Interviewing Pawika Charoenkul

Pawika Charoenkul ,or @aeicha on Instagram, is an architecture graduate who is now a freelance illustrator. Because of similar work and our love for hand-drawn illustrations, I wanted to see what it was like to be a hand-drawn illustrator in the modern world, where technology is taking over.

What made you go into freelancing ?

I've always known that I can't work under rules , I enjoy understanding them then start breaking them all. I hate 9-5 jobs and would like to pursue my career as an illustrator. You're born once, if you know what you love, what drives you, what makes everyday matters to you, go for it.

What skills do you think artists/young creators need to go into freelancing?

Depends on what kind of freelancing path you're striving for. But putting technical skills aside, you need to be open minded, willing to know and learn new things, accept challenges (step outside of your comfort zone at times), know where your grounds are (don't ever change yourself for clients, you can compromise but always have to keep your signature) and creativity probably (never stop learning and keep that imaginative brain of yours going).

What do you enjoy/not enjoy about freelancing ?

Enjoy: clients that comes to me and tell me that they like what I'm doing, gave me their briefs and to keep doing what I'm doing for them. Every time there is a new job offer, i always learn something new. It's always a learning process for me. I get to do what I love to do, plan my own schedules according to my lifestyle. Simply happy that I get to do what I always wanted to do and survive in this career path.

Don't enjoy: nagging clients; those that don't know what they want and keep changing their workscope all the time. Those that don't read the contracts basically (I have my working conditions like telling them I won't do more than 3 drafts and they will have to sign the paper before we start working...I have some clients that just never follow my conditions and it can be bothersome)

Were there any skills that you learnt from being a freelancer?

Apart from technical skills is probably accepting new challenges. Stepping outside my comfort zone is not as awful thing as I always thought. And working efficiently; I have problem with time management you see haha

Are there any thing that you do in particular that aids your work flow ?

Now is probably adding exercise to the list. I haven't been exercising regularly for the past 2.5 years, recalled that it actually helps me a lot.

Keep a journal with you always might be a better suggestion. Keep notes, images whatever that inspires you. It helps a lot to keep one.

What are the problems you encounter when freelancing and how did you overcome them ?

Like time management, lack of commissions ?

Time management ...that's the worst one for me

Not so good. But I would just contact the clients and tell them honestly that I have problem finish it. But I do work well 80% of them when it's last minute :)

So that helps

So writing a journal helps you manage through it ?

For me it does. I was better before but I had many personal issues that I stop doing the journal routine. Now I'm getting back on it.

How do you make connections with other creative artists within the creative industry?

Well I use instagram and follow all the artists that inspire me. In terms of direct contact with artists in Bangkok, I only know some but they don't do the same thing as I do

I used to work in a small design studio called teaspoon studio. So where the office located, there are bunch of creative studios around there so I will know some

he more you work, you will automatically get to know them

So how important do you think networking is for freelancers ?

Is it better to start in a design team , make connections and then go into freelancer?

I never depend on them from the start

Isn't it better to get the network from a reputable company ?

I was cafe hopping, sketched away and bumped into p tae (owner of roast) and he was the very first few people who hired me

It probably is if you want experiences from corporates

So you rather make connections through actually meeting people rather than through companies ?

But most of my clients now contact me via Facebook or instagram or friends of friends

Definitely from meeting people

I used to work for an agency for one of the projects and I hated it

It's my worst experience

They were soooooo fussy! Horrible attitudes, can't imagine if I were to be in their office I'll turn crazy or not.

But that's agency. If you were to work in a good design studio, i think it's not a bad idea at all

So do you think networking is important for freelancers, borderline crucial ?

Yes pretty much. The more people you know , the better. Never keep yourself shut away, I would say.

Do clients prefer the more digitally produced work ?

In terms of clients, there are those who crave for authenticity.

As long as you are clear about what you do , the right clients will come to you.

But sometimes clients can't imagine what you can do...so the more you post, the more you paint or draw, the more clients you'll get I believe

#INDUSTRIAL