Change of careers after 19 years

[hobub]

I have just recently taken leave of the field of Graphics and Illustration because I just can't find work in the field locally. I started at my current place of employment after working in Pittsburgh for nearly 12 years, as a graphic designer, senior illustrator and even as an art director to support a large global law firm with my talents. However, after serving them for a couple years, my department was acquired by an outsourcing company and my workload began to steadily decline. After checking back in the Pittsburgh market with no success, I decided to go ahead and take a hiatus from the graphic field and have rejoined the client firm as a Service Desk Anaylist II. I feel that as primarily a print designer that even though I have supported web site graphics and have created some static web pages for work, I have been lacking the new technologies for dynamic web design that have been happening over more recent years and thought I'd try to gain knowledge in that area in hopes to some day marry the newly gained knowledge with my talents and beloved art career. I am finding that I miss the creative work and yet at the same time, I am learning so much about the infrastucture of a global law firm. I am saddened that I could not maintain my career after nearly 20 years in the business but so be it and I'll just use this time to learn what I can and keep practicing on web based technologies as I can. The downfall of this is that my schedule is now Thurs, Fri and Sat nights so my social life has also taken a back seat. I would like to continue to work in graphics in my spare time and hope to one day return to the field. Hopefully bringing much more knowledge to the table.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

Good luck on your new path Len!

[toysrus]

cool

Best of luck! Stay positive. Things always tend to work out! Stick with it!

[jessica]

Good luck.

[Hotfoot]

Way to go. Keep that positive outlook!

Good luck in your future endeavors.

[toys2cool]

Good luck bro

[Marvelmania]

Good luck Len. Whatever path you take I'm sure you'll do fine as long as you're happy.

[Dave Mc]

Sometimes a change does you good Len. Perhaps, as you mentioned, you'll gain some new talents to help improve what you already have, and be even better than you were before.