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Underground > Art, Fashion & Design >

HELP! I need somebody! (Somebody's advice, anyway.)

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

17:07 / 12.01.02

Ok, so I finished my portfolio. It's a bit... well, I'd be inclined to say dodgy. But it has it's moments. It's only 20 assorted bits and pieces. All glossy prints. All A4, for portability, and ease of use (for example, there's prints of A1 paintings in there).

But.. but.. I don't know what to do with it now. I don't really know what my work is for. They're just pictures. I want to be able to mass produce (quite easy) them and have as many people look at them as possible. But...

hmm. I'm not sure if it's illustration, or "art" or what... and I'd prefer to stay waway from such definiotns. But it does leave me feeling a little stuck as to what to do. And short of cash. (As always).

So, can anyone help, offer advice from experience, give me a slap? Anything?

(I'm gonna dig up some earlier threads in which I'm sure I asked similar things before anyone asks/gets mad... but... christ. I'm clearly lame. Anyone wanna be my agent?

)

19:01 / 12.01.02

The first thing you should do is figure out what it is you want to do. Take a good look at your portfolio and ask yourself what kind of work it is. If it's exhibition(gallery) you're interested in, go to some galleries or coffee shops and show your work. Find the places that typically hang up work similar to your own. The upper echelon galleries want to see slides though...I should warn you.

If you want to go through the commercial illustration route, make yourself some cool promotional card and advertise in the illustration annuals. Send your cards to the art director for every publication or record label you know that uses illustration. Call art directors. Make friends with them. They are the gatekeepers.

And no matter what you do, make yourself visible. This is where you have to sell yourself so be sure you like what you are selling. Unless you get an in-house job somewhere(like working for a comic book company like Marvel/DC), you'll basically be running your own small business and all the same rules apply.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

09:40 / 13.01.02

Can't I have shows in galleries and do illustrations? Can't I sell prints instead of originals? Can't I get my work out as widely as possible - and still do gallery things? Can't I have an agent wh does the talking I can't? Can't I have people call me up and ask me to 'illustrate' good things? Can't I escape definition in the art "industry"?

Hm.
It's all just pictures really. (Mostly- I have plan for installation-like things.).
I just want people to look at them, and like them. I'd like to have money from this - because I don't want to do anything else.

But, I don't know where my pictures/art/illustration should go... is that for me to decide? it could go anywhere in my mind...

Or not.
I don't even know if I mean any of that.
I'm a bit muddled - truth be told.

pointless and uncalled for

09:40 / 13.01.02

I'd just like to make an ammendment to what Levon said there. First you should figure out what you're willing to do.

Part of the business is doing dirt. That's chucking out freebees to people so that your name gets put around.

Can't I have shows in galleries and do illustrations?

Of course you can. Photographers and artists have been doing this for years.

Can't I sell prints instead of originals?

You can but you can't get as much money for the and people are less inclined to by mass produced items.

Can't I get my work out as widely as possible - and still do gallery things?

Refer to answers above. You will have to keep your gallery work seperate from any commercial work. There are rights and controls to be considered.

Can't I have an agent who does the talking I can't?

You could but as a starting artist you probably won't be able to afford an agent from profits and thus will end up out of pocket. Friends in the industry are great agents for the fiscally challenged.

Can't I have people call me up and ask me to 'illustrate' good things?

You can, but they need to know who you are, what your rates are, how good you are and stuff like that. It's often quite benefical to a resume and protfolio to have done some staff work. It shows that you can work under the indutry conditions.

Can't I escape definition in the art "industry".

Unfortunately this is unlikely. Despite all of the liberal air and graces put on by the people in the industry, labels are nice and easy to understand and refer to. A label is an indicator of known capacity and and until your reputation proceeds you, you will get labeled.

I admit that the answers here may seem a little grim and disheartening. However, there are routes to open expression and doing a crap version of something you love is better than doing a great version of something you hate.

I would reccomend that you look into things like independant art shows/fairs where you don't have to rent long-term gallery space and get to keep profits, competitions, displays in restaurants. These are cheap/free ways to get yourself out there without too much self-pimping.

Good luck in your endeavours.