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While you're busy building up a portfolio of beautiful designs and artwork, it's just as useful to make people aware of what you're doing both on and offline.

Aside from a web portfolio, keeping a blog with all your fresh pieces or work in progress, along with a collection of work by others that inspire you, might help give people an idea of the sort of work you do or are interested in getting involved with.

There are also a few regular meet-ups, events and organisations for creative folk in the midlands to socialise with other people in the industry;

• Digital Playground is a Friday fortnightly pub social in Digbeth, inviting professionals and graduates in the digital creative industries to network over a casual beer.

• Multipack is a community of web developers and designers from across the West Midlands who meet every second Saturday of the month

• Likemind is organised by the Supercool team, and is an informal coffee morning which meets on the third Friday of every month. It’s free, with wi-fi and open to anyone.

• Dr Sketchy’s Anti Art School takes places in cities across the UK, challenging traditional life drawing classes by using burlesque models. The Birmingham event is held every two months at The Victoria.

• Birmingham Zine Festival features a selection of artwork from artists connected to the alternative press, along with a wide range of self-published books, comics and magazines.

• Stitches and Hos is a knitting group held at Hare & Hounds on the last Tuesday of the month.

• Extra Special People is an associate membership programme for anyone who would benefit from engaging with a dynamic, ambitious, artist-led environment, with a range of opportunities for support, networking and career development.

• An Endless Supply is a collaborative publishing project, which encompasses curated exhibitions, events and performance. You can get involved by emailing them with proposals, ideas or contributions.

• The Lombard Method is an independently run studio and project space, with an environment for mutual artistic development, learning and networking.

• VIVID provides a resource for artists and curators in the form of commissions, residencies, exhibitions, publications, research, talks and touring activities.

• Coventry Artspace offers studio space with shared facilities, with membership options.

You might also want to broaden your skills and try something new at an evening or part time course;

• mac have a range of courses and workshops, from drawing and painting to jewellery design, with courses at beginner level its a great excuse to meet new people and try something different.

• Botanical Gardens have a few drawing, painting and photography courses.

• BOA @ millennium point is opening to 6th formers in 2011, specialising in digital, creative and performing arts.

Meanwhile, if you have artwork to sell or showcase it's worth getting in touch with these people;

• Handmade Birmgham hold a market in Birmingham city centre, where you can showcase and sell your work by hiring a stall for the day.

• We Are Birmingham own an independent shop selling the work of Birmingham based artists, designers and photographers. They also have a gallery/ exhibition space below the shop.

Next week we'll be offering some resources to help you find work and opportunities in the photography industry.

(Image by geishaboy500)

more info at the Custard Factory blog

Brilliant wave photos from Dustin Humphrey
(via the deplorable word)

Artmarkt is a web site that profiles artists including graphic designers, illustrators and photographers. The web site showcases artwork and invites users to purchase this work in various sizes as prints or canvases. The site aims to help promote emerging artists as well as offering an outlet for established artists.

Take a look... www.artmarkt.net

by Chris Keenan

by Carlie Ness

by Kate Beatty

by Max Barrett

by Patrick Lawrence

by Daniel Cullen

This work by artist Felice Varini has no doubt been knocking around blogs for a while now but I only came across it for the first time today, and I think you'll agree with me that it is AMAZING!!
http://www.varini.org

We are pleased to announce the launch of Kate Beatty's web site. Kate is an award winning Birmingham based photographer who has developed some outstanding personal projects as well as working on impressive commercial commissions.

She is also a great friend! see her new web site www.kate-beatty.co.uk

If you get chance, take a look at the 150th issue of Grafik magazine this month. Each cover has been screen-printed making no two covers the same.  In the same vein, the issue details case studies of unique printing & packaging processes - some of which are nothing short of spectacular in both idea and execution.