Pencil Shavings

Empty Content

It’s hard to believe that I used to write a blog daily.  Sometimes even multiple times a day.  I know that school kind of took away that drive to write, because writing for marks is a lot different than writing for fun in a lot of ways.

I used to write 1000 words a day.  I wrote a novel length manuscript (or two or three) and a children’s book that was considered (briefly) for publication.  I wrote short stories that were published and I even wrote magazine articles.

What happened to the writer in me?

It would be easy to say that it was replaced by the visual artist.  But that is really an over simplification.  I think that the writer still lives in me, but I haven’t given her the time to come out to play.  Is it true that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do all the things that I really want to do?  Well, there is the whole time-suck of the internet that really does decrease my productivity in an alarming way. 

Well the year is half over, maybe this is the time to make resolutions?  Maybe if I promise myself that I need to work first, just maybe if I find that will power to turn off social media for a few hours a day (or a few days a week) I will be able to do much more of the things that feed my soul instead of feeding my eyes with the fast food that lives on Twitter and my other social sites.

 

Is the Medium the Message?

She's Here, She's There, She's Everywhere!

I found out this weekend that I was going to be the featured on the EBSQ Blog as the "Blogger of the Week"

EBSQ is a great resource for self-representing artists.  You can load and maintain your own gallery of work (with links to your website, blog, and places you sell your work)

There is an artists forum where you can go for critiques, and a digital sketchbook section for little unfinished works that you have been working on.

It's a great, supportive environment to learn, and mingle with fellow artists.

I'm very please, and proud, to be the Blogger of the Week.

Young Artists for Haiti

via www.cbc.ca

This is an amazing video, an anthem that can't be ignored, and a chance for all of us to give a little more.

100% (all of it) goes to Haiti aid. There is still so much devastation there, and we still need to help.

Go to the Facebook Page. Join me in supporting this initiative.  I think it's truly inspiring.

Social Media and The Artist

I was just featured in a class about using social media taught by Cathy Downey. Who knew that being a nerd/artist would gain me such academic presence?

Yes I do use Social Media to help market myself as an artist.  I have sold paintings through Twitter, through Facebook (a fan page... go figure!), as well as the other online marketing venues like eBay, Etsy and Artfire.  I have my website(that I am well aware needs some dusting off) and I use Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with fellow artists, collectors, friends and potential buyers.

Here is my one and really only tip for using social media to connect with your prospective customer.

Be Sincere.

People know when you just want money out of them, treat your followers and your facebook friends like real, live people.  Treat them like friends.

Don't spam them with buy, buy, buy, buy (even if that's what you want them to do) but let them into a little piece of your life.  This is especially important to artists.  People love to know a little about the piece, what inspired it, how it moved you, why you were compelled to create it.  Share that with them, share a little piece of yourself with them.  Once they know you, they will be more likely to collect your work, because they are invested in you, your story and eventually your success.

Another tip that I have for the Twitter novice, let people find you organically.  Don't waste time with those auto-follow web-bots.  The people who you really want to follow you are people who will find you through their friends or because they are interested in you.  I don't automatically follow everyone who follows me.  I don't block people who I don't follow, but I also only follow people who interest me because their tweets are more than just the weather or what's for dinner. 

Finally.  Have something interesting to say.  You don't always have to be the soul of wit, but try to keep the conversation going between you and your followers.

So... there you go... my social media tips in a nut shell.  I have lots of opinions on this, so if you want more just ask, but I won't bore you unless you really want to know.

Now... for an even more riveting quesiton - can someone explain to me why my blog post about drawing my cat has had a half zillion hits over the last 24 hours?  I can't explain it...