Is it common or possible to work for foreign companies

**Polanderuan** · October 20th, 2005, 01:08 AM

I'm not really sure how to express what i mean, but what i'd like to ask is:
is it possible to work from a different country in which the company is based on?
is this common practice?
This is a matter of great importance to me, since I'm not sure my country has the sort of industry that provides work to concept artists...
I haven't started a career on concept art yet, but I'm not really sure of starting it either, so any info would be much appreciated...

(This is my first post, and I hope this is the right place for it.)

**Qitsune** · October 20th, 2005, 06:51 AM

Yes it is (both the right place and possible)

It's not easy and it's not sure you will be able to make a living of remote work though. Many companies want their artists to be on location but others don't care. It depends exactly what you want to work in, concept for games, book cover illustrator, storyboard artist?

**Polanderuan** · October 20th, 2005, 09:15 PM

I'm not really sure yet, as i have to sort out some issues, but i appreciate your response.
I guess I should ask an artist from my country (argentina, by the way) to have some precise information on where to get jobs.
If i wished to get a remote job, my best bet would be to basically contact companies and drop a website direction, right?
Thanks

**jfwalls** · October 20th, 2005, 09:57 PM

If you want to get jobs out of your country it's easy. Get yourself a body of professional quality work and make a good website. No ugly free-sites, no shared sites or anything crappy like that. Get a real site with a real address, www.yourname.com or something.

When you have that ready, start doing tons of research. Find the companies on the internet that you want to work for, and get the names email/address/phone or whatever of the art directors. Then start sending letters, samples, or emails advertising yourself and your art. Follow up with everyone at least a week or two after your initial contact. Always get an answer from them, even if it's no. You might contact 20 people, and get only one job, but it's worth it. Once you're in, you're in. Unless you can't deliver or miss deadlines. Keep doing this process until you can't accept any more work because you're too busy.

Also talk to people on forums like this. I've met a number of people on here that have helped me get in contact with AD's. Be active and be social and you'll get work. Good luck.

**Polanderuan** · October 20th, 2005, 10:33 PM

Thanks for the reply, it's very helpful and encouraging.
I'll get back to drawing then, until i achieve professional quality.

**cgfuller64** · November 1st, 2005, 08:42 AM

I'm an art director in a foreign country....send me a couple of your favorite images, or tell me where I can view them.
[email protected]

**butcher** · November 5th, 2005, 11:06 AM

For the freelancing arena, working with a foreign company isn't that different from working with someone within the borders. It's done over the internet anyways (for the most part) so there's no real difference.

Just remember that it'll probably be harder to communicate due to time lags, and that you'll have to agree on which currency basis to go by (if you use Pay Pal, their default currency convertor does a pretty decent job).

Now, full time employment? Haven't had any experience in that arena. My guess is it'll be a bit harder due to the whole telecommutere problem (that's been mentioned earlier in the thread).