trying to retrieve image from the database

hi,

i'm trying to retrieve my image from the database, as its stored as an array of bytes. and display in my picture control in winform. I'm currently getting an:


invalid operationunhandled excepetion. ExecuteScalar: Connection property has not been initialized.

byte[] imagearray = (byte[])cmd.ExecuteScalar();

here the rest of my code:

using (SqlConnection sql = new SqlConnection(@"data source=.\SQLEXPRESS;Integrated Security=SSPI;User Instance=true"))
            {
                SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("SELECT Image FROM Items WHERE (Image = @image");
                cmd.Parameters.Add("image", SqlDbType.Image);
                cmd.Parameters[0].Value = textBox1.Text;

                sql.Open();
                byte[] imagearray = (byte[])cmd.ExecuteScalar();

                MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream(imagearray);

                System.Drawing.Bitmap a = new System.Drawing.Bitmap(ms);


                pictureBox1.Image = a;
            }

so where am i going wrong? also a solution to this would be nice.

thanks in advance

ray