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Freelancing can be hard. It certainly helps to be half of a team, where your partner has the 9-5 job it smooths out the highs and lows, and allows you to more regularly contribute to the retirement fund. Either that or live in a country that offers some basic support services (family leave, universal medical coverage, etc.) If you are doing well, you pay for this, if not, you still need access to some reduced form of these things.

if you can use your science-art skills in paid position, even if it is not pure science Illustration, that can work very well.

Britt

On 11/1/21, 12:52 PM, "SciArt-L Discussion List-for Natural Science Illustration- on behalf of Gretchen Halpert" <[log in to unmask] on behalf of [log in to unmask]> wrote:

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    Hello Hannah,

    All your points are valid, with networking and social media being most important. My students complete an internship which helps them get their feet in the door. Others can do the same thing, finding paid or unpaid short term internships to learn how to work with scientists and get their artwork published.

    This is not a get-rich field; however, some field of science illustration are more lucrative than others. Nature centers-not so much. Pharmaceuticals-deeper pockets. I love teaching. Those who don’t should know you can make supplemental income, but it is also time-consuming developing courses. Some open Etsy sites and sell their work. The internet widens our field and options exponentially; at the same time, hourly wages haven’t risen with expenses.

    The current version of a cold call is still a cold call and an email, plus connecting on LinkedIn or other sites, followed by personal contact. 

    If you like, I can send you links to interviews I’ve done about SI. Perhaps there’s something useful.

    Take care. Nice to see you on the listserv!

    Gretchen

    On Nov 1, 2021, at 11:49 AM, Hannah Bonner <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

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    Hi everyone, 

    I’m putting together two short videos (+/- 8 min each) about scientific illustration. The first is a guided tour of the areas of science that use illustration, from a somewhat quirky personal perspective and with examples from my work and that of others. The second video is about what it takes to be a scientific illustrator, so a look inside the profession, and here is where I’d love your opinions.

    In talking about the profession, I want to at least mention how one promotes one’s work, how to find clients, especially for those just starting out. And my problem is that I’m not at all up to date in this sense, I’ve been coasting on existing clients for years now (plus I’ve reduced my work load to part-time).  

    Would these be the right things to mention? Are there others not aware of? :

    1) On line portfolio and social media presence a must, but how to get potential clients to one’s site? What is the current version of a cold call, a nice email offering one’s services? 

    2) There are opportunities to get in front of art buyers such as those offered by Sci-art.com

    3) Word-of-mouth still important. Meeting researchers whether by visiting or going to meetings of a favorite specialty, volunteering at institutions (museums, zoos, etc).  

    4) Network! Join the GNSI, find any local groups that are active in science communication, take workshops, get to now colleagues and get tips from them. Plus sometimes someone may not be able to take on a job, or it’s not their field of expertise, and might pass it on to you. 

    Also, would you agree that it’s fair to say that if your main goal is to become rich, you might as well flee the field as fast as your legs can take you? Sure one can make a living, but rich? Very unlikely. The tradeoff being a nicer bunch of colleagues than you’ll find anywhere, since everyone is in it because they’re passionate about it.

    Looking forward to your opinions! 

    Warm greetings from Spain

    Hannah

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