First Dollar Earned as an Artist
The first dollar you earn is always exciting—it marks the beginning of a new chapter. Today, I would like to share the story of the first time I generated revenue from my creative work and an important lesson that came with it.
Back in 2020, I earned my first dollar as an illustrator. PAX, a renowned organization, commissioned me to develop the main visual illustrations and headlines for their StoryArc™—an innovative publication aimed to address pressing social issues and help us become more in tune with ourselves through a multi-sensory experience.
In this particular issue, the PAX team and I delved into the journey of finding our cultural identities and the process of self-discovery through mediums such as illustration, text, and audio. Brandi Miller beautifully articulated our subject in the first path point of StoryArc: "Our cultural identity is a complex combination of the places, people, ideas, histories, politics, and experiences that have shaped us. It is expressed through the stories we live out, defining who we are at these intricate intersections." As an illustrator, my role was to visually frame the PAX readers' StoryArc experience and contribute to the larger narrative.
Mockup Credits: PAX
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, I found solace and purpose in creating illustrations that reflected the new normal. Consistently sharing my artwork on my Instagram page @PB.Journal led to gaining attention from art lovers. It was during this time that Mondo Scott, the Creative Director at PAX, discovered my work. Meeting Mondo not only opened the door to this exciting project but also taught me a valuable lesson about the intersection of business and art.
In the early stages of my career, I struggled with requesting reasonable and fair compensation for my work. I vividly recall my first Zoom conversation with Mondo. After he provided me with the creative brief, I shared my rate with him. To my surprise, he paused and looked at me with disbelief. He asked, "Are you sure?" and proceeded to inform me that my rate was far too low for the deliverables he had in mind. He ended up paying me more than I had initially requested.
While I felt embarrassed, I was grateful for Mondo's candid response. Being new to the industry, I was eager to take on meaningful projects and build my portfolio. I hadn't given much thought to my worth as an artist. However, that interaction made me realize the harm I unintentionally caused the art and creative community by not demanding fair compensation. Thanks to Mondo's transparency and kindness, I now understand my value and what I can bring to the table. Molly Hayden beautifully summarizes this sentiment:
“And yes, artists love what they do, but that’s doesn’t equate to a willingness to do it for free. Art is a career. Artists, crafters and makers need to continue to ask for what they are worth and set a standard that works for all artistic entrepreneurs. Not settling for less ensures creative communities as a whole are able to ask for a fair and livable wage. It starts with us. It involves frank conversations and an ability to walk away if need-be.
In the end, my collaboration with PAX was truly remarkable. Together, we celebrated the beauty of diverse cultural identities and successfully reached our target audience, particularly those grappling with conflicting narratives: whether to hold onto their heritage or embrace being a true "American." This project set the tone for my subsequent works and inspired me to advocate for myself and my community as an artist.
