Do I Freelance or What?

December 13th, 2009

Noodling around for something to read and inspire this morning, I came upon artist Alison Dunlop’s blog wandering thoughts and images from the studio and, in particular, her piece “my studio waits ‘patient’-ly.” In it Ms. Dunlop speaks of her nervousness before putting down her tools—and, in fact, leaving them set up and ready to be used upon her return—and heading off for some undisclosed surgical procedure.

I admit to feeling a chill as I relate to that all-too-natural fear about when/if a hospital stay ends successfully and how soon one can return to productive work. But the other thing I was reminded of is the difference between working freelance for hire and simply creating one’s own work on one’s own whims and inspiration.

I feel the advantage of hiring myself out to clients and being presented with specific “problem” I must go on to solve all the time that I work on book design and layouts. It is only when I find myself in between projects, wondering when the next book will arrive or even where I will find that new project that the disadvantage of working for others shows itself.

Contrast that with working completely on one’s own and for oneself. The freedom in that arrangement is obvious. But, of course, with freedom comes inherent issues; the first being one of inspiration. As I suggested earlier, working freelance for a client means the client presents problems all the material and I must make it work. That eliminates the greatest issue of all: a totally blank canvas. On the other hand, it presents a totally blank canvas that the artist must fill.

The only other concern about working without a net, as I like to think of soloing for oneself, is whether and how one can earn a living at it.

Choose carefully which way you will work.

Entry Filed under: freelancing