A picture of our cat in front of the Polka dot quilt I was making in august 2009.
That specific post has mysteriously vanished.. the finished quilt is here.
On to question 2 of the blogging course:
Why DO I blog?
Or may be a better question would be: why did I start a blog, back in August 2009?
Not because everyone told me that An Artist Needs A Blog. Even though they do.
No, I started because I had not written for about 7 years.
I had become fed up with writing at the time – and even more fed up with the fact that all of my newspaper writing had not changed the world one bit.
Plus I had never got the one dream job at that one newspaper that I had set my mind on getting.
You know, the usual thing.
It happens to everyone around 40.
But after a few years of not writing at all the bitterness evaporated and I started to remember how much I had liked to write as a little girl.
Scribbling in my diaries from the age of ten.
Writing Sinterklaas poems my family roared about and applauded – and since I was not such a sweet little kid they did not applaud me often.
At that point in time I felt like writing for fun again. Since I had just discovered making art it seemed like a logical thing to couple the two: texts and images.
So I started out blissfully ignorant.
I soon found out blogs don’t get read much.
Or rather, that there are way too many of them.
And that those people you would most want to read your blog often don’t.
And even that those people who buy my art are not usually readers of my blog. Most people who buy my prints or commission artworks just fall in love with one of my styles or images, which they usually happen to stumble upon somewhere in real life.
So the real question is: why do I STILL blog?
Three reasons:
1. I like writing
2. Blogging allows me to keep track of my own evolvement
3. Most of all though: it has brought me into contact with a lot of my online friends, mostly artists, whom I love and cherish. They read my blog and I read theirs and that’s how we stay in touch.
Is that enough?
Yes.
But.
I would be lying if I denied I would like my blog to attract more readers. And to get more comments.
After all, blogging is communication.
Making art is communication, too.
Hell, all of life is about communication.
What would I have to do to achieve that? Without spending a full workweek making up tutorials instead of making art?
Do you know?
Why would I like more readers?
- Having more online friends means sharing more opportunities together.
- For me personally it might mean getting more invitations to interesting art events and may be getting more commissions or selling more artwork or in new places and giving more workshops.
- It also means having more fun – I actually tend to meet a lot of my online friends at some point and that is always very special. Because we already know each other in a way. Usually conversations flow easily from there.
So – in contrast to what I said in my first post about blogging here, the blogosphere and real life DO overlap.
Also: the internet is a great invention, it helps us find resources and inspiration so easily.
I like to give back to the online community and offer my bit of advice or experience every now and then.
Have I covered all the reasons I blog?
I think so.
So, your turn, tell me: why do YOU blog?
l agree with so much of your interesting blog.
Why do l blog….simple l suppose….meeting other artists ,learning from them and also connecting to people all over the world. Simple after all you wrote but you have said most of it.x lynda
This is really interesting, Kitty. Thank you so much for sharing . I’ve always been intrigued by your background in journalism and wondered why you left that world.I like this post and the last one about your ideal reader.(not sure I fit that description but…) Anyway, I’ve been working creating a wordpress. blog for awhile. Haven’t actually published anything yet. but have been making entries. I move slowly, very slowly. Hmm, why am I doing this ? I guess because I’d like to share some of my thoughts, images, art stuff with others. But maybe it is just for me since I can’t seem to make it public. I do see it as a way to communicate with other like minded people. And it is always good to see what one’s images look like on the web. I have been writing/drawing in sketchbook journals for years. As my mental file cabinet seems to get more and more cluttered, it is helpful to go back through them and see what I was doing in years past. Perhaps, a blog could serve a similar purpose. Thanks again for the post.
Thank you, Linda! Love your blog. And you, Susan, silly woman, out with that blog! Just start. Don’t wait till life is perfect! It will never be. I love reading artist’s blogs, so tell me when yours is up!
A great post! I think my reason for blogging has changed since I started last year. It was to get my work out there and have a place to organize my thoughts. The new reason I blog is to meet and stay connected to wonderful people like you!! I had no idea what an enriching experience awaited me when I started to meet other artists and bloggers. It has added a new dimension to my life that brings so much joy. So, for those of you afraid to take the plunge, go for it. It will take time but connections will start to happen, and they will be wonderful.
That is why the internet has enriched our lives so much.. and same here!
Hi Kitty, I’ve just read this post and the first part ( a bit late, I know… ) but, I like them. You have a nice writing style and the subject is recognizable for me. I also like to meet people and other artists online and share and learn things with and from eachother. That’s why I blog. And it’s also a stimulans to create things and get feedback.
I like your tips, and like to follow your blog and I’m curious what you will learn more in this blogging course. You are inspiring me. Thanks!
Ow, thanks!
this is an exquisite photograph!! I can certainly relate to your feelings about blogging, I am in the same boat. I have something to say; just posting a photo of a painting would not work as well for me.
It seems like most of us are in the same boat ;-)