When I was a kid, people were usually true to their word. At least that's what I remember most of the time. Maybe nothing has really changed, maybe I was just too young to see and make sense of things. However, I seem to recall that people were far more honest, reliable and had something called character.
I'm a pretty good photographer, been doing it for over 20 years. Several times, I've thought that finally, my big break had arrived and I was on my way to making a real living doing what I truly love. For every exhibit I've had, I have attempted to make each one better than the last, sharper pictures, better subjects, etc. People who have seen my work have really marveled at what I do (water reflective photography), even going so far as comparing some of my work to the Impressionist master Monet and also to Georgia O'Keefe. Yes, it's a bit of a blast to hear all the hoopla, yet, none of it translated into ongoing remuneration (MO-NAY). Oh yeah, periodically I would sell one or two and they aren't low priced either. I accept responsibility for my lack of promotional skills and more than that, lack of enough funding to print tons of photos to sell at some art show. One thing, I didn't WANT to sell my work that way, that's why I had exhibits each year.
Suddenly, two years into my yearly exhibits, I started garnering interest from physicians, even being graced with a patron for three years. He took my work to Palm Springs to introduce me to a gallery there; nothing came of it. Next, I was in the California Venice Art Walk Art Auction for three years; nothing came of that, but I did sell my large pieces two out of three years. Still, I've continued on doing what I do.
This past year, I met a gentleman who does branding. After planning to get together upon his return from Europe on business, I tried to set up a date and time. It took four weeks for him to respond to me, he profusely apologized and we set up a week to meet. You guessed it....NOTHING! I never give up so I tried to set up another date. He responded and we planned to get together two weeks later. When I contacted him to set the date and time, he never wrote me back. I know he was busy so I left my number; he never called. My girlfriend who knew him called, he never returned my call. The worst part of it was I put off a trip for a month because I was trying to accommodate his schedule. He NEVER contacted me again.
During my return trip back home, I met a woman on the train and she was quite enamored of my work and promised (tee hee hee) to not do what this guy did. She gave me her email, phone number, etc. Told me to contact her and she wanted to help me promote myself, yada yada yada yada. This is what happened with her, NO-thing.....AGAIN! So, here I am, working away trying to get my work in a gallery and have been promised a showing in Seattle, either later this year or early next year.
Always hopeful, maybe this time my dream of making it big on the art scene will actually occur. I just hope that this time, someone will actually keep their word. It means something when people do what they say they will, it means something when people are honest. See, it's all about character and trust. Ahh yes, TRUST; now there's a word.
