Rainbows, Unicorns, and Reality: 8 Months Into Freelancing

Curbing Expectations

Thanks for being here. I know it’s been a bit.

November marks eight months since I embarked on this path.

Crazy. Wonderful.

St. John’s Harbour, 2024 mixed media

Illustrations for CBC Article “We asked, you answered: A reimagined St. John's harbourfront”

I won’t say it’s been a cakewalk—transitioning from a full-time job to freelancing has had its challenges.

One challenge has been organizing my time. When I was working full-time and doing side projects, every minute of my day was accounted for. Now, I have to create my schedule from scratch, which can be overwhelming.

Another challenge has been figuring out what I want to do. Suddenly, I have countless options, and I’m not always sure what to choose. I now have time to experiment with different styles and mediums, time to dream, time to plan, and time to reach out to potential clients. I’ve never had so much opportunity for growth as an artist. But rather than just a blessing, it's also overwhelming.

Sketchbook drawings

So, what have I actually done over the last few months?

Well, I watched 19 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, took afternoon naps, stared at blank sheets of paper, and sometimes did nothing at all.

Which brings me to my biggest challenge: managing expectations.

Bowring Park Map Project 2024. I created the illustrations and did the graphic design for this project.

When I say I did nothing, it wasn’t completely nothing. I finished the massive Bowring Park Map project, handled graphic design work for Kittiwake Dance Theatre, created a marketing plan and managed social media for the Cupids Legacy Centre Art Fair, illustrated four images for CBC article We asked, you answered: A reimagined St. John's harbourfront, applied for several projects, and took on other smaller jobs. I drew a lot of illustrations.

Sketchbook drawing

And now, I’m about to start working on illustrations for a book set to be released in 2025!

The thing is, I felt like I should have done much more. I had this idea that I would wake up bright and early every morning, work out, eat healthy, walk for hours a day, and be an amazing illustrator—rainbows, unicorns, and sunshine every day.

But it didn’t happen that way, and I struggled. Some days, I felt like I was just floating and I lost direction for a bit.

Sketchbook drawing

I’ve had to learn to accept this period as a time of adjustment. I wasn’t going to be a superstar—not right away, anyway. But I can do the best I can each day.

I think it’s all part of the process. Like learning to draw, you have to make a lot of bad drawings before they become good. Starting something new means having a lot of bad days before a new routine becomes the new reality.

I’m learning to embrace the process, and maybe those unicorns and rainbows might show up a bit more often.

Happy November. Rainbows and unicorns to you all.