Holly Gordon

It will be hard to top 2011, but 2012 has good things in store. If the world doesn’t end according to the Mayan calendar, of course.

I can think of no better way to simultaneously do my civic and artistic duty than by illustrating offenders of the law. The people are real, the expressions are frightening and the idea of creating a portrait of someone at their absolute worst is strangely intriguing. And kind of morbid. Sorry.

I moved to Los Angeles last month from Boston. Sold my stuff at a yard sale, got an apartment on Craigslist and packed up the car with the cat (advice: don’t do that). It was a spontaneous decision, and while it may not have been the most thought-out one, I couldn’t imagine settling down in beautiful little Boston forever. Plus, I’d never driven cross-country before and was afraid that I’d be too lazy to drive all the way back if I had just planned a road trip.

So here I am! Only four and a half weeks in and I can tell my experience here is going to be weird. There’s lots to look at –good and bad– which is what initially beckoned me on my first visit. Visual stimulation overload is fun, kind of like being at a carnival. Plus, there’s lots going on to take inspiration from.

There’s a snobby super-hip art scene, quirky little independent theaters, and really beautiful mid-century architecture (which might explain the Danish Modern furniture stores on every block). There’s even a Frank Lloyd Wright house down the street called the Hollyhock House, which is so lovely. There are hummingbirds and vegan restaurants, great farmer’s markets, and amazing neighbors–my whole building is full of freelancers–score! Everyone here seems to be from somewhere else, and I meet more people here each week from Boston than I did in Boston.

I’m still working for my clients on the East Coast, but would eventually love to migrate more business over here on the West. I think there’s a whole lotta opportunity on this side of the country, and I can’t wait to figure out how the hell to take advantage of that.

That is all.

So, I’m going to be honest and up front in admitting that I’m going to use this entire post to brag and gloat, but I swear I’m just really excited. So here goes:

So, you know how I designed the Roxy’s logo and truck?

Well, guess what? THEY ARE ON FOOD NETWORK’S GREAT FOOD TRUCK RACE. ON NATIONAL TV.

That means thousands of people will see my truck! And a giant congrats to James and the guys who delivered delicious grilled cheese to people all across the country.

I just recently returned from a trip to LA to throw Wine Riot in Santa Monica with Second Glass. I was planning on disliking Los Angeles, not knowing that it’s actually made out of magic, with some delicious Mexican food and outdoor vintage markets mixed in. Not to mention all the retro signage and the beautiful trees. A dear friend had the perfect words to sum up the scene: “trashy Dr. Suess”.

Many a horror story I have heard about delusional dreams of LA, the failure, loneliness, traffic, taxes and the inevitable move back home. But, I’ve lived in cold, salty Boston all my years, and I do believe it’s time to fly far away to a new land and attempt to conquer the West Coast.

So, if you have friends and contacts in LA that you know would be interested in collaborating with a designer and illustrator, give them a shout for me! Also, any advice on living and working in LA would be much appreciated!

Just a quick update and an early Happy Valentine’s Day! I know I’m all about letterpress lately, but I’m excited to announce that my Valentine’s cards are available at On Centre in Jamaica Plain, which is a totally amazing little shop on Centre St that features lots of locally made products and local artwork. If you live near, you should really check it out!

I recently signed up for a Letterpress Workshop at AS220, a non-profit community arts center in downtown Providence. It was a spur of the moment decision that involved PayPal, a 3-week commitment, and a silent prayer to the transportation gods that I wouldn’t regret it.

Fortunately, it turns out that “love at first sight” applies to more than just human attraction. Believe it or not, it also applies to Letterpress and I. We’re pretty much getting married after only knowing each other two weeks. TRUE LOVE.

It combines the sterility of modern graphic design with the satisfyingly messy and tactile feeling of fine arts. Images that would otherwise be on the verge of ho-hum are transformed into something way more awesome. It’s hard to feel like a snobby artist when there’s no physical proof that I just illustrated something incredible on my MacBook. Now, my hands and clothes will be stained with ink, my sanity will be severely impaired by blocks of lead type, and I will finally have constant physical affirmation that I am an artist, dammit! Muahaha!

Here’s an illustration I just finished as an homage to Greenport, NY. It’s a teeny tiny town at the very end of Long Island, and I’ve spent countless summers there in my Great Grandparent’s waterfront home.

The Other Stuff

here are two loosely categorized aspects of freelancing. The design part and the other stuff. The design part is your cake. The other stuff is your frosting. Like peas and carrots, Ren and Stimpy and Rock and Roll, you just can’t make one part work without the other.

Because I was so shocked at how much time and effort the other stuff encompasses, I figure it’s a good thing to lay down, right off the bat, before it’s too late. When I first started freelancing, I didn’t realize just how many roles I would have to play. I call myself a designer for simplicity’s sake, but I’m also an accountant, receptionist and marketing manager. Roughly half of my time is spent taking care of billing, answering emails, keeping track of hours, managing my schedule and finances and actively pursuing new clients.

When you are running your own show, you are the only person you can depend on. If things aren’t going as well as you planned, it’s your fault. That’s the first tough lesson that I learned, but the concept is simple and the idea is obvious. It really doesn’t matter how artistically skilled you are. If you want to freelance, you have to be able to work some serious managerial magic on a daily basis. If you can’t do that, you will have a difficult time keeping everything together and running smoothly, and more importantly, a hard time keeping your beloved clients around.

I won’t lie. A year ago, I believed I would just remember who owed me what. I made poorly-labeled invoices in InDesign. I was sure I would recall exactly what I had promised in phone conversations with clients. I had a ratty notebook in which I casually jotted down important, project-related notes next to my grocery lists and my super-detailed drawings of the best way to rearrange the furniture in my apartment. Needless to say, when my mind inevitably blanked on a project, I couldn’t find the information I needed to back it up. In fact, I couldn’t remember if I had ever written it down. When I first started, it was easy for me to keep everything in check because there wasn’t a whole lot to worry about. At that time, it didn’t occur to me that when I would become incredibly busy, I’d be lost in a sea of scattered information. I’m sure the transition to full-time freelancing would have been easier if I was prepared with an arsenal of organization strategies.

These days, I use Google Apps religiously. I keep my emails organized, and when I know I’ll have a good deal of correspondence from a particular client, I make them their own tidy email folder. How orderly! I also use Google Apps to keep running to-do lists and manage my ever-evolving schedule.

Another helpful element of my new, well-structured life are time sheets. I whip up nice-looking (if it doesn’t look pretty, I probably won’t use it) blank spreadsheets in Illustrator and print them as I need them. It’s quite handy to have a clean, detailed log of the hours I spent working, what I did and when I did it all in one place. Not to mention, when it’s all filled up, there’s a feeling of accomplishment and awe at the completion of such great feats.

Invoice Machine is another exceptional tool. It’s a lovely online service that simplifies the invoicing process. There is a monthly subscription fee, but it’s well worth it. For me, it has made sending invoices and keeping track of billing a breeze.

There is a whole lot more to the other stuff, like learning everything you can about taxes, writing contracts, quotes and proposals and marketing and self-promotion. I’ve found that by staying as organized as I can helps to keep the administrative monster from eating up all of my time and sanity. If I had prepared myself for all of the other stuff that is as much a part of freelancing as the design part, I would have been a lot better off. And so will you.

I often get a slew of questions from people that have either considered freelancing or don’t know how to start. I hardly mind the inquiries – I myself ask as many people as possible for advice and direction. Hello?! Lessons can be learned, at least partially, by the experiences of other people. I’m pretty sure that before the internet existed, everyone had to learn by trial and error. Imagine!

While I may not be able to offer the same well-seasoned advice as the average, battle-scarred design pro, I have the advantage of being freshly slapped around. You see, time has the convenient effect of smoothing over the rough patches. Reminiscing about early days as a sprightly freelancer may not yield the words of wisdom you need to hear. I’m new enough at this that I remember vividly what it’s like to jump in – head first.

So, I’ve decided to do a series of blog posts devoted to addressing the major issues I struggled with when starting out. Without further ado, Here is:

You need a website. If you don’t have one, make it happen. If you can’t make it happen, then set up a blog where you put up pictures of your work, use a portfolio site (like Coroflot.com), or even Flickr in a worst-case-scenario. As long as you have something to show that will wow the socks off your prospective clients, you’re golden.

When seeking work, I was always told to cold-call the entire city. Well, I don’t believe in cold-calling. Nobody likes to be put on the spot by someone awkwardly reciting a cheesy pitch over the phone. I do believe in cold-emailing. That way, you can say everything you want to say without feeling humiliated. More importantly, you can link to your website so they can see how awesome you are. And there’s no need to make it super-formal. You don’t want to be mistaken for the IRS. I haven’t yet gotten to the point where I have to walk in and sweet talk the local businesses, but if your emails are not working, you best hit the road.

Clients can come in many different forms. If you show a design studio whatchu got – and they like your work, then it’s probable that you will be hired for freelance. If you go on Craigslist and show Mr. Jones how well you can draw a dog holding an iPhone– and he likes your work, then it’s probable that you will be hired for freelance. When you’re just starting out, you have to reach pretty hard for new clients. No one knows you or your work, so you have to “ignite the fire” and get them talking. In my experience, everyone I’ve ever worked with knows at least one other person that needs something designed. Chances are, if you’re doing a stellar job, referral emails will start to trickle in. If your projects are one-time deals and your clients immediately seem to fall off the face of the earth, you probably have to step it up a notch.

Keep in mind that your first few projects won’t be the mind-blowing undertakings that you’ve dreamt about. And that’s perfectly fine. Regardless, do the absolute best work that’s humanly possible, and you will be amazed at how far you can go.

Until next time, slackers!

I just finished illustrating a new sheet of temporary tattoos for this season’s Wine Riot – I’m excited for the mayhem that will inevitably ensue when they get here. I ask myself often – “How the hell did I get a job where I get paid to create temporary tattoos?”  Because that, my friends, is the ultimate paradigm of sickeningly sweet design satisfaction. Not only are they fun to illustrate, but applying them to countless body parts is where I truly feel fulfilled in my life’s work. I. LOVE. TEMPORARY. TATTOOS.

In other news, I’ve created a Twitter page. ‘Bout time, yes, I know, but here I am:
twitter.com/MissHGordon