Chat with Micheal Driver.

Micheal is prodominetly an editorial illustrator, so I really needed to talk to him. Given that he graduated 3 years ago too , he had a more current and relvent veiw on working with platforms like instagram and how best to get people's attention. I first asked him weather it was worth getting an agent? Dose this increase your chances of getting work ? He was half and half , yes because if you get a good one they will repesent you well but again no as it dose cost and earliy on,  promoting your self through social media and mail outs is fine but when workload increases then it might be worth getting one if yout think it will benifit. In the one to one chat I showed him my work and we disscussed the stengths adn weakenesses within that. He said after looking thorugh my profilio that I shouldn't have any trouble finding work and that it was strong, which was a confidence booster and needed as do lack confidence in my work. But he also said that within the protfolio the images need to have some context along side them. The art directors or editors like to see some context to it as it helps them visualise how the image could work. He also said that the protfoilio could use with some more personal work. At the time when I showed him the work the vast majority of the work was made up of responces to editorial and short story piece. Since then I have added the ohh deer cushion covers and the individual responces to the work I did with the british refugee council, which was a very much personal project. I also asked him in more detail how he uses social media as a tool to gain contacts. He told me how and I have been trying to do this since and have gained contacts and follows through that. We also discussed the turnaround for briefs and how dose he deal with working with fast turn arounds. He said it differs from person to person. Moving away from the desk and getting out of the workspace helps, and carrying a note book or typing notes into you phone when you get ideas too. I completely agree with this and I'm finding more in my practice that this is the thing to do. I really struggle just siting at a desk and working espeically for long periods of time , and activley doing somthing works and keeps my concetration. One thing he said that was really good was about part time jobs. Even if it is a bad one , if it gets you past the rent , bills and food that all you need. It is hard at times espicially with quick deadlines but it workable. It was really good having the chance to chat to him and we now follow each other on instagram.