Gripes about being an artist at times!

For those that catch up on my work and read up on my blog about my latest news, I thank you for that. It's definitely an honor that you come to my blog and take time to read about my news. So to those that like my art and work and support me, I thank you very much. Please do not hesitate to contact me just to talk, chat, ask for advice/help, etc., whatever you need, I'm more than willing to be here for you!

Aside from that, I don't usually gripe on my blog but lately being an artist can be quite annoying. Sometimes you'll have streaks of really cool stuff to work on, then you can get nothing, then back up again, then nothing, it's like a roller coaster ride. At times I'll get asked to design a toy and be really excited about it and throw my all into it, only to either have to wait and wait and HOPE it'll be made one day or used at all. Or get rejected by just saying 'it was not chosen'. Art is so subjective at times who knows what these companies want? I just keep doing my thing and if they ask me to submit designs, I'll do so but if they don't pick them, well it is what it is. But it just gets really frustrating.

Sometimes I just want one chance to show what I have and I just seem to hit a brick wall every time I do so. An example, a company contacted me to design some iPhone cases for them since they said they saw my work and like it. How cool, so I did some research on the company, they seem legit, the contact person is nice, so I submit 2 designs that I think would fit their products and their clients. They had a specific request that it not be too detailed since it had to be converted to something else (can't give specifics).

They contact me and said my designs, although great, were not 'their style' and that it's not 'creative' enough. They are not challenging me, but one of my designs was too traditional and want it more 'creative'. Ok I find it funny that a company who saw my designs and wanted my designs have the balls to tell me it's not 'their style' and that it's not 'creative' enough. I am aching to tell them to kiss my ass, but basically told them that that's my style, I stick by my style, I'm not going to redesign my work over and over until you feel it's your style and 'creative' enough for your products. And to make matters worse, they send me some reference pics of what other designers made, and basically those designs, at least to me, are not very creative! A mouth? The astrological signs? A 'love' and 'hate' theme that's very Ed Hardy-ish?

I don't want to bash those other designs and designers, but just felt this company was not a company I want to work with. Do any other designers out there get this type of treatment or is this just an isolated incident? I'd love to hear some feedback on this. I can be totally wrong and I'd love to know if that was the case. Please post some comments if you can, I'd love to know.

People always tell me to just keep plugging on, to keep doing what you do and things will happen. I'm trying, believe me, I'm trying. I may be a different type of artist since I don't really think I have a style that I do over and over again. Sometimes I'll do animals, sometimes circuits, sometimes characters; but that's because I get bored doing the same designs over and over. Is that maybe my problem? Should I find one style and just stick to doing it over and over? Would that help my chances of perhaps getting a toy done w/ me?

Sorry I just had a lot on my mind tonight and wanted to push it out there and see what others think. I'd love some feedback. Thank you to those that read my entire blog post!!!!