The inspiring journey of a concept artist, Robin Chakraborty, who transitioned from working in animation studios to freelancing. Gain insights into balancing creativity with business, overcoming freelance challenges, and strategies for securing prestigious clients like Spotify and Google India.
What initially sparked your passion for art, and how did you decide to pursue it as a career?
I have been interested in art since childhood. I used to watch cartoons like Swat Kats, Dexter’s Lab, Powerpuff Girls, Anime, and games like Pokemon Red and Yellow. I always wondered how these shows and games are made. It also helped that my mom actively encouraged me to draw and paint as she was an artist. When it came to pursuing art as a career, my parents were hesitant since art has always been seen as a hobby instead of a career option. I proved myself by entering a DeviantArt competition, if I remember correctly, and winning 2nd prize. That was when my parents realised I was serious about getting into the animation and design industry.
Can you share some insights into your journey from studying at DSK Supinfocom to becoming a concept artist and eventually transitioning into freelance illustration and design?
The five years of studying at DSK Supinfocom were crucial in building my work ethic and discipline to work in the industry. I learned a lot from my teachers, but a lot of it was self-study as well. DSK Supinfocom gave me an environment where I could experiment with different mediums. In my final year's graduation movie, I worked as a concept artist, 3d Modeller, and Lighting artist. This experience helped me build a strong portfolio for job applications. Following my graduation, I applied for positions as a 3D lighting artist in various companies.
A miscommunication with Prana Studios landed me as a concept artist for them. It was a happy coincidence that I was applying for a completely different field of art and ended up doing concept art and character design. I remember my 1st day at Prana as a professional concept artist was to work on now-closed Hike Messenger stickers, and my supervisor came in and told me to draw cute-looking poop characters since the sticker theme was poop related. I can say I started my career as an artist drawing shit.
After working for several companies as a visual designer and illustrator, I transitioned to full-time freelancing. My first client as a freelancer was Arré. Working with Arré was an amazing experience that helped me improve my speed as an artist, taught me how to meet tight deadlines, and developed my skills in analyzing briefs and coming up with concepts.
After gaining experience in various animation studios and startups, you transitioned to a freelance career. What prompted this shift from traditional employment to freelancing, and how has this decision impacted your creative journey and professional growth?
When I transitioned to full-time freelance work, it was because I was receiving job offers outside of my regular job. At first, I took on small freelance projects to test the waters. As I started getting larger projects with better budgets, I took a leap of faith and committed to freelancing full-time. One of the main reasons for this transition was the freedom to choose the projects I wanted to work on. Freelancing opened up opportunities for me to work on projects that I wouldn't have been able to do while working a regular job, although it does come with its challenges. Overall, it has been a fulfilling journey for me.
You have had the opportunity to work with prestigious clients such as Spotify and Google India. For emerging artists who aspire to collaborate with such giants, what strategies or approaches would you recommend to get noticed and secure projects with prominent companies?
I always work on personal projects, even when I'm busy with freelance work. These projects could be traditional or digital, and I find that they help me stay creatively engaged. Sometimes, a personal project can lead to a big opportunity, as companies might be interested in a particular style of work that I've done. I also believe in maintaining a strong portfolio of work that reflects the kind of projects I want to take on in the future. This makes it easier for companies to see what I'm best at and consider bringing me on board.og
Running your own freelance business entails juggling various responsibilities, from client communication and project management to administrative tasks like invoicing and tax obligations etc. How do you effectively balance these diverse aspects while ensuring that your creative work remains a top priority?
Time management is a crucial skill to have when freelancing. Raising invoices promptly after a project finishes and maintaining an Excel sheet of which projects are ongoing and closed is also helpful. Many apps can increase productivity and smooth communication with clients like Slack, monday.com, and notion. But the good old way of communicating on WhatsApp or email also works.
For tax obligations, I take help from a CA. as I am not well versed in that subject. A good CA can help with return filing on time, help a freelancer stay compliant with tax-related matters and ensure investments are being made to keep a secure future.
In the freelancing world, stable income can often be elusive, leading to fluctuating confidence levels and financial uncertainty, especially for Indian creative millennials. What practical tips and strategies would you recommend to help them build a stable freelance career, boost their confidence, and find financial security in their chosen field?
I always advise anyone considering full-time freelance work to have savings of at least 3 to 6 months. Financial security can boost your confidence when negotiating with clients on a budget. Before starting freelancing, it's important to have a solid plan of action, such as creating a good portfolio that showcases and highlights your skills and strengths, which can help a beginner freelancer land a gig more quickly. There are also websites like Indiefolio and LinkedIn that can help freelancers find work. Additionally, cold emailing or calling studios or agencies with a strong portfolio, as well as maintaining an active social media presence, can also be effective.
To build confidence and stability, I suggest continuing to work on personal projects that interest you as if you were working in a professional setting. For example, if you're interested in storybook illustration, write your own story and create the illustrations to showcase your skills in that area.
What inspires you the most when crafting these unique characters and narratives, and how do you ensure that they resonate with your audience?
I've always found cute characters to be charming. One of the reasons why my illustrations have vibrant colours is that it allows me to build whimsical worlds. Everyone resonates with a cute creature or character, and that inherent human trait to adore cute things helps me connect with my audience faster. I also draw a lot of inspiration from anime, Studio Ghibli, and Makoto Shinkai’s work. Additionally, I love the art styles of Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and The Amazing World of Gumball because they are so unique. Watching cartoons gives me a lot of ideas for my work.
Many creatives aspire to transition from traditional employment to a freelance career like yours. What advice would you offer to those contemplating this shift, especially regarding building a client base, managing finances, and maintaining a sustainable work-life balance during the transition period?
I recommend starting with small freelance projects to test your communication skills and gain experience. It's important to have financial security as a full-time freelancer, so aim to save 3 to 6 months' worth of your salary. This buffer will help you manage periods with little or no work. Use this time to enhance your skills or work on personal projects. Additionally, it's crucial to maintain healthy boundaries with clients to ensure a balanced work-life relationship.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for the future of your career in illustration and design?
I have been exploring traditional mediums for the past few weeks. I also plan to get back into 3D illustrations. It's a form of style I want to explore more, and Blender has been an absolute beast of software to combine 2D and 3D mediums. I am also learning Procreate these days because the brushes in that app are very intuitive and allow me to try different painting styles. My future aspiration is to keep learning, exploring, and creating art I like and earn in that process as well. Doing something I love as a living is a blessing, and I hope it keeps being as rewarding as it has been in the past.
