Being a freelance artist for five years has been a journey filled with growth, challenges, and unexpected lessons. When I first started, I had no idea what I was getting into—I just knew I loved creating art and wanted to make a living from it.
The Early Days
I started freelancing when my husband couldn’t work due to COVID, and money was tight. I decided to draw again, noticing that streaming was on the rise, meaning streamers might need emotes and other artwork. My first client was my friend, who asked me to create five emotes for RM300. It was a high amount because he lived in New Zealand, so I calculated the price slightly higher to cover PayPal fees. That first job led to more opportunities, especially when I started streaming on Twitch myself. Through mutual connections, I slowly gained recognition.
Learning to Adapt
Pricing was one of my biggest struggles. I doubted my own art quality and didn’t know whether I was charging too high or too low. Eventually, I based my pricing on the Malaysian economy—asking myself if I would pay for my own work at that price. I also realized that if I wanted this to be a full-time job, I needed to price accordingly. If it were just a part-time gig, lower prices might have made more sense.
The Challenges
There was a time I considered quitting. Business was slow, and I had to wait half a year for a single client. But I valued my customers because they chose me, so I always gave them my best service. During slow periods, I kept myself inspired by looking at other artists’ work and making sure I didn’t get stuck in an art block.
I also tried different platforms to get clients. I created a virtual business card through Carrd and even opened a Shopee store. Surprisingly, Shopee brought in a lot of customers. To avoid issues, I made sure to have clear Terms of Service (TOS) so buyers knew exactly what they were getting.
Different Types of Clients
Some clients make freelancing a great experience—especially those who give me creative freedom and time. I do my best work when I’m not rushed. I’m not an AI that can produce a drawing in one second.
Then, there are the difficult clients. Some demand too much and rush me, which led me to stop offering free sketches. I learned from other artists’ experiences and added a clause in my TOS stating that excessive revisions require additional payment. One of my biggest mistakes was accepting a job to create a 20-frame GIF for only RM50. If I had properly calculated my time and effort, it was worth much more. But because I feared disappointing my client, I just did it. This experience taught me that it’s crucial to discuss expectations with clients and know my own limits before accepting a commission.
I also had another bad experience with a client who made their own pricing. Besides art, I also do basic graphic design, and they wanted to pay me only RM200 for seven poster designs. It was frustrating because the amount of work didn’t match the price, but at the time, this was when I realize it's okay to decline a commission because you value your work and time. This was another lesson in knowing my worth and standing firm in my pricing.
Unexpected Client Gestures
One of my sweetest client experiences was on Shopee. I was selling premade panels for just RM3, and one buyer purchased another set just as a tip. It was my first tip, and even though it never happened again, I was really happy. Tipping culture doesn’t really exist in Malaysia, but I don’t mind. Whether a client tips or not, I feel blessed that they hired me and bought my art in the first place.
The Rewards & Looking Ahead
One of my proudest moments was setting my emote price at RM30 and having a client pay me RM500—the highest amount I had ever received at that time. That one client made me so happy. Although I haven’t had many clients, moments like that remind me why I love freelancing.
For now, I plan to continue freelancing until I save enough money to move to Kuala Lumpur for a stable job. Even after settling in KL, I’ll keep freelancing part-time. While I know my experience as a freelance artist may not help me get a traditional job, I still value the journey it has given me.
Final Advice
Make yourself clear and be firm in your own belief in your art. Don’t give false promises—if you can’t do something, be honest with your client. It’s not fair to them or to yourself. Having a solid TOS and knowing your worth will help you navigate the ups and downs of freelancing.
Freelancing isn’t easy, but if it’s something you love, it’s worth sticking with.