Blog

Blogging is a big topic in the art world…..blog more, blog less, tell a story, describe technique, use a catchy title, express nothing personal….or as they described Mr. Ed, [I know… that dates me] don’t blog unless you have something to say. What’s an artist to do?

When I first started blogging, I was transitioning from a job where I interacted with countless people a day to not seeing anyone.  When you teach a required science, every student comes through your door. When you have many students choose to take your electives, you get even more. The silence of the studio when I left teaching was overwhelming. To transition myself away from writing lesson plans, I chose to blog. Speaking to others through my blog helped transition me from being bombarded by humanity to my self-imposed solitary studio time.

When I added my existing paintings to my newly formed website, I wrote a piece that incorporated some aspect of it to connect it to my blog. Did people read my blogs? Yes, for some kindly wrote to me telling me how much they liked my writing style and elected to follow my blogs.

As I caught up with importing my paintings, my blogging slowed down. It also slowed down as I got used to being alone. Right or wrong, I no longer wrote five days a week.  

Do I expect sales from my blogs? No. Do you write your blogs with the goal of making a sale or are you trying to connect to others that share your goals and dreams? Right or wrong, I don’t write to push my artwork, I write to share with others my hopes and dreams as well as coping with disappointments. Nurturing others has always been a big part of who I am, so it comes through when I blog.

Is there a right or wrong when it comes to blogging? I am not sure. All I know is that just like creating your art, it should be your choice. Write often, write rarely, write about your feelings, write about your technique….let it be your choice, for then it will come across as genuine.