Surviving life after college

Life lessons Tanya Combrinck finds out how to survive as an artist in the real world after graduation

- Tanya Combrinck

Transitioning from the structure of a university course to the chaos of real life is daunting and requires skilful decision-making and self-management. The first decision you face is whether to go for a studio job or try to make it as a freelancer.

“It’s important to find a living situation that lets you build a portfolio of work similar to your end-goal career,” says freelance illustrator Stephanie Cost. You will make lots of useful connections in a studio job and some say their skills improved much faster in this setting, but it could hold you back from doing what you want.

“One of the disadvantages of a studio job I found was the necessity to do assignments that weren’t related to my field of interest,” says fantasy illustrator Justyna Gil. “If you have a clear goal, I would recommend a freelance job all the way. Otherwise, getting a studio job first can help you work out the exact career path you want to follow.”

Whichever route you take, building an online presence is key to finding work. “Social media is a fantastic resource for growing a following as well as getting your work in front of art directors and those responsible for making hiring decisions,” says Zara Alfonso, who illustrates Warhammer and Magic: The Gathering. “Post regularly and check out how other artists have set up their social media, and try to emulate that. Twitter and ArtStation have gotten me a lot of work opportunities, and Discord has also become a popular platform for artists to connect on, so finding a Discord group related to the type of work you’d like to do is a great way to connect with peers.”