I think asking about his art is an organic next question. The first time I dated an artist, he was a video store manager. I was concerned for his future. We were getting along fantastically, and talking about how we each spend our time. He graduated from School of Visual Arts and wanted to he an animator. I asked about his art, and he showed me some sketches and drawings. I became deeply concerned. I was already casually seeing an ad exec whose artwork and storyboards were beautiful. He also had a degree from SVA, and I thought he might find more lucrative work, with an actual future (You cannot seriously be a video store manager in 2004, Dude!). But his drawing was not impressive. Still, I thought maybe I just didn't like his style. We continued to get along famously, and started kissing in the snow, obstructing sidewalks and ruining our ability to manage our own temperatures. He asked if I wanted to come over and watch his animated shorts. "David, did you just invite me home to see your etchings?" We laughed. I went home with him. After a few hours of intense but clumsy sex (so many of my sexual mishap stories are from when I dated this guy) we finally got around to watching his animation. Again, I thought the artwork itself was too raw and under-developed, but the stories were very good, and quite competently animated.
I added his portfolio to the pile of art I asked the one friend to look through. He laughed at this particular portfolio. But he did ask to see more work from to others, and to meet with one of them who suddenly became paranoid that his work was about to be stolen and disappeared for years. I asked if he couldn't find a paid internship for poor David, and he said he'd revisit the idea of him if he got some exoerexper elsewhere first.
David found out where a bunch of animators and directors from Nickelodeon (I think.) hung out and did karaoke. He pointed out every person he wanted to meet. I charmed them and introduced him. Every last one of them asked for his reel, and he gave it to them. They pulled us into their rounds of drinks, and I did a duet with one of them. He had been going to that bar every Wednesday for months trying to meet them, but lacked the social skills. We broke up shortly after that. We were getting a bit emotionally caught up, and I think he couldn't introduce me to his parents. The other woman he'd been seeing was a lot more like him, socially awkward, sexually inexperienced, and white. I was rooting for them. She was easy to keep track of on Google, but they didn't stay together so I lost interest in her life. He is difficult to find on Google, which is probably one of many reasons he failed to monetize his passion. He never did get a single entry on IMDB. His shorts haven't won any awards, or even gotten into many festivals. He was so passionate and resourceful. I really wanted to see him win. Skill just takes practice. I thought his passion would get him the experience he needed. But I think he really needed an ally to close the gap between his drive, and his ability to present himself to Opportunity.
I just looked for his shorts online. They are no longer findable. That makes me a bit sad.
Yeah, I'd date an artist, but not one supporting his work in a dying industry. Video store manager in 2004? For real? I hope he switched to some other form of retail at some point, and didn't just die.
A search of his name pulls up a VERY successful artist, but it isn't him.