Amid the fast-paced life of commuting culture, one media organization has begun interviewing individuals who ride the first and last scheduled commuter trains in Singapore on a weekly basis. One such individual recently interviewed is Julia Liu, a freelance illustrator who says her dream is for her favorite art — brush lettering — to fully sustain her lifestyle.
Embracing the freelance life full time wasn’t easy for Liu. When she first started out, she earned less than half of her previous salary as a florist’s assistant. That meant that she had to make sacrifices in order to ensure her bills were paid. She eschewed expensive hair appointments in favor of budget cuts, and avoided expensive chain coffee beverages in favor of more affordable ways to wake up in the morning, obtained at neighborhood shops. But Liu never regretted deciding to freelance, especially since hand lettering and brush lettering commissions are her greatest passions.
Still, following her dreams has seen more than a few challenges crop up. Liu still works from time to time for the florist, where she helps fill orders. This kind of income helps bridge the gaps in between commissions for her lettering work, which can span as long as four weeks. Liu has also sometimes completed design work for her tattoo artist boyfriend. While they haven’t yet explored a formal collaboration, this kind of work helps Liu continue to practice her art. When she isn’t fulfilling work for friends getting married or any other kinds of commissions, Liu is practicing. She says that even when she sees brush lettering on social media that reflects excellent work, she doesn’t become discouraged. She knows that all she can do is continue to complete work so that she can get better — and more sought after.
Wedding invitations and other work are some of her most lucrative contracts. Liu remembered being asked to write out a quote on a scroll that stretched for eight meters. It served as the runner that the wedding party walked down the aisle on during a marriage. Liu added that the brush lettering world can be quite competitive, saying that those with their fingers on the pulse of the market can enjoy a big success. She’s fighting her way there — quite literally, at times, as she practices martial arts in her spare time. In the end, it’s the flexibility of her schedule and the opportunity to pursue the art she’s most passionate about that continues to drive Liu toward her goal of making it as an illustrator.
Explore all the various possibilities art has to offer you by visiting SGArtClass.com. You can easily enroll in classes in everything from Chinese ink painting to digital art, depending on your interests and creative goals. Who knows? You might discover your true passion during an art class that could transform itself into a lucrative job in your near future.
To read more about Julia Liu’s life and art, go to https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/not-just-pretty-handwriting-brush-lettering-ideal-work-illustrator-wants-do.