One for me, One for you. —Advice for career illustrators.

After nearly 20 years of freelancing as a cartoonist and illustrator I’ve found myself at times resenting a job that has come in. I’ve inevitably accepted it to pay the bills, but it isn’t something I’m particularly passionate about — and I can’t summon the enthusiasm to get passionate about it.

This year, I’ve made a big change that has made all the difference in the way I approach my work:

For every job I take on to pay the bills, I also book myself for a job of my own choosing. It could be an illustration project I’ve been wanting to get started for years or a gift for a friend — but the most important thing is, I’m doing it for me.

I can’t begin to tell you the amazing effects of doing this. It reminds me of why I started doing this as a career in the first place.

Does it take more time? Sure! But that’s time I commit to doing it as if I’ve been commissioned by anyone. I make sure I don’t push it aside to take on another job until the one for me is completed.

Sound like a luxury? No. It’s a sacrifice.
I go without things to enable myself to do it. Sure, I could take another caricature commission of a guy in a boat, fishing and drinking beer. But I’ll forgo that income in return for my sanity and happiness.

Money isn’t everything. Never stop drawing for yourself.

Originally published at https://www.jasonchatfield.com