freelance(r) graphics artist/designer (pay, rich, advertise, work from home)

[Need_affordable_home]

I want to be a freelance graphics designer and am practicing it. I dont care if this doesnt make me rich, its something I have fun with and lets me be creative! I however do want to make at least $30k a year so I can support myself and enjoy a nice house in some town/city up north. Some people say its not all cracked up to be, my friend knows a lady who makes $70k freelancing in CA. I bet shes a genius! Do you know anyone whos a freelance graphics designer? What kind of stuff is expected, how do they find customers?

The big advantage to being a freelance graphics designer(or other self employeed home business) is I can live anywhere that has high speed internet. Theres alot of cheap towns and small cities with no good jobs so the houses are a good price. In most metro cities, houses arent affordable unless you are rich so a job isnt going to help me in places where jobs are plentiful, houses are out of reach.

[Rapture]

Probably maria can shed some light, I believe she's also a graphic designer.

I'm also looking to work from home and my advice would be to have a web site built to advertise your services. Then you need to get on top in the search engines so people can find you. Pay per click is the easiest way. You can then contact other people in related fields and network.