(as taken from Financially Savvy Freelance Artist 01
The Philippine government’s revenue collection is really getting its act together. Plugging all holes in its coffers. Aside from businesses, they’ve been going after celebrities, dentists, doctors, and lawyers – hellbent in collecting taxes.
We who are freelance artists – will the BIR come after us too? We who barely earn enough to make a living?
I think we who are freelance artists don’t usually talk about these things. Animators, comic book artists, painters… we’d rather not talk about tax. At large we’d rather not talk about our financial futures or long term goals. Instead of educating young artists on pricing and fair compensation — we hide how much they can earn.
I used to think business was for people who didn’t have any other clear interests in high school. But quite frankly – business acumen is knowing how to use the language of money.
So if an artist wishes to make a living… to avoid starving… he/she needs to at LEAST get comfortable listening to the language of money. One of the worst things we can do is just to tune ourselves out when someone talks the talk of money. Especially if that person is talking to educate us on the matter.
The difficulty for artists like me in the Philippines to get into business is that there isn’t much of an industry here to support local game development, comics, and feature film animation – (stuff I personally like to get involved in .) The best paying work of that nature has to come from abroad. So what now becomes an efficient way to do business as an artist in the Philippines? Receiving work from clients abroad.
Commercials then?
The government is doing a good job pointing fingers to divert the focus away from corrupt officials. It’s easier to blame businessmen, actors and artists…
Nice article.
BTW. I have a question…I spent my pre-teen and teenage years in the Philippines (matter of fact my reading abilities we’re highly influenced by Komiks). I wonder if those old Komiks are still around? With the advent of technology, softwares is it any easier and better to create illustrations?
I’m working on a Comic book project for kids and adults here in NY USA. I might need your expertise someday soon. Are you up for a venture?
Joel
Hey Joel, sadly old komiks would no longer be in print. They reside now in the collections of fans. Pinoy Komik book veterans who are still producing today may have new material for eager collectors.
Technology to create the illustrations of yesteryear are pricey. It facilitates the medium’s distribution of the work, but it tends to disguise the fact that traditional hardcore illustration skills are still necessary.
I’m up for a venture if you are. Next year would be good (there’s a good deal on my plate for the remainder of 2010.)
Joel thanks for your reply.
I guess I won’t see Aliwan Komixs hard copy in circulation when I come home to visit.
Anyway, thanks for your interest in a venture. I’m working to increase my production of a Tabloid Journal here in NY. I wanted to create Academically relevant Komiks that are similar to what we have in the old days.
I’m also working on to get a funding for a project in the Philippines an Academic Medium Komiks format for Elementary Students grades 4-6. I believe that kids of this generation are more interested and can learn quickly with illustrations compared to heavy text. That’s how I know I’ve learned my skill and enhanced my ability to be creative with imagination. Illustrations force our brain to imagine, to analyze…you agree?
I’ll tell you more about this in a web site that is a work in progress.
This is a huge undertaking and requires good degree of talent from illustrators like yourself, some capital investment and business acumen. However, this is worth pursuing because it will change the mindset of our youth. I strongly believe they are the generation that will fix our economy and political landscape if they are guided properly.
Here’s looking forward to doing a project with you…soon.
Joel
Hey Joel;
It’s me. Do you mind sending me a note via my e-mail so that I can send you a synopsis on a project proposal (Comic Journal) that I am planning to start early next year.
I need to share the details so that you I can figure out from your side the cost and time frame for the production.
Thanks much,
Joel
Joel,
You would have to send me your email. Mine’s joelochua[at]gmail[dot]com WordPress does not seem to keep emails on record.