Third Portfolio Viewing

Mute Art ie David Huntley

Dave is an artist in Sheffield who i've included once before on my blog as a Contact Report. He wasn't sure what kind of advice or feedback to give so as my last visit focussed on my work, i wanted to know more about how he got into the industry and where he suggests i start with my style-as well as what he thought of my portfolio.
Even though i have a personal vendeta against Facebook he highly recommended having a professional Facebook and Twitter account. He has had a few commissions via Facebook and with it being personal you don't have the annoying posts and comments associated with a personal account. When i asked the age old question of how does he know what to charge he said he just chooses an ambitious price and people pay it, if not he lowers the price slightly. His first exhibition was in a bar called The Forum in Sheffield which shows your work for free and doesn't take any commission. He's sold more work sinse he had an epiphany of "What looks good in a living room?" as people had liked his work but didn't buy it as it wouldn't match the cushions. My work isn't particularly garish but it's still something that needs thinking about.
He was the second of three viewers who didn't look at my 'Circle of Life' personal project so i jumped at the chance to ask why and what to do about it. It turns out it doesn't look like its part of the portfolio so to either put it at the front or some sort of paper behind it with an introduction to draw attention to it. The book was "awesome" and deffinately needed people to see it. He also suggested possibly getting a thinner portfolio as people don't seem to believe me that that's the final image and go sifting through the empty wallets anyway. He likes how the style runs throughout so a potential client knows what they're getting and there is 'a confidence of line' in the Poppy painting and really shows personality where others lack that connection.
It has made me realise i need to change my initial image to something closer to the watercolour style i want to persue, and also i should take out my homelessness piece as it looks very different and i don't want to do that again. I can get quite annoyed and stroppy with criticism, particularly from friends and family as i take it personally and they aren't the client, so what do they know? But Dave made me realise that they're seeing it with fresh eyes and annoying as it may be, it will be better for it. He thinks my "i don't need you, i can do it by myself" attitude is good to have in such a personal career, but that it needs toning down and i need to realise when it is and isn't appropriate to have that attitude...so i guess i owe my boyfriend an appology.
We spoke about my Final Major Project where i've been thinking of having a Yorkshire or Sheffield based theme, to which he said that locally based work "really flies". I originally thought of making work to then sell on my website but after hearing about Dave's Forum bar exhibition i now think i might do a series of paintings aimed at Sheffield to then book a wall in The Forum after college.