By Diane Pascual
From 2013 to 2016, I lived a full-on freelance life.
At the end of 2013 I left New York and my stable job to move back to California with dreams of landing a job in the animation and entertainment industry.
Fresh out of finishing my MFA in Visual Development, I was hopeful but in hindsight didn’t realize that the industry was slowly dying. I moved to LA, brimming with ambition, and ready to meet studios and creative agencies. But the reality was far from glamorous: dozens of interviews that led nowhere, lots of “almost,” and a constant hustle just to stay afloat. I even went to various animation network events, entertainment networking events, and professional networking events to meet people.
I had to take on side jobs such as random graphic design work and a random part time sales job. 2014 was my real year of struggle filled with so much hope and faith that things would work out. But the reality was, the job market in LA was harder to break through even with some connections.
Small Wins in a Sea of Uncertainty
I had some incredible—but short-lived—projects:
- A two-day gig doing character design for William Morris Endeavor in Beverly Hills.
- A two-week stint with Skechers creating characters for a 2D commercial.
- An in-house 4-month contract with Hasbro Studios as a Product Illustrator for Disney Dolls toy concepts.
I also illustrated two children’s books, branded apartment complexes, and even designed a full food truck wrap and website.
These projects were exciting, but they were also fleeting. I was constantly chasing the next gig. There was no predictability, no benefits, no security. I loved the work, but I started to feel emotionally and financially drained.
What I Learned About the Industry
One of the biggest realizations I had during that time was that the animation and entertainment industry is inherently unstable. When productions wrap up, artists are often out of work. I noticed a pattern in my network—many creatives took 3-month, 6-month, or 1-year contracts at studios, only to find themselves back on the job market when the work dried up.
After doing this for three years in LA, I couldn’t handle the uncertainty of not having consistent income. The stress was overwhelming. I didn’t want to freelance anymore. It made me rethink everything—what kind of life I wanted to live and what kind of creative path I truly wanted to carve out. That’s when I chose to become multi-skilled.
The Pivot: Building Something New
In February of 2016, I moved back to San Francisco with a little money saved and the determination to launch a new chapter. I used that time to build and experiment with products for my new brand: The Gypsy Goddess. By May 2016, I launched my first digital product and Creative Market store.
Things started to shift. That fall, I was referred to a teaching role at the Academy of Art University. Around the same time, I landed a 6-month contract at Salesforce as an illustrator and art director. It was my first time working in tech as a creative—and I knew I wanted to stay in that world.
I started learning that staying in tech meant staying connected to creative agencies who had relationships with major companies. But when the Salesforce contract ended in spring 2017, I once again found myself applying for full-time roles in SF—without much luck. From May to August, I kept getting small web design clients that paid by project. Meanwhile, I was living in San Francisco, paying high rent, and struggling.
A New City, A New Pivot
So I made a choice: I moved to Reno to be near my family, bringing my son with me. Rent was much cheaper, and I was able to stay afloat freelancing for local companies and old clients in California.
By summer 2018, I started commuting back and forth to SF and made another big pivot: I transitioned into recruiting. I accepted a full-time offer with Creative Circle San Francisco. For the first time in a while, I had a stable income again. And after hours, I continued building The Gypsy Goddess, releasing more digital products.
When the Pandemic Hit—So Did My Breakthrough
Then 2020 happened. The world shut down—but my shop on Creative Market blew up.
That entire year, I was earning more monthly from my digital products than I ever had before. I could pay my rent entirely from my creative work. It felt like everything I had built in the shadows finally had space to thrive.
What I Learned from Freelancing:
- Your network is everything. Most of my gigs came from people I knew or connected with on LinkedIn.
- Never stop learning. New tools, new markets, new ways to show up matter.
- Chase clients who respect your time. Not all money is worth the burnout.
- Productize your skills. Templates, brushes, digital goods—they scale when you can’t.
- Design your life, not just your career. The goal isn’t just to be “successful,” but to feel aligned with what you’re creating.
Thinking About Freelancing?
If you’re in the thick of it now, just know you’re not alone. The freelance path can be wildly fulfilling and wildly exhausting. It forces you to grow, to get scrappy, and to redefine what success looks like.
If you’re burning out, consider diversifying your creative income. Your art doesn’t just have to live in client projects. It can live in digital stores, products, courses, and community.
This season taught me how to own my creative voice—and how to build something sustainable from it.
Diane Pascual
Artist. Illustrator. Builder of Creative Worlds.
www.dianepascual.com
