A union man

[avram]

As of last week, I’m a member of UAW Local 3030 AFL-CIO-CLC, specifically the New York chapter of the Graphic Artists Guild. I did this primarily so that I could qualify for Working Today’s health insurance plan, which is a lot cheaper than the one my parents are currently paying me to stay on, and includes stuff my current plan doesn’t, like dental and optical coverage. I discovered today that I’ll need to be a member for three months to qualify, though. I could have qualified last year if I’d taken care of it soon enough after being laid off.

I’m not so thrilled with the other opportunities the GAG offers. There’s a job board, but it charges job-seekers $55 for a six-month subscription, and I don’t think I’m at the level of desperation that would drive me to pay money for a chance at a job. (As an alumnus, I’ve got access to the School of Visual Arts job board for free.) The illustrators show coming up in October has a registration fee of around $300 for half a table, no guests or shares, and I’m not up for that either.

On the other hand, looking at the samples of artwork being shown on the promotional site for the show makes me more confident about my prospects in the illustration field. From where I’m sitting, I can see that I can compete with these folks if I put some work into it. But I can also see how much work it’ll take, and it’s a steep hill to climb.

Right now, it’s time to head Manhattan-wards. I want to buy some spray fixative (and I really ought to get a window fan to disperse the fumes, maybe tomorrow or Sunday) and eat something. I feel like sushi cold and moist with rice up my ass.

Comments

Health insurance tip

[mamishka.livejournal.com]

If you get health insurance specifically as a business/freelance artist thing, you can write it off on your taxes as a business expense. Just FYI.

Re: Health insurance tip

[avram]

Thanks. I actually knew that, but it was buried somewhere in some part of my brain with a layer of dust on it. And if I can ever get my junk room cleaned out (speaking of layers of dust, and books, and boxes of more books...) and turned into a studio, I can get a writeoff on part of my rent.

Though Chris would also certainly have brought it up. There are advantages to dating an accountant.

illustrators

[webbob.livejournal.com]

In my limited experience (helping somebody do an illustration job for a PictureTel publication while I worked there), the ability to quickly think of images that illustrate what is to be illustrated is much more important than technical proficiency.

And you sure seem to have technical proficiency. I dunno, would you make a good, traditional Green Lantern, able to think of cartoony countermeasures and salvation at the drop of a locomotive.

Re: illustrators

[avram]

That's what worries me. On the one hand, I'm the best Pictionary player I've ever met. On the other, inspiration's been in short supply recently. Except that it hasn't, entirely, I just can't seem to get myself to sit down and get the stuff down on paper/canvas/board.

Re: illustrators

[(Anonymous)]

>On the one hand, I'm the best Pictionary player I've ever met.

Chris here. One word: "Jerk."

Re: illustrators

[avram]

What, you don't think I could convey that to you in drawings within sixty seconds?