The Perils of Painter-Blogging
I don’t know if I am alone in this but I thought I’d like to share a few ideas about Painter-blogging – I mean the situation of artists/painters setting up blogs where they post frequent (often daily) pics of their paintings.
I am finding that although this is a good motivation to keep up the hard work and paint every day, it can get pretty tiring – and maybe also the painting process itself can get a little tired. When the daily painting phenomenon started a few years ago one strong purpose was so that painters could make some ready “small format” sales and they could do so by communicating directly with their buyers and potential buyers. It has been proven that this works for many people. Even I have managed to sell a few this way. Peril number one therefore is that we can end up painting “for the market” or “for the sale”. If we have half an eye on what is going to sell or be popular then is that going to interfere with us truly being in touch with our artistic vision.?I think some people manage both. Their work sells and at the same time they are working “intuitively” or “from the heart”. For some of us I think there is a gap yet.
Peril number 2 is the comments invited at the end of each blog post and I don’t know about other people but I do find I take notice of those. I mean for a start it’s kind of people to bother to stop by and say if they like something. Often they say why they like it and that is sometimes useful. Sometimes I don’t get any comments and then I think “why haven’t I got any comments”? It’s a bit like patting the dog on the head and saying “good boy”. We shouldn’t really need that should we? I do know of people who have deliberately got rid of the comments box and I’m beginning to understand why. It can be seen as a very scary - and very misleading - indicator of “success”. However, I am still thinking it’s a case of learning how to deal sensibly and sensitively with it so I’m not quite ready to get rid of it yet.
So sometimes as a painter-blogger you can feel that you are losing a bit of control over what you do. I sometimes feel I’m “on show” (do others feel like that?); that there is an audience and I am wondering if that gets in the way of me digging a bit deeper. There are other painters waiting to see what I produce (just as I wait to see what other painters produce) and there are potential customers (probably saying “ why is she doing these strange figures all of a sudden”). Do other people feel like that or is it just me? Do I care? Should I care?
I have read of artists taking 20, 30, 40 years to arrive at what they themselves truly want to paint and quite frankly I haven’t got that long. Therefore I am slowing down a bit in terms of posting. I’m taking more time and thinking a bit more and above all I want to experiment a bit more and just pay attention to me and my own inner motivations rather then anyone outside.
In relation to this I found a great book on Google called “Finding your visual voice; a painter’s guide to developing an artistic style” by Dakota Mitchell. After reading about 10 pages on Google with great interest it suddenly stopped scrolling and said – hey, you have to buy this now, no more free browsing. So I have ordered it on Amazon and look forward to digging deeper into it.
We are privileged to have such problems aren’t we?
I am finding that although this is a good motivation to keep up the hard work and paint every day, it can get pretty tiring – and maybe also the painting process itself can get a little tired. When the daily painting phenomenon started a few years ago one strong purpose was so that painters could make some ready “small format” sales and they could do so by communicating directly with their buyers and potential buyers. It has been proven that this works for many people. Even I have managed to sell a few this way. Peril number one therefore is that we can end up painting “for the market” or “for the sale”. If we have half an eye on what is going to sell or be popular then is that going to interfere with us truly being in touch with our artistic vision.?I think some people manage both. Their work sells and at the same time they are working “intuitively” or “from the heart”. For some of us I think there is a gap yet.
Peril number 2 is the comments invited at the end of each blog post and I don’t know about other people but I do find I take notice of those. I mean for a start it’s kind of people to bother to stop by and say if they like something. Often they say why they like it and that is sometimes useful. Sometimes I don’t get any comments and then I think “why haven’t I got any comments”? It’s a bit like patting the dog on the head and saying “good boy”. We shouldn’t really need that should we? I do know of people who have deliberately got rid of the comments box and I’m beginning to understand why. It can be seen as a very scary - and very misleading - indicator of “success”. However, I am still thinking it’s a case of learning how to deal sensibly and sensitively with it so I’m not quite ready to get rid of it yet.
So sometimes as a painter-blogger you can feel that you are losing a bit of control over what you do. I sometimes feel I’m “on show” (do others feel like that?); that there is an audience and I am wondering if that gets in the way of me digging a bit deeper. There are other painters waiting to see what I produce (just as I wait to see what other painters produce) and there are potential customers (probably saying “ why is she doing these strange figures all of a sudden”). Do other people feel like that or is it just me? Do I care? Should I care?
I have read of artists taking 20, 30, 40 years to arrive at what they themselves truly want to paint and quite frankly I haven’t got that long. Therefore I am slowing down a bit in terms of posting. I’m taking more time and thinking a bit more and above all I want to experiment a bit more and just pay attention to me and my own inner motivations rather then anyone outside.
In relation to this I found a great book on Google called “Finding your visual voice; a painter’s guide to developing an artistic style” by Dakota Mitchell. After reading about 10 pages on Google with great interest it suddenly stopped scrolling and said – hey, you have to buy this now, no more free browsing. So I have ordered it on Amazon and look forward to digging deeper into it.
We are privileged to have such problems aren’t we?
posted by Sheila Vaughan at 7:42 PM
24 Comments:
Kitty cat just walked across my keyboard and wiped out my paragraph. Let me try again. I struggle with the issues you brought up in this post and I totally respect your decision to ease up on the one-a-day post. It seems so modest, to paint and post one painting a day, in fact it requires much determination, planning and consistent habits. Sometimes we sacrifice quality to meet that goal and always we are susceptible to opinions, fatigue and boredom too. I will totally miss your daily posts though, fyi. I've absolutely loved the variety and top notch quality you've brought to daily painting!! Even when I've been less than thrilled with your chosen subject, you still managed to bring your unique take to it, which is something not everyone can do consistently. Thoughtful post, greatly appreciated!! Keep painting, Sheila, you have a big fan in Cleveland, Oh.
I do agree with you on this, I've only just started blogging, not to sell my work but to get my confidence back. I suffered badly from 'artist's block'. I just could not produce a thing, threw it all away immediately and my self esteem was at an all time low. Putting my work on the blog, good and bad, made me realise that the only way I was going to get out of the rut was to 'do something' and I have to produce 'something' for my blog at least twice a week. It's not for an exhibition it just about enjoying my art and giving myself a challenge in the process. I would say, don't worry about trying to sell and impress, paint for yourself and just enjoy!
Oh yes I can relate! I have gone through a similar crisis of faith. I actually didn't start out with the idea of selling but then I sold a couple anyway and became completely seduced by the idea for a while. I came around full circle and am now back to doing as much sketching and drawing as painting, as I say in my statement, "sometimes they aren't very good". I don't put the Buy Now buttons on my posts any more, even when I am quite happy with them. I give it a couple of weeks and then I might put them up on Etsy. Hope you do keep posting, I will miss you if you don't.
Sheila, I haven't read the other comments yet but I just wanted to say I identify with the mixed feelings you have about blogging. There's a bit of a Big Brother feeling hovering over us, knowing that people (just a few for me but still...) are waiting to see new work, and what will they think of what I'm doing? And shouldn't I post it today even if I don't think it is really finished? (then sometimes I don't get back to it, thinking people are already bored with it and want to see something new)
You definitely are having thoughts and quandaries that are normal and thank you for your candor! I don't have the answers for you -- but the book sounds really good. I also want to find my own "voice." Oh, one last thing, I love it that you're painting "strange people" all of a sudden. But I'm a huge Toulouse-Lautrec fan so that explains that.
I have been in a rush sometimes when I've loved things you did and didn't comment; I know that happens to others, too, as we're going down our favorites list quickly on the way to bed. I shouldn't check blogs when I'm in a rush...
I LOVE your work, it gets better all the time. I'm just poor right now or I'd be buying it.
Diane, you put it very eloquently and honestly - yes, sometimes we are susceptible to opinions, fatigue and boredom. I had a friend round the other day who admitted that sometimes she got bored with painting and I then admitted that yes, me too! So its good to hear all these unwelcome feelings are there for others as well. I am wondering if I was painting entirely for myself that maybe I would not get that occasional moment of boredom - but I would get tiredness that's for sure. You are right, no one realises the energy and effort required to keep it going. Thanks Diane for the really useful comments.
Carolann, hi, thanks for contributing. I don't think it's artists' block that I have - I was painting yesterday for instance and will do so today. It's just the "showing" of that work which is bothering me and the hidden "pressure" which I am sure is more in my head than in reality. I have kept up two art blogs for nearly two and a half years now, posting on most days apart from the odd week when that was not possible and I think I have just burned myself out. Thanks for your kindness in responding anyway.
Sarah, hi. Yes, sales and recognition are seductive and it was brave of you to say - ok, this is my progress, whether you think it good or bad. I have gone through similar phases but it seems that there are conflicting notions of what the blog is about - i mean the purpose of any art blog. Sometimes this surfaces in the Discussion area of the Daily Painters' Gallery and I would say most people see it as a virtual gallery - a market place and some say they will only display their better work for that reason. I prefer your attitude actually as it focusses on the process of getting better rather than presenting "good work" full stop. i suppose we each have to decide our own blog purpose and maybe I'm struggling with that a bit at the moment. Thanks Sarah for your valued comments.
Camille, yes, that analogy of "Big Brother" really hit home for me. At the moment that is very much how I feel, although I'm sure a lot of it is just in my head because I don't get mega-ratings of viewings etc. so the idea in some ways is contradictory and a bit funny. But your comment about us having half an eye on what others (might) think just rings true for me.
As to your sometimes "failing to comment" I do it all the time - I see a wonderful painting and I am in a rush or very tired and I don't stop and comment. But that is my point - we can place far too much value on those comments and in a sense of course it's the paintings which we consider "lacking in something" where we could really use external, honest, comments, but you never get that. I think probably because that is much more difficult to manage in the virtual world. You can sit down and have a conversation with someone about their work, your work, face to face and all kinds of things can be said which we are unable to do in this 'virtual'format. Anyway, really good of you to join in the debate Camille, and thanks for your support.
Sheila...this is not a criticism, just an observation. Not only do you paint + blog wonderfully + faithfully, but you also respond so generously + fully+ thoughtfully to comments. That's wonderful but I imagine sometimes taxing to the (tired end of the day) brain cells + the short amount of time in a day.
...back to the painting part, though. The daily painting, daily blogging process. We've both been part of the Daily Painter site for some time + I have to say, the sheer quality resulting, I think in large part by the sheer quantity of the every day painters' work is astounding. I think, like athletes, when you do something every every every day, you just get stronger, more proficient...more confident...better hand/mind/soul co-ordination....It is grueling sometimes but the results? Wow!
Edith, thanks, yes, you are right that we can only get better at the skill, the task, of painting, the more we practise it. I do feel tired and I think that's when doubts start creeping in. I picked up some paintings today that I had left for framing and I looked at them and thought, hey, they are ok, they're not bad. Although it's great fun to look outside and admire and enjoy other people's work I need to start using my own output as a "referent" rather than anyone elses. I'll take my time and chill out about it! Your support is much appreciated.
This is a subject that many of us may have thought about in the past but may have not shared in this context -- at least with our fellow bloggers.
I think that painting "for the sale" is not just a vulnerability exclusive to artists that blog... but a susceptibility for all artists who sell their work. Although I believe when we're conscience of this potential pitfall, we're unlikely to fall victim to it and are then free to paint what truly moves us.
There have been times when I have fallen prey to measure the comments on my posts as a validation too. You said it's a bit like patting the dog on the head which is a good analogy. Yet, when I am aware of these feelings I quickly coax them away. I have in the past entertained the idea of deleting the comment feature as well, but most likely won't since the enjoyment of interchange with other bloggers far outweighs the occasional moments of insecurity.
You mentioned the book "Finding your visual voice; a painter's guide to developing....." , it sounds like a very good book particularly pertinent to what you have discussed here. Have you read The Art Spirit by Robert Henri? He touches on some of the points you have mentioned with great interest. I particularly love what he says at the bottom of page 216-217.
An artists blog can be a Journal, a loose interpretive vehicle, flexible, interchangeable and expressive with out being confined by the limitations of preconceived expectations. We have the freedom to develop them as much or as little as we want. To post daily, weekly, or monthly...it's our unique place to express what we want, when we want and our good fortune to be able to share with each other as we travel the course of our individual journeys together.
Thanks for sharing that d. And thanks for articulating why you decided in the end not to delete the comments box. Yes I think one would definitely feel a greater sense of isolation within the community. Maybe sometimes that isolation would be welcomed but at other times it may not.Therefore it seems better to leave it but use it sensibly. I found a lovely quote on an artist's blog the other day (Louise Hafesh). She was listing 20 things to make you a better painter (sorry Louise if I don't have that quite right). Number 15 was: "Whatever other people think of you (or your work) is none of your business" and I really like that. People have a right to their opinions and they have a right to share them with anyone they choose but it is up to us, the recipients or the subject of the opinion what we do with that information.
I like very much your final paragraph where you remind us that it is entirely up to us how and why we use the blog. That was such a helpful reminder. Also, thanks for the Henri reference. It will go on my order list!
As a new blogger, and an "older artist" I find your comments very interesting. Painting and writing for one's audience is a bit dicey, but art without the audience is like sex without a partner. It's less than half the fun. I love the honesty in your work.
Hi Joanne, you have hit on a very important point. In fact today I was pondering over the notion- if you woke up one morning and there was no one else in the world, only yourself, what would you then paint (I assume you would only paint what you were personally driven to paint because you have no one else to please but yourself). You have however raised a further logical point from that - would we paint at all? I suppose it is for each individual to speculate, but yes, if we didn't want or expect other people to look at our work then why put it on a blog in the first place. Thanks Joanne. Simplicity is often profound aint it?
I think you have really struck a chord with this one. For some time now, I have been working hard trying to keep up with the painting a day crowd. I admire people like Edward B. Gordon who turn out great paintings each day. He is remarkable, and it works for him. But slowly and finally, I have begun to realize, that is not me. I need to take more time. I need to live with it a bit before I finish it. I need to walk back and forth and see it in different light and from different angles, until I feel I am satisfied. I am no longer going to be ruled by the clock.
As for blogging, and connecting with other artists online, (Twitter, Facebook, UStream) to me it has been a wonderful experience. I have learned so much and made so many artist friends from around the world.
So I will continue painting at my own pace, and hope that as I continue on down this road, I will do some good work, and continue to make friends.
Thank you, Sheila, for your thoughtful comments and your lovely paintings. I really enjoy seeing your work.
Sheila, you have no idea how helpful this post was for me! I've only been doing daily painting for 2 months and have already fallen into the rut of "will I get comments? Will this sell?". Plus, I know I have posted some paintings before they were really done just to be able to post daily. After only 2 short months of this I was already feeling pressure and disillusionment and losing my joy which defeats the whole purpose of creating the blog in the first place...to work on my art and enjoy the process. Period.
I went back and took all the "buy now" buttons and prices off. After being an "Art Whore" for 20 years, I couldn't believe I fell back into the commercial mind-set so quickly. Very sobering. For now I'm leaving the comment element simply because I like the community and the opportunity for some constructive...or even negative...feedback. And I will still try to paint daily because I need the discipline. Whew. I feel better already. I can't Thank You enough for shaking me back to reality!
Bill, yes, this is what I mean. I can produce a painting every day if I choose to, but then it is often a case of not being really happy with many of the paintings. Maybe I have learned something technical from the process but often it has been an almost mechanical activity, not intentionally responding to the "inner voice" in any deep way. Yes, Edward is amazing - he produces small masterpieces time after time, but as you say it suits him to do that right now. Like you I think I need a bit of breathing space for a while, time to really reflect. I will not stop painting every day. My intention is to put in the same number of hours but taking more time with each painting and working in a slightly bigger format which I feel more comfortable with anyway. And so the learning will still go on. Nice of you to add your contrbution here Bill. I appreciate it.
Hi Gwen - crikey I hope you didn't take the prices off on my account! The point I was trying to make was not that we should not attempt to sell our work, only that we should not paint to satisfy the whims, likes and dislikes of our potential buying public. I don't find anything wrong with selling work we are proud to do and which is in accordance with our own inner drives and motivations. If people want to buy that then I'm happy to sell it to them. As to painting every day, yes it does take a lot of energy and commitment - at least to do it properly. As you say, we can paint every day but should not feel the pressure to post every day.
Thanks for that contribution Gwen and don't feel embarrassed about changing your mind about selling if that's what you want to do. I think it's good to review our own individual purposes anyway.
Sheila, this is a great and thoughtful post you put up, and wonderful to read the perceptive comments by yourself and other artists. Here's my 2 cents:
As if there weren't enough outside pressures on trying to be creative, we artists sure manage to pile it on in our own heads, don't we? We manage to make ourselves feel guilty if we seek or require any response good or bad to our work. We seem to think the ideal state is one where we create without being "tainted" by any thoughts that are less than aesthetically pure. We imagine that we can truly paint "for ourselves."
Who are we kidding? We are in the connection business. Anyone who tries to make art has a desire to communicate, and we don't just want to talk to ourselves. We haven't necessarily sold our souls if our paintings sometimes come out of motivations that are less than pure. The truth is, we can't help but paint out of such motivations--where is the perfect world?
A million uncontrollable thoughts usually run through my head in the course of a painting: "do I like it?...will someone else like it?...why should I care?...will it sell?...I could use the money...am I selling out?...am I painting this just for me or do I want approval?...and so on and on.
The world is a grand and gorgeous mess, and we're all smack in the middle of it, living less than perfect lives, producing less than perfect paintings, being more than perfectly hard on ourselves for being--heaven forbid--human.
On the question of daily painting and posting, I really like the self-empowering comments of D. Prizzi--it really is our choice how we develop and use our blogs. Everyone must seek their own comfort zone.
I admire your sensitive thoughts on all these issues, Sheila. It's great that you're staying in touch with your own needs in this regard. Your paintings are beautifully expressive testaments to your own honest vision.
Don, each time I read through your response here get a big grin on my face. This is because you always manage to move the argument back to “reality” – not “safety” I hasten to add but the “real” world and its mysteries and ambiguities. The balance between doing things for some kind of recognition and doing them solely for ourselves is blurred. If it were clear cut then there would be no problem, but creating a work of art, like creating anything, will for me I think always be “tainted” or “blessed” with this potential mixed motivation. I think what you are saying is – just go with it, and to a large extent you are quite right – that is why the big grins on my face! And also the realisation through everyone’s comments here that if I didn’t care what other people thought about my work then why would I enter competitions, why would I even have a blog. I would just sit in my room and paint and stash them away in the corner.
However, I am learning (maybe the hard way :-D) what the buying public likes. If I do a “pretty” girl or a pair of lovers then the ratings shoot up. In Daily Painters Gallery terms I am “in the green”. If I paint my somewhat quiet and sombre pots I am in the red (for non DPG readers this means fewer viewings of those particular works). At least this understanding is simple and it gives me simple choices. I can decide deliberately what to paint in terms of subject and I am sure most of the old Masters and the nineteenth century painters did have to make those deliberate choices, and the criteria would almost certainly include “will people want to buy this”. All I am saying is – when I include this criteria in my painting choices I want to do it consciously and realise why I am doing that. I did a “sombre pots” painting a few months ago and included some bright orange clementines. It sold almost right away. But I don’t always feel like including a bright colour. So my perceptions at the time of painting I suppose have to strike a chord with the potential viewers/buyers perceptions at the time of viewing/buying.
Don, you have been at this game for a long time and struggled with these issues just like some of us are struggling now. Your two cents worth is worth many, many dollars! You have put some much needed perspective and “macro view” perceptions on this topic. As you imply it is totally complex and many layered. I know I am always tempted to get caught up in the intellectual digging and delving and yes, I want to continue to be in touch with my own needs but I also simply want to continue painting and through that process understanding more about myself and this, as you so rightly put it, “grand and gorgeous world”. Thank you Don.
Sheila,
your post was very articulate as are all of these comments.
I average about 6 posts a month (feeling like a slacker next to some of the more prolific bloggers) but in my mind, I am always working on my blog. Don Gray's observation about creative types being in the connection business is right on. I know I'd paint anyway but, I do want to show and sell my work. I also love when I get comments. I'm tickled to death that people who would never see my work check my blog to see what's there. I do feel an obligation to stay with it and also feel the pressure. But,I remind myself that quality is my goal, not quantity and although I would love to paint a fabulous painting every time, like Edward Gordon or Karin Jurick, it's not me right now.
I also have enjoyed, immensely, the connection with , and the comments from all of the viewers, artists and non artists. The blog is alive in a way that a website isn't. We aren't all working at the same pace and creating art is not a race. I remind myself not to compare myself or my work to others.
You know that I love your work so just post at your own pace and don't delete the comments, or I won't be able to say how much I love it!
Thanks for a very relevant post about something that many of us are feeling since we started our blogs.
Mary, thanks so much for your kind and thoughtful post here. It is also very relevant and supports me in knowing that we are all susceptible to the same insecurities, fears, whatever. I too really feel Don has hit the nail on the head. Every time I re-read his post here a big grin comes over my face because he is so right. I also liked what d.Prizzi said at the end - that we are travelling our individual journeys together. And you too now have added your voice in a similar vein. Thanks again for the support Mary. It is well valued.
I adore your work, especially the prevalence of "neutralized" hues.
It's so ironic that I just read this post of yours. I've been daily painting for about 6 months and blogging about it for about 3 months, and I've suddenly started feeling precisely what you're describing. I haven't yet decided what I'm going to do, but I completely relate to what you've discussed here.
Thanks Jala, yes I am beginning to think it is somewhat of a global issue!
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