I’m not particularly new to art. It’s been an interest for years. My commitment to it has waxed and waned in the past, just as life changes. So after an illness and plenty spare time in respite several years ago, I “got serious” about it. Then, I got a bit more serious about it and started sharing my work with friends. Then low and behold, people started asking to buy my stuff. My current work is a far cry from my previous specialism in ceramics, that I admit to still loving dearly, but don’t get to practice. However, I’m in a good place right now. Still work in progress, always under development. I’ve gone from a fear of colour and a thing about being out of control with a paintbrush, to fairly naturally starting to paint and not stopping. Just don’t ask me to put down my brushes! I won’t be held responsible for the consequences….
So sharing work, where do you start? Well, mine was on Facebook, I won’t be alone in that, but then I discovered blogging, which links nicely to a blog post I read today. Funnily enough it was about blogging and some people’s thoughts on the value of it. It incorporated into the same blog, a piece about development and reflection on the creative process, which started me thinking about how I’ve used my blog.
I’ve been told by many, that I write in a very conversational way. I talk to myself through my blog in a very matter of fact way, though hopefully in a way that allows other people the opportunity to join in if they wish. Offering insight into what has inspired me, how I’ve gone about creating something, the thoughts and feelings that went into it. The latter is what makes every piece of work a person produces, truly unique, in my eyes. Occasionally I’ll write poetry and verse to go with a piece, based on the initial inspiration. You can’t just pluck that kind of stuff off a shelf.
Like a methodology, my blog allows me to review the strengths and weaknesses, the successes and the failures. Sometimes work grows on you, sometimes you return to a piece or try to recreate it and reading initial thoughts on a piece is really quite helpful.
Other social media platforms such as Instagram, allows me to track progress through a year really easily. It’s a visual diary of how my style has developed and technique progressed. How I’m feeling and where my inspirations are being found. My work is buried under a myriad of other subjects on there, it’s a bit of a free for all really. Never the less, it’s good to see what goes down well. I should probably do some research at some point to find out more about demographics, hashtags, the most advantageous people to interact with, etc etc, etc. But not tonight!
Some aspects of these platforms can be a bit of a mystery. Timing of posts, interaction…you don’t want to come across too pushy or assuming. Then there are followers. Does this person have a shipment of followers personally delivered to their account? Ah, yes they do! In many cases, though obviously not all…
Supporting an artist can be hard, I should know. A lot of us are never quite pleased with our work, “could do better” and especially when it’s made of part of you, it can be hard to put it out there. It’s a huge deal! I’m learning to be gracious about compliments, when you feel you want to tell them about all the bits that went wrong during the process, the bits you had to paint out. How you cried in frustration because the perspective was all wrong, his eyes ended up wonky, the dog had four legs not three….
And then you remember in quieter moments, that your most joyous times are those where you’re not thinking too hard. You’re just painting because you feel ‘it’. You step back and see a feature, or a splash of colour that makes you smile. It may not look hyperrealistic, (and yes, that is quite a skill to have), but it’s your creation! And guess what? Lots of other people appreciate it too! Lots of people won’t, but hey, that’s just art! “Some will, some won’t, who cares!”, to quote a past tutor.
Saying that, I’d never go into a gallery or shop and undermine someone else’s work. That’s just rude. Think what you will, but be kind!
I like Nick Cave, so much so that I’ve included his philosophy, I think it’s rather appropriate in this context!
