In reply to Funkliquid:

OK, I'll bite. But please note, I'm not the expert nor am I in London, England.

There is nothing lacking in your talent. But ... your work is not commercial enough. Google "Native Canadian Art". Your illustration work reminds me of the feel of Native Canadian. There is talent in that genre, but who would use it commercially?

The way I see it you can continue on as you are now and live the life of a starving artist and not compromise your vision, or you can homogenize it and watch the tides turn. Think - What am I selling? Who is my market?

Something else I've observed about artists ... they wait for the phone to ring. Marketing and Sales is key. You have to do this every day.

I really like your art direction.

JMHO

All the best and bring in the funk.

In reply to mmbbaa:

Either create things that would compromise your artistic point of view in order to please the market, or stick with your guts and know that you will not make as much money as other designers, but be able to create in the way that makes you truely happy. In the end, you have to do what is in your guts. Push yourself out there, to the right market. If you force yourself to please the market just for the sake of fame and money, and success, you can't be happy. And do hit the pavements, make those phone calls, find the right boutiques that would appreciate your designs, comb the market and find a right place for your style. Or try to sell your stuff on your own, create a niche market.

In reply to mmbbaa:

wow thank you very much for your response, its very hard to find the right places to exhibit,
but you are very right and you have some beautiful points,
I'm kinda waiting for the phone to ring,

i've spoken to the 198 gallery who seem interested, so il see how that goes, and im getting my work up in a few shops, cafe extra.

i think this year is my year, i really have to start network. thank you very much for your advice, much appreciated.

In reply to Chris Summerfield:

you are so right Chris.. but all I can say is that you can still put everything into it and you may be an amazing designer yet your personality, reputation etc. has a huge impact on your chance of getting work. news travels fast in media... it's such a bitch of a world. so spread the love to everyone

good luck

In reply to lollipop:

Lollipop lolliop oh Lollli lloi.
Thanks for the message. For two years I was given very high powerd promises that could have possibly got me working on the International scene. On promise was of a book publishing that fell through for the spring of 2008. Fistral And Beyond series. The publsher loved the documentary series of pictures. But as a publisher of the Male Nude they decided that they did not want to take there publishing house in a documentary direction.The told me it was a great project though and I should stuill go ahead weith it. I will be presenting the series on youtube quite soon. youtube/chrissummerfield. The other offer was from one of the top fashion magazine editors I spent a lot of money getting work to them but the magazine that was to be launched last year did not happen. Very Frustrating This would also have got me recognised and possibly working on the International scene.This year I had to take on labouring work in order to subsidise my photography in order to keep it working and moving forwards. In the process I have got a great series of pictures looking at sub culture, gay culture, as wellas surf beach culture, in the South West of England. you can you nube these also.Funk Liwuid I love your work and I am not sure what the anwwer is the industry is a very closed shop and a lot of gre\zt talent is not getting out for this reason. In some cases I feel that some people do not have to be over good at creativity but if they have the contacts they get the work. If you love what you do keep at it and never take no for an answer to me its my life, having gone in other directions for so long and being a puppet to other people I am prepared to challenge issues.I still use ansalogue film but and transfer to digital.
I can see, In some areas with the new media the scope has never been better with the boundaries changing and breaking down constantly. In some cases if you are not at the edge you will be left behind. Time is all we have and when you live on promises it soon runs away.Picturte Drag artist at Hawkins Meeting house Plymouth Sugust 2008