There have been some recent significant changes to the employment status of the Meg. In case you don’t know, I’ve been working full-time at a small company for the past six and a half years doing medical illustration. I do not actually enjoy medical illustration generally speaking. I am good at it, I’d like to say, and I do NOT begrudge the medical/anatomical knowledge that I’ve acquired because of it, but it does not bring me any kind of joy. It doesn’t help that this particular job requires me to work in the exact opposite manner to my natural inclination, and that stress is compounded by unpredictable, demanding deadlines and, unfortunately, poor workflow management.
Unless some unforeseen upset occurs, beginning mid-February I will no longer be a full-time employee. I will transition to being a contractor, and that means several things:
The company doesn’t have to pay my insurance benefits, so it’s basically a win for them financially. It really doesn’t help me at all.
I am a free bird when it comes to freelance work. I can choose NOT to do any cases my soon-to-be-former boss offer me. That power of choice DOES bring me joy.
I will be seeking a different full-time job somewhere, as some kind of illustrator. I’ll be casting a wide net, and I barely know where to start, but I’m trying to think positively.
In the meantime, I may very well have more time for myself, meaning more time for Godlings, more time for random illustrations, and more time to catch up on the foot-high stack of books and comics on my bed that need reading.
There’s a possibility that I will be open for commissions to you, the fine folk who do me the honor of following my work. These would most likely be character illustrations: fan art or OCs. I can’t promise anything right now, but just keep an eye out! It might happen!
This feels like a necessary step, one that’s been a long time coming. (Realistically, I should have left this job at least a year and a half ago.) Who knows what the future holds now? Who knows who will hire me, or how well I’ll take to the whole “working from home” freelance tap dance?
The world is big and scary, and the art “community” is splintered and hobbled these days. A saturated market distantly observed by employers who don’t want to pay benefits. Full of absolutely excellent people, true, who are talented and compassionate, if usually broke and struggling, or supported by a significant other. I’d be proud to count myself among them, and I truly think this change will be to my eventual benefit. Gods willing.
If you’re feeling charitable, do please check out my new website! The brand new theartfulmegalodon.com is live and chock full of art! It’ll will be familiar art to you, no doubt, and the medical section is still under construction, as well as all of the descriptions for the images, but I’m proud to have made it, and you can finally find all of the Godlings and Death Mage art collected for easy consumption in their own sections on the site!
If you can spare a moment, even just in spirit, wish me luck! Hugs and thanks to you all!