Hello there faithful followers! I really must apologize for my lack of persistence with posting to this blog. I have been busily painting away, but blogging has escaped my previous enthusiasm. I hope that you will bear with me as I post occasionally when I have something of substance to say.
So here is more than you probably wanted to hear about being an artist blogger. Part of the truth is that there is so much more involved in it than just posting a photo -firstly, there has to be a photo! So that means I need to wait for the work to dry (plein air oils) or they will photography with unsightly shine. Then I have to wait for an available sunny day in mid afternoon to cart all my work out and take photos. This often means having to repeat the process once I find that my photo did not capture the accurate color or texture. Next the photos need to uploaded to Photoshop Elements where I get rid of any parallax because I unintentionally didn't get square behind the camera. Also, there is usually other colour and value corrections to be made. Sometime, I realize that the painting isn't finished, so it goes back to the studio for updates, which may take weeks to get to. Then I have to save it in a lower resolution for placement on the mighty internet. THEN I have to think of something clever or helpful to say to you, my wonderful friends, about the work. It is sometimes (often, my failing) really hard to talk about my work. It is a very raw and vulnerable feeling to put one's work out there for all the world to see and judge.
SO, that is why I don't post that often any more. Truth is, I would much rather spend all that time painting! We are told by marketing gurus (the artists who are making their living by telling other artists how to sell their art -hmmm, why aren't they just selling their own art??? But I digress..) that in order to be successful in online marketing, one must post daily to one's blog, several times a day to Facebook, daily on Instagram and update one's website on a weekly basis. Gosh, I am exhausted just thinking about that! They say followers are everything, and imply that the quality of the artwork is secondary to this big marketing machine. I have seen that many have gotten on this bandwagon, and many are being successful in producing good sales of their art online. I am on Daily Painters (ha, I am certainly not a 'daily painter' as in one who produces a small painting every day and puts it up for sale for cheap), and I have sold a few paintings there, but mostly I renege on posting there either. My small work is usually done 'en plein air' and my galleries would really frown if I offered it up at a fraction of the price for online consumption. So my prices are much higher than many of those daily painters. So I sell less. Oh well, that's the way it is.
I am much more interested in using this blog as a forum for ideas about painting and all art in general, rather than as a marketing tool. Don't get me wrong, I would love it if you would buy a painting from me! But I just don't have the stamina to work that hard at the marketing end of things. Luckily I am blessed with a wonderful, super supportive husband, who also happens to have a wonderful pension, so I don't have to sell my work in order to eat (maybe that is why I am not as skinny as I used to be...). You have caught me in a very wry sense of humour today, sorry.
To that end, I am delighted if you will share this art journey with me. Hopefully I can give you something of interest to enrich your life with. So here is a painting that I did while standing on the rocks in the water at my cottage this summer. Didn't even fall in, but I did inadvertently wash some art gear in the process!
So here is more than you probably wanted to hear about being an artist blogger. Part of the truth is that there is so much more involved in it than just posting a photo -firstly, there has to be a photo! So that means I need to wait for the work to dry (plein air oils) or they will photography with unsightly shine. Then I have to wait for an available sunny day in mid afternoon to cart all my work out and take photos. This often means having to repeat the process once I find that my photo did not capture the accurate color or texture. Next the photos need to uploaded to Photoshop Elements where I get rid of any parallax because I unintentionally didn't get square behind the camera. Also, there is usually other colour and value corrections to be made. Sometime, I realize that the painting isn't finished, so it goes back to the studio for updates, which may take weeks to get to. Then I have to save it in a lower resolution for placement on the mighty internet. THEN I have to think of something clever or helpful to say to you, my wonderful friends, about the work. It is sometimes (often, my failing) really hard to talk about my work. It is a very raw and vulnerable feeling to put one's work out there for all the world to see and judge.
SO, that is why I don't post that often any more. Truth is, I would much rather spend all that time painting! We are told by marketing gurus (the artists who are making their living by telling other artists how to sell their art -hmmm, why aren't they just selling their own art??? But I digress..) that in order to be successful in online marketing, one must post daily to one's blog, several times a day to Facebook, daily on Instagram and update one's website on a weekly basis. Gosh, I am exhausted just thinking about that! They say followers are everything, and imply that the quality of the artwork is secondary to this big marketing machine. I have seen that many have gotten on this bandwagon, and many are being successful in producing good sales of their art online. I am on Daily Painters (ha, I am certainly not a 'daily painter' as in one who produces a small painting every day and puts it up for sale for cheap), and I have sold a few paintings there, but mostly I renege on posting there either. My small work is usually done 'en plein air' and my galleries would really frown if I offered it up at a fraction of the price for online consumption. So my prices are much higher than many of those daily painters. So I sell less. Oh well, that's the way it is.
I am much more interested in using this blog as a forum for ideas about painting and all art in general, rather than as a marketing tool. Don't get me wrong, I would love it if you would buy a painting from me! But I just don't have the stamina to work that hard at the marketing end of things. Luckily I am blessed with a wonderful, super supportive husband, who also happens to have a wonderful pension, so I don't have to sell my work in order to eat (maybe that is why I am not as skinny as I used to be...). You have caught me in a very wry sense of humour today, sorry.
To that end, I am delighted if you will share this art journey with me. Hopefully I can give you something of interest to enrich your life with. So here is a painting that I did while standing on the rocks in the water at my cottage this summer. Didn't even fall in, but I did inadvertently wash some art gear in the process!
"Tied Up", 12x12" plein air oil on board
$575 beautifully framed
I was really interested in the way the light hit the water and made it a golden glow in contrast to the cool shady areas, and in the reflected light on the trees. I am always a sucker for light effects, and I try really hard to capture them using colour and opacity/transparency to tell the story of what I felt as I was looking at the scene. Hope that comes through! I also did another 2 paintings at the cottage, but one is drying after a repaint, and I thought I would save the other for another time when I can think of something else interesting to tell you about.
As always, I invite you to comment on this post, and to share it on social media using the Share link below.
Blessings
Sharon
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Blessings
Sharon
I agree entirely with your approach to blogging - of course I do it's the same as mine!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I feel the same way about sales too. Chime in when you have something to say is my motto!
Thanks for the support Alice. I just had to put it out there.
ReplyDeleteI haven't posted in my blog in ages. And for many of the same reasons. Life just gets in the way and there are so many other things that I would rather be doing. And I don't ever sell my work. Man...my house is getting so crowded!! But it is wonderful to hear you say all this and to know I am not alone. Creating art isn't about the selling for me. They are like children and I can't discard any of them.
ReplyDeleteHi Teri: thanks for responding, we are all too busy these days it seems. I have been at this for over 30 years- if I didn't sell I'd hate to buy a house just to hold all my paintings. They are all previous to me, but like my kids, I have to let them out into the world to brighten other people's lives. I am glad that found comfort in my struggles with blogging, and to know that you aren't alone.
DeleteI totally agree with you about the demands of blogging. I had to learn to shut my ears to those demanding social media/blogging "experts." If you follow that advice you will never find the time to do what you really love - write or paint or garden or spend time with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI admire your dedication to your art and to life. I enjoy your art whenever I do see it, too.
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteI too feel much the same, my once steadfast daily posting has dwindled to almost nothing. My focus is still there, I am painting away, sometimes selling my work. Mostly enough to keep me in materials and the odd trips to London art exhibitions. I'm loath to jump on the social media trail. I do feel that when my art reaches a level that resonates with more people it will find the light of day without me spending precious hours not painting. We are blessed to have something that is so addictive and renews our creative spirit, so I would say, don't feel guilty, celebrate your life as an artist and go with the flow, as you are doing. xxx
Thanks Dianne - I knew you would understand. And thanks for your kind compliments!
ReplyDeleteThank you Millie Dean! I do believe it is not enough to paint without it ever being seen. But there must be llimits!
ReplyDeleteReally love your painting and your sentiments are shared by so many. It's how we spend our living time that gets more precious and the need to define it for myself seems to get stronger as I get older. As I started my art journey in your class, I enjoy following your journey!
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen! I am enjoying your journey as well
ReplyDeleteI so hear what you are saying Sharon! Even a short blog post takes time.... It's all a balancing act which sometimes I do well and some other times I fail miserably at. We each have to do what works best for us. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete