Getting work as a remote freelance artist is easier than you may think...if you know where to look.

There are a multitude of online places where work can be found.

Check out:

1. Working Not Working
2. Facebook Groups
3. Facebook/Instagram Ads

My journey to become a pro motion designer didn't involve attending art school or any other form of higher education.

I became a pro by practicing..by pushing myself..by creating.

You too can be a pro motion designer. You just need to put the time in and practice and enjoy the journey.

In order to be a successful freelancer you need to focus on 3 key points.

1. Freelancer type
2. Online branding
3. Ideal Clients

In this blog post we dive deeper into each of these three points and discuss what you need to implement to become a successful freelancer.

A demo reel is your calling card. It not only shows what you can do, but also shows who you are. It displays your personality. It is also your resume and a key component to helping you land that dream job or client.

Every single scene in your demo reel MUST be your very best work. You have one chance to impress and first impressions are everything. Your goal is to capture the viewer’s attention immediately. Keep the reel short. I think that reels over :90 are too long. You don’t have to show every piece of work you have done..just your strongest pieces. As a creative director I receive a lot of reels and I don’t have a lot of down time to spend watching reels, so a short, very strong reel is going to capture my attention.

Don’t ever, ever, ever claim someone else’s work as your own. I have seen this happen too many times and it has happened to me more than once. It’s a punch in the face to see your work on someone else’s reel. If you only...

So you’ve just spent the last four years of your life in Art School. You’ve learned Photoshop and Illustrator. You know how to model and animate in Maya or Cinema 4D. Most importantly, you can now animate in After Effects. 

You are a motion graphic artist or as I like to say, a motion designer. You are ready for that first real job. You are ready to take on the world. The problem is, none of the high end production houses want to hire you. Let me tell you why.

Art School is great and it teaches you the fundamental principals of design and motion design which are important, but it does not teach you how to be a motion designer in an actual production house. 

What you learn in Art School is valuable. I'm not debating that. I come from a self-taught background but have hired many graduates based on their strong portfolios. That being said, their time management and ability to work seamlessly in teams has not been so strong.

Getting a four-year degree in...

I started at the bottom. Climbed to the top. Stayed there for some time, fell back down and now, I am on top again.

In my career of 17 years, and counting, this industry has taught me so much about what it takes to be a successful motion designer. I’ve had soaring highs with recognition and accolades—and I’ve made and learned from some big mistakes too. 

Whether you’re just getting started or wondering how to hone your skills and increase your bottom line, chances are I’ve been where you are. I share my story with no censor—the good and the bad—in the hope that my experiences help you become a better motion designer.

Continually Stay in Education—and Never Stop Learning

When I first discovered motion design in 1998, it grabbed my full attention. I couldn’t get enough of it! I wanted and needed to learn everything I could and I spent all of my free time soaking it in. 

During the day, I was able to land a job at a small,...