Dana Brown

Why Blog?

Blogs, Twitter, Facebook – why would an artist spend time doing these things?  That time could be spent creating, so does it make sense?  Some artists are successful selling their paintings and their services on the internet, so their objectives are clear.  I need to sell work too, of course, but I have other ideas about what I want to accomplish.

First of all, I think it’s important to be honest with myself about my goals. Time is precious and can slip away so easily.  Frankly, I think creative people have to be extra careful about that.  Not every single thing I do has to be productive but I think it’s important to not kid myself about what is and isn’t.  I have a strategy for the use of the internet in my art – I’m sure it will change over time as it should.

Blogging is art journaling for me.  I could journal in pretty notebooks and toss them in a drawer, and no one would ever see them. In fact, I’d probably never read them again.  Those blank books are SO tempting to buy but filling them is an empty activity for me.  I’ve tried it. 

 During my painting day I have a constant internal dialog with myself, whether it’s about painting decisions or the psychological quicksand that most artists have to work around every day.  If I’m going to dialog, I might as well make the most of it!  It may or may not impact anyone else in a blog but it definitely won’t as scribbles in a notebook.   A reader may pick up something helpful or they may be so frustrated by my amateur attempts that they begin writing or painting themselves.  Either way, it’s impact. 

Twitter is my daily snapshot.  Most days while my palettes are warming or at the end of my painting day, I like to visit with my socially challenged cats for twenty or thirty minutes and flip through my art books.  Looking for soundbites that feel right that day motivates me to open my books and think beyond whatever is causing me to drag my feet.  Twitter’s limitation of 140 characters challenges me to express myself in short, direct thoughts and quotes — it’s a focus that often pulls my thoughts in the direction I need to go.

And my Facebook updates are what bring it all together.  I feel like Facebook is ME – NOT a static website or an inflated bio with my name in flowing letters across the top.  My Facebook page is the artist part of me open to conversation.  After years of having a boring website which was almost impossible to keep current, Facebook allows me to interact easily with anyone who wants to reach me.   And as all hardworking artists know, it is easy to go hours if not days without talking to a human.  Being able to talk with people after 11pm or before 6am is wonderful when we’re trying to protect certain hours of the day for studio work. 

Anything that motivates me to think about art more, skim through a book, and consider a new idea is worthwhile.  By blogging and using social media, I’m encouraged to communicate about art, motivated to articulate more effectively, excited to create new work and ideas, and feel more connected to other artists and supporters.  And truly, isn’t art about connections.

It seems the more doors I open, the happier and more satisfied I am with art making.  For me, blogging, tweeting, and facebooking are giving me that experience.