Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have an artistic career behind the scenes, what it takes to achieve one, or the business side of things? Or what about being a freelance artist, whether you want to work in entertainment / commercial industries or just want to teach art? There are many different paths to become an artist and make money off your art and there’s no one perfect or correct way to be one. Finding your artistic path is a journey of creativity and self-discovery but can come with a lot of risks, as I’ve found out. In this post, I share my own artist’s journey with a behind the scenes look of what it’s like to be a freelance 2d artist, teaching art, and working on different types of art projects plus a couple art and business tips with a bit of nerdiness tossed in!
What’s a 2D Artist?
A 2D artist is an artist that works exclusively in 2 dimensional art mediums and creative processes including pencil, pen, marker, watercolor, drawing, painting, sketching, and even digital painting, to name a few, and doesn’t include 3D mediums or art, like 3D art programs (such as Blender or Zbrush), traditional sculpting, or installation art.
It’s an industry term used to differentiate between 2D and 3D artists and the type of art they make.
Types of 2D Artists
Here are some of the different types of 2D artists that fit within this category, including:
- Illustrators
- Sketch Artists
- Concept Artists
- Visual Development Artists (Like a concept artist but for animation)
- Painters
- Fine Artists : Include gallery, professional, and hobby artists trained in traditional art mediums like pencil, colored pencil, graphite, pen, acrylic paints, watercolors, oils, etc.
- Graphic Artists / Designers
- Storyboard Artists
A 2D Artist’s Origin Story & What It’s Like to Be a Freelance Artist
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of joining Frahaan Hussein on his podcast, Fire Dev. The podcast emulates a fireside-style chat featuring other industry professionals working in tech and entertainment, including 3D artists, developers, UI, graphic designers, and more!
You can check out the the main FireDEV podcast page here.
– Big Thanks to Frahaan for inviting me to be a part of FireDEV, it was such a blast and pleasure to be a part of!
During our incredibly fun and insightful conversation, we talked about what’s it’s like working for smaller companies and indie studios vs. a larger company, the pros and cons of each, and even what happens when a project fails – yup, it definitely happens, especially with start-ups, so be prepared!
And that’s just one of the obstacles we discuss that comes with an art career.
But we get into more detail about them plus my personal solutions and art tips!
Because after all, being an artist and living off your art is incredibly rewarding, fun, and for some us, really a dream come true as long as you’re willing to really put in the time and effort!
Key Points Mentioned in the Podcast Episode
Below, I’ve outlined some key points and topics that Frahaan and I talk about during this podcast interview.
- Valuable Artist Tips and Secrets to Success!
- What Inspired Me to Be an Artist
- How I Got My First Big Art Commission + Professional Experience at Fandango
- You’ll never guess how!
- Making a Game from Nothing, with People All Over the World (That I Never Met!)
- Working for a Crypto-Based Game Studio Using NFTs
- Is Being a Freelance Artist Sustainable?
- What It’s Like Teaching Art
- Working Remotely As an Artist
- How to Manage Personal Life vs. Professional Life with an Art Career
- What Recruiters Look For When Hiring Artists for a Big High-Profile Project
- And Awesome Video Game Recommendations + more!
Honestly, this conversation was a blast and we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it!
Check Out the Full Artist Interview & FireDEV Episode Below!
Ready to dive into the world of being an artist (2d artist) and see what it’s all about?
Then let’s go!
Here are the links to the full interview and episode. You can choose your preferred podcasting platform below:
Podcast Links to the 2D Artist Interview & Conversation Below
- 2D Artist Conversation Spotify Link
- 2D Artist Conversation Apple Podcast Link
- Google Podcast Link
Other Helpful Art + Artist Tips & Resources!
- 9 Brutal Truths to Always Be Successful at Art Both Online and In the Real World | Post
- How to Start Drawing With No Art Experience | Post
- How to Get Back into Drawing After a Long Break | Post
- Art Update 1: Realistic Sci Fi Digital Painting and Process | Post
- 7 Ways to Stop Anxiety & Depression As a Social Media Artist When You’re Online | Post
- 10 Dangerous, Lasting Mental Effects on Social Media Artists | Post
- Free Printable Copyright Cheat Sheet for Posting Online Art | Freebie
- Free Printable Download of Drawable Stress Relief Cheat Sheet | Freebie
- How to Beat & Prevent Creative Burnout | Post
- How to Overcome Art Anxiety & Stay Motivated with Your Art | Post
This interview post is to help show a better idea of what it’s like working as a 2d artist and if it’s something worth your time, that you’d like to pursue for yourself!
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