Chewing Pencils

Freelancing is a lonely business. that’s one of the reasons that I intentionally limit my drawing to part time so I can operate in the ‘real world’ for much of my week as well.

I’ve been freelancing for eleven years now, and not once have I met a client face to face. I’ve spoken to a few on the phone, but most of the time communication has happened via email. Once SMS was as far as we ever got.

Over the years I’ve met plenty of cartoonists who find this perfect. They are hermits who live in modern day suburban caves and rarely venture into the sunlight. To speak to another of the species is akin to torture and they are quite happy with their computer screens as company.

But for most of us, human company is an inherent need. We are built for interacting with others and find the constant isolation so difficult at times that we are tempted to walk away from what appears to be the dream job.

Dave Walker over at the Cartoon Blog has written this post on his experience of freelance life and how hard he finds it. Were I too go full time, I think I would feel the same - despite being an introvert by nature.

Drop by and leave him a nice comment. And tell him Matt sent you!

And while you’re there, check out some of his work. It’s amazingly simple, but very funny. He’s yet another cartoonist i am insanely jealous of…