Freelance Graphic Artists - The Solution to Economical Graphic Design

In any business field, graphic design for business promotions and advertisement appears to be necessary. The unique creativity graphic artists put into promotional materials impress and attract potential business clients. Although it is beneficial that a business employs a graphic artist, generally there is just lesser need for a graphic design service. Therefore, it is wiser that one seeks help from freelance graphic artists who offer the same company-trained skill but at a more economical cost.
Outsourcing a graphic artist entails employing a freelancer who will work out on the graphic design for the company's website, advertisements, and other promotional materials. A graphic freelancer must first understand the nature of the business and the company's background in order to create a good representation or design that characterizes what the business or company offers.
Freelance graphic designers are as skilled as most office employed artists. The only difference is that freelancers perhaps preferred to work at home or managed to get better income through freelancing. The manner by which freelancer artists handle responsibilities as a graphic designer is basically the same as that of a company employed personnel. And since a freelance graphic designer works at the comfort of his or her home, there is also a chance of getting high-quality work since there is less pressure from a strict work environment. Creativity may also be enhanced since inspiration will not be confined in the four corners of an office.
Costs are economical because the company need not provide a desk, computer, graphic design software, and office space for an employed graphic artist. Outsourcing such type of work also implies less management time spent on training, labor regulations, and salary costing. Quality of work is never compromised as freelance illustrators and graphic designers are competent employees since knowledge and skill is indispensable in the field of graphic design.
Communication in such method of employment is not as difficult as others perceive it to be. The Internet has provided several ways of keeping the communication line open and accessible. Correspondences are shared through electronic mails, chat, voice calls, and virtual sharing. Generally, the work starts online and ends online as instructions for the job as well as payment for the service are sent via electronic means.
At present, numerous outsourcing companies offer assistance in employing freelance staff. There is an evident increase in freelance employment in the field of animation, and graphic and web design. Companies in the U.S. and in the U.K. have already started in outsourcing graphic design work and employing freelance artists from countries in East Asia.

Carla Barron invites you to discover the bigger benefits of incorporating the Internet in your business. Find out how you can earn greater profit from your business through outsourcing.

How to Improve Your Drawing Abilities - Better Your Best Skills Or Decrease Your Weaknesses?

Even if you're on pension like many of my educatees, you can use solely narrow time and energy for your drawing hobby. And if you're creating art for your living then hours and energy will be almost more limited and expensive to you!
And so you could be asking yourself: what should I concentrate on when drafting? You could work on increasing your potential or you could invest time in eliminating your shortcomings.
Quite a difficult decision. It's eminent to spend some thoughts on the decision into what to invest your time.
On one hand you should focus on your strengths. Let's say for example you're outstanding in drafting seamless and naturalistic shadings. So you should invest a lot of your attempts in additional honing these abilities. Some more time and energy will soon take your skill-level from "great" to "uber-great".
On the other hand you should invest your energy in fixing your shortcomings. Let's assume you need many added exercise in portraying perspective and proportions more exactly. Putting effort you could increase your skill in this area to at least medium levels.
But a second! If you concentrate exclusively on removing your weaknesses, you will commit a lot of hours to change these weaknesses into solely second-rate skills. Ultimately that implies you may end up with all but intermediate abilities, the result is only mediocrity.
You read there are both advantages and disfavors to both alternatives be it building on your existing abilities or be it compensating your shortcomings.
A lot of artists try to tell you: leave your shortcomings and concentrate on your top abilities. That's a great advice but as you'll understand only a fraction of the truth.
So what to do?
First it's crucial you recognize your weaknesses and you have to know how often your shortcomings harm your drawing results. As illustration: Whilst sketching a lot of pencil pictures, below average skills in perspective and proportions will handicap you a lot more than nonexistent skills in the use of colours. Actually these abilities are absolutely worthless as long as you stay with sketching monochrome pencil drawings.
And that's the significant point: only ignore these shortcomings that don't handicap your projects and artwork. But invest a fair part of your time and energy into those shortcomings that handicap you from achieving better drawings. Try fighting these shortcomings - and exclusively these!
So you'll have many energy left to work on improving your strengths even further. And that's what you ought to do, too. If you follow this strategy you'll get the best outcomes possible for your time and energy.
One closing addition: these tips may read a little like those efficiency stuff taught in management courses. And yes it's quite similar. But it's not for squeezing the last drip of creativeness out of you! It's only for doing the right things that help you develop your drawing abilities most.
And of course please don't forget the fun part of art. So if you prefer to essay new techniques since it's amusing then just do it! (and don't ask yourself whether it may help you or not...)

Want to succeed and how to draw? Visit our site, to download more material and even a free ebook to learn drawing.

Defining Your Characters

The first thing you should focus on, is to define the concept in your head. This is actually what I am looking for when I hand a 'start-up' assignment to a new artist. I'm seeing how well they can take written description, and how it ends up in their mind's eye, and later on paper. So you should pay alot of attention to the little details, and don't take any artistic liberties on those items that have been set in stone.
After you've developed the character concept in your mind, you should make an initial sketch on a piece of wax paper. Use a 1 or 1.5 hardness pencil, then add depth with a 2 or 3. This first drawing should be mutable and you may re-do it as your vision for the character changes. Do not throw away any of these initial concept sheets, I as the editor, will want to see them all.
Maybe two sketches into it, after you've clearly defined the concept of what your drawing, you should now refresh the character onto a new sheet, standard ply. Add some light coloring to reflect your idea. On the side of the sheet, you should maybe included a limited expression meme, this will help to show me that the idea was fully conceptualized, and that you should be able to reproduce this quality of work.
This work, in addition to letting us know of your capabilities, will help you to improve your own. The more concept sheets you complete, the better you become. More importantly, you know what to expect in terms of guidelines or new art and commissions.

Chris Patrick, also known as Emperor is the chief editor at Crimson Star Entertainment. You can discover his company's free we-comic series here. CSE is always looking for new artists!

How to Get Internet Exposure For Your Art

The more places you submit and show your work the better the chances you have of being found through search engine marketing (SEM). There are two ways you can be found through searches. First there is the organic way. The more hits on your site the higher up in page ranking you become. Don't think you can fool the system by clicking on your site over and over...your IP address shows up in the searches and the search engines are smarter than that. Then there is search engine optimization. You know when you search for a particular item and there is a special search box at the top and the side navigation bar? The owner of that site has paid for that placement. They submitted a keyword or key phrase to the search engine, like Yahoo, Google or Bing and when the browser puts that word or phrase into the search box a paid subscriber shows up in that space. This is pay per click meaning that that retailer or owner of that site pays each time you click on their advertisement. Be nice...don't click over and over.
Ok getting back to what I said about submitting your images to sites. Here is a list of ways to show your art.
• Start a blog. This is like a web site but it changes a lot more. This can be free if you use Blogspot, a Google owned service, some have a small fee such as Typeface and WordPress. Every day write a paragraph about your art and add an image. Use key words like your name or the material you used for your art such as "acrylic painting" or "Digital photography". If there is a location in your art such as "San Francisco Zoo" use that word in your paragraph. Blogs can be simple and straightforward. If you want to monetize it then you will need to learn about ad space. There are help buttons; use them.
• Etsy. Etsy is retail site for handmade art. It is free to set up a shop. Once you submit a product for sale it costs you $.20 to list it. If it sells then there is a small percentage paid back to Etsy. You will need a Paypal account to have an Etsy shop. Popular products on Etsy are jewelry, handbags, invitations and original art.
• Flickr. Flickr is owned by Yahoo. It is a photo sharing site. You can upload your images for free. If you want to have several galleries within your account there is a small yearly fee. Upload items that are about 1000 pixels. Don't go any larger than that. For added image protection, watermark your images. Flickr offers the opportunity to join and connect with other artists worldwide who create art similar to yours. Flickr is an excellent way to show many images at one time rather the sending jpegs which can be slow and clog up your inbox.
• The last suggestion for today is Twitter. Twitter is free. It allows you to send a message up to 140 characters (including spaces) to your followers. Use keywords in your tweets. If you add a new item to your Etsy shop, then send a tweet and watch your traffic increase. In order to get Twitter followers you will need to follow others. So in the search box on Twitter put in the word Etsy. Artists on Twitter that have Etsy shops may have posted their listings. So click on their Twitter account and follow them. They will get a notice that they have a follower and quite possibly will want to follow you. Avoid tweeting about inane stuff like what you ate for breakfast; other then you no one else is interested. Use this space wisely and don't tweet all day; three to five tweets is plenty.

I am a published artist with fifteen years in the art industry. I focus on modern digitally inspired art. I also dedicate much of my time to featuring emerging artists on my blog http://www.tuesdaymoonstudio.blogspot.com additionally I make my art available on my ImageKind site. http://www.tuesdaymoon.imagekind.com/store/ This on-line store is my internet presence to buyers looking for inspiring and originally created art for their homes, offices and as excellent additions to anyone working in the hospitality industry; great for hotels and health care facilities. All pieces have companion images and are offered as finished product. Art is my passion and offering my experience to others is what I enjoy.

Graphic Design FAQs - Finding the Path of Success

Facing problems in graphic design is normal but finding a quick answer also remains a problem. Sometimes even the most gifted graphic designers get wedged in a difficult predicament. Even if he does eventually get out of the dilemma, the solution to one problem gives way to another.
To answer the most general questions people have in their mind concerning graphic design, I have answered a list of FAQ's. The answers are based on my personal experiences as well as the answers given by other experts.


What is the meaning of Graphic Design?
Graphic design is the ability of creating novel ideas. It joins the creativity of fine art with the results-focused theories of marketing to create effective communication resources. Where graphic design varies from fine art is in its quest of fulfilling the client's purpose. Whether convincing the audience to support a public cause, helping a business attract customers or simply educating employees how to operate new computer software, every part of the design is intended to achieve a goal.
What are some common Graphic Design Degrees?
While there are many degree programs, it's imperative to locate one at a school with qualified design faculty, resources and a comprehensive prospectus that go with with your career objectives. The most common graphic design degree programs to become a Graphic Artist are an Associate or Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design.
What is the job of a graphic designer?
Graphics designers exploit visual vocabulary; concept, shape, illustration, photography, color, and fonts to make a wide array of communication projects. These projects may involve logo designing, advertising, annual reports, newsletters, publications, packaging, company brochures, business cards, other promotional items, website designing, sales related materials etc. By portraying their individual creativity, technique of fine art and market investigation, a graphics designer conveys the message to inform, persuade, and motivate audiences to action. We can say that graphic designers organize and develop the "look and feel" of the business.
Is Graphic Design a high earning career?
Even though, Graphic Design might not be the highest paying professions, but the prospects in this field are diversifying. Most Graphic Designers should start with a salary in the normal range and find their satisfaction in the quality of their job. Some areas of Graphic Design do pay very well; with experience, many designers could earn a fortune.
What are the most common graphic design software programs?
The term desktop publishing was originally formulated to describe Aldus (now Adobe) PageMaker and among professional designers refers to high-end page layout software programs like Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress. Additionally, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, FreeHand, and Corel Draw, are frequently used graphics software programs used for professional graphic design work. There is no single best graphic design software program. There are, however, specific programs that are better suited for certain tasks than others. The above cited programs are deemed as standard; nonetheless, they are not the only options.
What is 3D Graphic Arts?
3D Graphic Arts (also known as computer graphic animation) employs computer graphics to generate realistic 3-dimensional images for computer and video games, web and movie animation. 3D computer animation techniques are more refined than 2D animation techniques since they create more realistic and smoother.
What are the potential costs in graphics designing?
The potential costs linked with the development of various materials differ greatly based on the complexity of the work and the requirements involved. All clients are given a price estimate, which includes a break-down of the time of the work, the printing and production costs.
Why is it better to hire a professional graphic designer?
Normally, freelancers are people with a limited amount of experience in graphics designing. They may work a full-time job and freelance (so they work on your project when they get a chance). Freelancers may not have a backup system or have a secure spot for your information. A professional designer will use the latest professional tools to create your work. The files produced are the kind that printers and web developers expect to receive in order to produce professional output. Moreover, a professional designer will consider contrast, color, proximity, repetition, alignment and typography when designing for you.
Which Interview questions are asked from Graphic Designers?
How much experience do you possess?
Who is your favorite designer? Why?
How do you define graphics designing?
Which graphics designing software do you have experience using?
Where do you go for inspiration?
Is it essential to get my work copyrighted?
A copyright is a type of intellectual property that protects the maker of an original, novel and creative work against duplication of his effort. When someone creates a new original work, he or she has already, in theory, secured the rights for that work, simply by creating it first. The quandary is that copyrights which are not officially registered are difficult to protect lawfully if someone else tries to steal the idea; so copyright owners enroll them to further protect their creations.
What makes a great graphic design?
Although the answer to this question is quite debatable but in a nut shell a design is successful when it appeals to the observer and evokes a reaction. That might be a person deciding to purchase a new product. It may be an emotional response, such as laughter, or even shock. A good design must communicate the intended message successfully.
My purpose for answering these basic questions was to clarify the ambiguous concepts occupying the minds of up and coming graphic designers.

http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/graphic-design-faq/#a

Drawing - The Heart and Soul of Art

Lets keep things simple - if you don't draw you are missing out on the most fundamental and creative aspect of yourself. It doesn't matter if you draw as a starting point to other things or if you use as a record, or even if it as a form of expression in own right. Lots of people think they can't draw, however if you make marks in the mist of a mirror or window, doodle while on the phone, make marks in the sand with a stick, or arrange pebbles and shells in patterns then you are in essence drawing. Drawing is essentially about making marks with a number of different tools on a two dimensional surface and anyone and every one can do it.
So for those of you that have never done a drawing before I want you to collect as many things as you can that will make a mark, it doesn't really matter what - twigs and feathers can be dipped in paint just as easily and effectively as expensive markers from an art shop. Collect your bits together and start making marks - just play on any paper, board, card anything at all... see how many marks can be make with the same thing vary the pressure you use and the thickness of the lines - play, have fun, get to know what everything does and what you can achieve. Above all don't get bogged down with worrying that it doesn't look pretty or that it is wrong - just go for it. Think of the way children draw, be spontaneous.
Draw anything you see, it doesn't matter what it is, as long as we are really looking at the object we are drawing. Draw quickly, draw slowly, use both hands, use your dominant hand and your non dominant hand - which do you prefer? The answer may surprise you. I have recently taken four students on an artists retreat and we concentrated on sketching, this enabled people to look at their surroundings in a different way. There is a fundamental difference between a photograph and a sketch, you should never be in too much of a hurry that you can't sketch. I know some artists that, when on holiday, never take a camera and I am coming to this way of thinking myself.
A camera records what you see whereas a sketch or a drawing records your feelings and reactions to your surroundings. Good art is always about how we react on an emotional level to what we see, whether it be a realistic rendition or an abstract interpretation. With a sketch we can choose what we put in and how we depict it. A photograph can be manipulated later or with different filters but they are two different mediums and if we only take photographs and then draw from them, we miss out on a whole way of looking at things.
So try drawing realistically and really look carefully, study in detail, take your time and then draw - use a variety of different mediums, and then compare them, how do they differ. Try working on different shapes, sizes and colours of paper, they will all read differently. Drawing in black and white will give you a different feeling altogether to colour, try them all.
Have fun.

Helen Layfield
Helen Layfield is an Artist and Art Teacher living on the Costa Blanca, Spain
http://www.helenlayfield.com

Using Original Cartoon Drawings to Illustrate Your Blogs

It's true to say that practice makes perfect, and that certainly applies if you're learning to draw cartoons. But practice for the sake of practice can become monotonous and boring. You need to find a continuous source of motivation, and you can do this by giving your cartoon drawings a real purpose.
The idea is to illustrate the posts on your blog, with your own, original cartoons. Whatever the content of your blog may be, there is always a cartoon angle - and all the material you need to come up with a great cartoon idea is right there before you.
For example: if you are writing on something topical and newsworthy, your illustration could be a supplementary comment on your subject matter. You could look at the theme from a different viewpoint, highlight and repeat the main viewpoint in a visual form, or focus on a related theme. Take your inspiration from editorial and political cartoons, and dare to come up with your own versions.
For a review blog, your illustration could be a comical interpretation of the chosen product, or a scene depicting the product being used - with or without successful results.
For personal blogs you can focus on the title of each post to come up with some visually humorous ideas. Your cartoon could then combine all the key elements of your theme and add to the entertainment value of what you are writing. Even if your theme is not funny, a cartoon can still communicate your story without making a joke of it.
For a diary-type blog, you could create a cartoon character of yourself and feature it in all your ideas. It's not everybody who has a cartoon character of themselves, but you don't have to be famous to have one if you create it yourself.
These cartoon illustrations don't have to look professional or intricate - simple sketches are sufficient - but the effect on your readers will be worth the extra effort. Everyone knows that illustrations can enhance the attraction of a written piece, and original, humorous illustrations will give that extra personal stamp that makes your blog even more unique.
As far as drawing-practice goes, you are in fact commissioning yourself to draw cartoons on a regular basis and on real-life situations. This is a great way to develop your creative mind, and give a real purpose to your cartooning exploits, ensuring that you get all the necessary experience you need to develop your cartoon drawing ability.

Cartooning is actually very easy, if you want it to be, and my website http://drawingcartoon.net is there to show you how you can become an original cartoon artist. Or check out my article How To Become A Cartoonist on http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Become-A-Cartoonist for more inspiration.