To be employed, or not to be...yes, there's a question there.

[EDIT] I just need to say, before all this whining gets underway, that I am extremely grateful for how God has provided for me in this past month and a half of semi-unemployment. Not only has he given me money via a temp job, art commissions and a hefty tax return, but he has given me so many chances to learn and expand my skills for work AND art. He hasn't necessarily given me what I've asked for - a job and ability to move to Bellingham - but I think He's working something even more awesome in me. He's putting me in situations where I have to learn, grow and stretch - which is far more valuable than just giving me what I want when I want it. Yes, I desperately want to be in the same city as Thomas but that will come soon enough. For now I have to learn to live where I live now. That's a constant learning point for me. But I just wanted to say: my God is awesome.
[We now return to your regularly scheduled blog posting.]

What am I doing this lovely Friday night? Well, as you can guess, Blogging is one of the evening's activities. Job hunting is another.

The temp job I had ended today and as much as I won't miss getting up at 5:30am, I will miss the people. Everyone there was very, very nice. I have a phone interview this weekend for another temp job, this one full time and for 3 months. But...

I'm torn - slightly more dependable income sounds really great, I really do miss getting a weekly paycheck. But going back to full time after having a month and a half of a lot of free time has done wonders for my art career. I have a good amount of commissions in right now - people are paying me to make art for them! And with my sizable tax return, I can actually pay my bills for a few months. And being locked into a job for 3 months means not getting up to Bellingham until MAY...at the earliest.

So what do I do? Go back to sometimes making art, but making money? Or hold off on the solid pay check and dive headlong in attempting an art career?

On my tax return, when asked my occupation I paused. "Temp receptionist/admin" sounds so incredibly lame. For all of my life I've just been able to say "Student". I actually put down "artist". Scary.

I think I need to start a proper business (license and all) so I don't get screwed with all the tax crap and stuff since I'm actually making money doing this now. However, I need a business name. Fledgling Comics would work, but a) I'm not just doing comics and b) I want to instil some kind of confidence in potential clients, and telling them I'm new and don't have any experience may not be the way to go. So any ideas are welcome.

I guess I'm afraid I'll just go back to how I was for the past 6 months - 11 hour days away from home, and then a few hours a week working on art stuff. That's not how I want to be. I love drawing every single day - it is making me better at it. Getting home from 9 hours of work only makes me want to sleep, and I don't need to be any better at that.

But am I in a place right now where I can pick and choose?

Oy. So many things to think about. Thanks for letting this be a sounding board. Have a good weekend.