoutthefreelanceartists
community,ortheCommunitiesofPracticeinArtandDesigngenerally,manyother
communitieswouldnotbeassuccessfulasitistoday.Advertisements,fashionindustries,
architecturaldesigns,etc.wouldbenonexistent.Forexample,majorityofmainstream
fashioncompaniesbuydesignsfromothersmallercompanies,whichareusuallycreated
bygroupsoffreelanceartists.Artisalsoahighlyadmiredsubjectandarekeentograb
attention,hencethecreationandentityofartmuseums,fashiondistricts,film,dance,etc.
Beinganartistisnotonlylimitedtoapaperandpencil,theveryexistenceoftheartistis
atoolthatshapestheworldeveryday.Thefreelanceartistscommunityisaprominent
contributiontosocietyforitsfluidityinshapeandadaptationtoawidevarietyofother
communities.Hence,itisavitalorgantoalldiscoursecommunities.Artisanabstract
conceptanditisaneverchangingperceptionofthecommunity.Therearetrendsand
movementsthatchangeasfastastheseasonsdoovertheyears.However,itentirely
dependsontheindividualtochoosehisorherpathtostarttheirjourneydowntheir
profession.
Wordcount:522

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