Support a Photographic Artist

I'd like your support to grow as an Artist & Photographer.

So I have finally given myself permission to do this campaign. I want to create as many opportunities as possible to move towards doing fine art photography as a full-time career alongside writing. I'm asking for your financial support to grow in this direction.

State Library, Adelaide, South Australia. (low res)

I've only a few personal qualities and talents that I know I should be sharing with the world. Black & White Photography is something I always keep coming back to, building upon, learning and refining my skills.

Adelaide Arcade, Adelaide, South Australia. (low res)

Your financial support will greater empower me to give my art my full time attention so that you can be on-board my journey to see how much my work can grow. In turn I can share back my artistic work and vision with you and the world, hopefully leaving a lot of beautiful work behind me at the end of my life.

Hillside, Mt Lofty Ranges, South Australia. (low res)

For your confidence that I have clear, considered direction, my immediate goals are;
- Produce a large body of monochrome images showcasing South Australia and Adelaide for a hard cover book using the self-publishing platform Blurb.com.
- Better sell available limited edition canvas, framed and metal prints throughout the year, but only periodically  for buyer/art collector confidence.
- Smartly advertise and market to the right audience that like my artistic style and want to follow my journey.

Pindarie Winery, Barossa Valley, South Australia. (low res)

Long term goals are;
- Build a greater body of travel photography & writing with fine art prints and hard cover books in mind.
- Further education and training. Learning is the spice of life.
- Teach others basic digital photography, landscape photography, art photography, post processing and how to access resources outside of formal education.
- Support others in their entrepreneurial pursuits; show others that it CAN BE DONE! Educate on the resources available to help people share their gifts with the world rather than resign themselves to a life half lived. I want to empower as many people as possible to refine their passions and make it their business.

Cape Tribulation, Daintree, Queensland. (low res)

Your funding assistance helps;
- Pay for printing costs
- Cover travel costs around South Australia to complete my first project.
- The right marketing and advertising
- Retuning and relaunching my website better in line with my artistic vision (www.mikejamesrigby.com, re-launching soon)
- The running costs of my website and other business related subscriptions.
- Gives me greater opportunity to do my work full time. This isn't for a "holiday" from employment, I want to work hard at the art my heart and the universe keeps pushing me to do.
- cover the cost of living for a short period of time until my work is fully self-sustainable.

Jetty, Henley Beach, South Australia. (low res)

My funding goal is a rather lofty figure, but this is to get as much of a great start as possible. I don't distastefully pretend that my cause is as deserving as people requiring emergency donations. Still I do hope to reach the other supportive dreamers out there in the big wide world.

Mystery Island, South Pacific. (low res)

"Why Crowdfund then?"

I've been doing my art photography around a low paying white collar job for a few years now, using my personal funds to invest into my entrepreneurial pursuits. Being rather frank, this arrangement really isn't working without immensely sacrificing my health and fitness, my relationship with my loving partner and connections with my family. My sense of productivity with the time I am able to use to grow my art into a business outside of that job isn't as optimal as I'd like it to be. In a nutshell, I’m currently spinning my wheels in the mud, moving inches instead of miles.

Isle of Pines, South Pacific. (low res)

Not to say that there haven't been any achievements, I’m very proud of the quality of work I am currently producing, but there will always be room to grow. I want to push how far I can improve the quality of my work.  Time is a very precious currency and I’ve reached a point in my life with a self-assurance that to reach the career goals I have set myself, I must spend as much time as possible on my growth as an artist.

Gluttony, Rymill Park, Adelaide, South Australia. (low res)

I've had well-meaning advice to market myself as a wedding photographer, portrait photographer, and “jack of all trades" photographer. But it's truly not what is in my heart and I keep hitting metaphorical brick walls trying to force myself in that direction. It's not the reason I explored photography in the first place. I like to paint and draw, but when I first started playing with a digital camera almost 7 years ago, it spoke to my heart greater than any pencil or brush. I found a camera and Photoshop to allow me greater artistic expression than the other two mediums. I believe wholeheartedly that I’m meant to be using my skills to create wall art and books.

Last Light, Nailsworth, South Australia. (low res)

Therefore any support from other budding entrepreneurs or those that pushed against the status quo and achieved their career goals will be immensely appreciated.
If not financially, then show support by following my journey at
www.facebook.com/mikejamesrigby
or
https://twitter.com/mikejamesrigby
or
https://instagram.com/mikejamesrigby/

If you'd like a product for your money, my store is available here
www.redbubble.com/people/mjrigby/shop/recent

Thank you to all that have taken time out of their day to read my campaign.