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Position Description
A Freelance Graphic Artist designs art and copy layouts on an independent basis for businesses, industries, and agencies. Among the clients the artist may serve are publications, book companies, printers, record companies, department stores, advertising agencies, public relations agencies, hospitals, municipalities, schools, museums, trade associations, hotels, entertainment complexes, and corporations.
A successful Freelance Graphic Artist is talented in many artistic areas. The artist who is creative and can draw, sketch, do lettering, and cartoon has more opportunities to obtain clients then one who specializes in just one facet of art. The artist should have a good understanding of advertising and business. Many freelancers in this field find a large portion of their clients require advertising design. The individual should be able to develop a creative design for an ad and have a working knowledge of layout. He or she should be able to choose and coordinate the best graphics for the copy.
Freelance Graphic Artists are often hired to design logos and trademarks for businesses or other industries. The logo or trademark is the symbol that identifies a product or company. The artist may draw rough sketches of a number of different symbols until he or she finds one the client likes. After the client approves one of the rough drafts of the logo the artist finishes the project, adding just the right color, type size, and style.
It is important for the Freelance Graphic Artist to know a considerable amount about type faces, sizes, and styles. While the possibilities are endless, the individual must know what will look the most effective on paper. Other types of work the Freelance Graphic Artist might become involved with include illustrating fashions; designing packaging; hand lettering; painting or drawing graphic materials; designing book jackets; and designing, laying out, and preparing for printing booklets, pamphlets, brochures, and posters.
People who work freelance must continually seek out new clients and projects. Sometimes there is an abundance of work, while at other times there is almost nothing coming in. The up-and-down income flow is something that must be considered. Individuals must be able to deal with this and should have the ability to deal with stress and pressure when there are tight deadlines to be met.
Income
It is almost impossible to estimate the annual income of a Freelance Graphic Artist. Earnings depend on a number of factors. These include the number of clients the individual has and the number, size, and prestige of the projects he or she does for those clients.
Earnings also depend on the amount or fee the artist charges for work completed. Graphic artists may work on an hourly basis, per project, or on a monthly retainer. Graphic artists who are just beginning their freelancing career can have annual earnings of $23,000 to $30,000. Individuals who are successful can have yearly incomes of $45,000 to $150,000 or more.