Quote of The Day

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Resisting Change






Mixed media, painted then collaged with strips of my own paintings. City

 Well apparently our creative muse has returned... Yahoo, and it's so much fun!! Even  Beardo stowaway in his music cave the dining room   to write a song, after months of feeling creatively stagnant.  Apparently the muse loves a dirty messy house... who knew! Unfortunately, the muse and I are NOT on the same page. The little clutter fests are getting to me!! So everything is a trade off! I shall tackle it a bit at a time!
Original Jenny the Jester  acrylic paint!!

We've planted the seeds of change in our minds! It's a slow
 process and we keep sabotaging ourselves. Although we give 
items to charity monthly there is so muchmore we need to release
 to live simpler! The seeds are planted in the direction of change!!
This week Cupcake is quite sick yet she still trudges to 
work poor thing.Beardo and her have tickets for the 
Jeff Bridges concert tonight too!! 

Like I said last week, the world is rapidly changing. How we convey and receive information is so quick.  The younger generations are putting value on  different things than we did. They're cherry picking what worked in the past and leaving the least affective behind! They are scanning through the babyboomers mistakes and trying to navigate a  new way! Clearing out the clutter of our world. Living simpler! They just aren't aspiring to what many of us aspired to!
My generation fell into the trap of being  socialized into the footsteps of our parents. In my case my mother was only one of two working moms in our neighbourhood. With an extremely domestic side mom did everything a stay at home mom did and more, yet rarely showed up to special events or school functions that we took part in.

My generation took it a step further,  volunteering  at schools, attending  all extracurricular activities and functions as well as keeping up the house and working full time! Many such as myself burnt out trying to do it allon very little sleep! Some young people still fall into this trap, but the majority have rethought things. Prioritizing, knowing it's too difficult to be all things to all people, chasing things you don't really want, to please people you don't really like. First question....what do you really want and what do you really love? That works for clearing clutter too!! I never asked myself that question seriously until  well  into my fourties!

 I read all the comments on last weeks post  a few times and think  I need to elaborate a touch more about social media. I'm a big fat hypocrite because although I have had a twitter account from the beginning, I don't tweet!  However it's possible I  write and create art for different reasons than  other artists! Some artists want and need  to generate an income, others want to have art shows, some want online notoriety, others want to build a portfolio, some create art therapeutically. Others create art for personal gratification and expression or self exploration and improvement!  Why do you create art? other than your soul propels you to....
 



If you want to get your art out to the world, outside of doing the foot work  the best way is to build your brand. I know it sounds redundant, but it's the wave of the future! Young people are reserving instagrams and twitter accounts for their babies, knowing it's now the way of the world! Eventually instead of a job interview or a portfolio you may be asked for your instagram account! As it is now, some employers google search your name, check facebook, and anything else they can find on you!! Recently I heard of a case where they asked for a persons credit rating too!
For those  afraid we are sharing too much information do like mother said, keep your nose clean. Don't put anything out there you wouldn't want to defend in person! In other words be boring but don't bore people!! Show your best side. Share things others might enjoy or be interested in. It's also a good way of exploring who you are. I don't think Cupcake realized how much she loves taking food photos until she had an instagram account. When a newspaper posts her food photos which they have done several times because she uses their hash tag on those food photos,  they post her instagram account with it, drawing in more followers.It's exciting when they pick your photo out of thousands! 
Instagram is a much like a pyramid scheme. When a person likes your photo, that photo could go onto the recommended search page of people that follow you! (To put it in simply,  it's as though instagram  is saying "your friend likes these pictures, we think  you may like them too," then they are placed on your suggested search page! Which you can quickly scan to find new artist you might love! Hashtags send your photos to different pages where you may pick up new followers too!
You  need to visit  and like several photos to lead people  back to your instagram account!! The object of the game is to get them to like and follow you! To build it, you need to post at least daily for a while! Too many posts in a short span of time on the same day can  anger people, and they may stop following you! If you post too often they miss out on their other posts that fall to the bottom!
I started instagram  over a year ago but then never posted...I just recently started posting regularly because I am realizing the importance of building my brand, for no reason in particular! Just because! Similar to blogging you may not fully understand why you are doing it, then one day it will be clear why you need your own brand!! This is not flicker, which is like a holding tank for photos!  It's not facebook.  It's a place to connect quickly to lots of like minded souls at once.To show the world who you are and what you love!
Make authentic comments on photos you love, build short communications with those folks you  really admire! I am  following mostly artists.  I am not a huge fan of skulls, I know they are fashionable but  I rarely follow people who post them. It's just not my thing... I find the art inspires me, motivates me, and shows me a little more of who I am! I don't follow people who post food....I don't follow Cupcake or Beardo. I love whimsical artists, some cartoonists, quirky artist, childrens illustrators as well as a few comical artists and comedians.
There are apps and programs where you can pay people to follow you! I don't know much about that yet though! Just focus on building your own brand. Seriously once you get the hang of it, you won't need to spend much time on it! However you can meet some really talented artists that share info you may want or need! 
 Twitter is another animal that gets info to you in 140 characters or less... It's interesting to watch it work.  Anyone and everyone can  communicate anything via twitter. You could have a chance for a publisher to see your work where in the past it could take years to make that happen.  Part of the secret is to get people interested in who and what you are and have to offer! There are more opportunities for those who are savvy on social media. Some people think social media is a time thief when in actuality it can free up time. The days of sitting down to watch the News are coming to an end. By the time you sit down to watch it, that information is outdated!  You can deny it, but this technology, much like computers and tablets is here to stay whether we like it or not! Everything and anything we are interested in is at our fingertips within minutes!

Of course much like those friends who are so out of the loop they continue to send you comical emails that were trending three years ago,  there will always be those to resist the changes!! Some people are old school and refuse to embrace change...and that's okay... trudge merrily along doing your thing!! That works for you and me too! Those of you who are wondering how you can get yourself out there to sell art and make good connections, and maybe be discovered, GET BUILDING!!  Ask yourself, Who am I?? You just never know what offers may appear!! Good luck to all of you whether you build a brand or just toodle along!! There are no guarantees...just hope and belief! Do you resist change?

For more on being a social media marketing as an  influencer....read here!! 

37 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful post today. Change is important and inevitable, but I don't feel obliged to try everything! Hugs, Valerie

Gloria j Zucaro said...

Hello there! I love your colorful people and cityscape today. I love change in general. I do have a Twitter account, a Pinterest acct., Facebook and the blog. But I probably don't use them effectively! A couple years ago I was posting daily and was doing 4 oil paintings a week as well as a Zentangle. But I burned out. Oh, I also have an Instagram acct., but I take most of my pictures with my camera rather than my phone. I heard I would have to take my pictures with my phone. After I download my pics, I use Adobe Elements to size them and correct "levels and crop if necessary. I must admit, i don't know how to do that on my phone yet! Have a good week.

Ayala Art said...

How funny that you talked about instagram too hehehe
I love the color combinations you always have, so much fun!

froebelsternchen said...

LIFE is change !
Wonderful artwork!
xxx
Susi

Lynn Cohen said...

Dear talented knowledgable friend! It seems every time I visit your blog I learn something, am made to think, to wonder, to question! While I admire and enjoy your colorful art I am asked to question my own! Are my continual drawings of the people around me in coffee houses, we used to call them that, cafes, restaurants "My Brand"? I still don't get Twitter, but you make me think I should. Thank you for making me think! Question, and wonder! Now watch me act! Xo I am so flattered that you follow MY blog!

Clare Lloyd said...

Glad u found your mojo. Fab city scape

Paper rainbow said...

Glad you have your mojo back! I don't like to think I am resistant to change, maybe I am, I opened a facebook, twitter, and instagram account and then shut them as I found I didn't have the time to keep up with them. I prefer to spend time making. I love blogging as it serves a purpose. A visual diary for me, constructive feedback from like minded souls and most importantly an enormous library of amazing inspiration from other wonderful Artists from around the globe.
I think adapting the changes around you to suit your lifestyle is key.

PaintingWrite said...

I think this cityscape is my favourite thing you've ever painted - I love it as your new blog header!

denthe said...

I just adore Jenny de Jester! Love your other drawings as well, so good that your muse has returned! After your post last week I looked up some information about instagram, and remembered why I didn't bother with it yet. It's because I can only use it with a phone. And while I always have my phone with me so that my family can reach me, I hardly use it for anything else. It's an old model and it's slow, maybe if I get a newer model I might try instagram. I agree with Paper Rainbow: adapting the changes around you to suit your lifestyle. I spend too much time as it is on the computer, and I know it would only be one more thing I "have to do". Thanks for explaining it though, I'm sure I will come back to this post when I am "ready" to make room for Instagram in my life ;-)

Anonymous said...

Life is a constant change, just have to adjust, but at the same it's important to stop once in a while and think what changes are necessary for oneself.

No wonder I tend to be a hermit!

Thanks for your text and drawings.

Christine said...

Lovely post, glad you got your mojo back. Art is therapeutic for me as is blogging, I feel supported and accepted here! Love your city and the range of colourful pices this week. I am good with change compared to some others, although it doesn't feel that way, as I said compared to others I'm not bad.

My name is Erika. said...

More fabulous pieces this week. The jester is really great. She's a girl with her own mind, that is for sure. I know about deciding late what it is you want to do-(and I am sure jester girl does not have that problem). I think its a generational thing-my parents were of the time that you followed all the rules and then they brought you up that way, so it took me until almost forty before I really opened my eyes and decided what I wanted and felt like I didn't have to follow all those rules. Ugh-rules! Don't think this generation has quite those problems...but that's because they had our generation for parents. Oh well, babbled enough. Have a great weekend!

sheila 77 said...

I read this first thing this morning and it certainly woke me up. Your Muse has certainly come back refreshed from her holiday - woohoo!
Change - I love it and hate it, often both at the same time. Computer-wise I love it as long as it is an improvement and doesn't keep driving me round the bend.
Your paintings are terrific - love Jenny the Jester whose expression contrasts very much with her costume and love your gentle lady with the flowers and the lime green background, a superb painting, love her hat too.
There is so much here, what a fantastic energetic blogpost!

Faye said...

I always enjoy your wise remarks, Sherrie. I do online art because I feel like these artists are my friends. By putting something on my blog each week, I can stay in contact. Over the years this list of friends has evolved. It used to be only card makers. Now It has whimsical art as well as traditional paintings. I love it. Since I am old and not working outside the home, I have time to do art, but the upkeep on the house is taking so much time that art is in second place. Today your buildings in their various colors make me smile. Thanks for a good day-starter. Happy weekend.

Pam Tucker said...

The cityscape is fabulous! I love it! And your jester girl is delightful! I, too, have a Twitter account but haven't posted to it in years. I mainly follow others. Instagram and Facebook I seem to use more. Pinterest, when the thought occurs to me. :)

Linda Kunsman said...

So happy to see you muse has returned-full speed ahead! Fabulous art-and that cityscape- I TOTALLY adore it!!!! I don't feel like I'm necessarily "resisting" change, but I'm just not at the point where I want to commit so much more time on al the social media accounts. Now, if I was to earn a living selling my art that would be a different story. Thanks for your thoughtful introspective post:)

Kate Robertson said...

Love the cityscape pieces. Change is such a biggie, sometimes I embrace it and other times not so much.

Happy PPF
Kate

GlorV1 said...

I love your cityscape. I would love to be standing in front looking at it. All your characters are awesome. I have twitter and sometime, rarely I use it. I don't do facebook or any of those other apps. I'm strictly flickr, blogger and I have some of my paintings on Fine Art America. That's pretty much all I do except a lot of searching on herbs, plants and other. I'm not tempted to join all the sites on board. I'm old school and still hang with the old ways. That's me.:) Have a wonderful day.

Gillena Cox said...

i luv the city and Jenny both in their first colour phase
Happy PPF

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

i luv the city and Jenny both in their first colour phase
Happy PPF

much love...

minnemie said...

These are all fun pictures, but I think I like the cityscape best! The different pallettes suggest different times of day and sunlight to my eyes - daily CHANGE! Love it!

Twist of Pink said...

One thing we can't stop is change they say. Good, bad or otherwise it seems. Your cityscape is so colorful and enjoyed your post!

Carol Rigby said...

I think your cityscape looks great as your new header. I haven't ventured onto facebook or instagram yet. I have been tempted but I'm not sure it's for me.

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

This is very important information for every blogger, so thanks for sharing it with us. I love your contribution to Mix-it Monthly, because it captures the feeling of our over populated cities these days. Blessings, my friend!

FLO said...

Votre post est très intéressant, construire sa marque est une chose primordiale pour les artistes qui veulent promouvoir leur art. C'est une tâche laborieuse de se faire connaitre sur internet, il faut y consacrer du temps et avoir du courage!

sharon said...

Great post, and wonderful art, I love your cityscape! Change is going to happen whatever we feel, the trick is to learn to cherry pick the changes to suit our circumstances and needs. All change is not good. Educationalists are finding that young people are losing the skill of interpersonal relationships, for many young shy people, cyber reality is a lot easier. You just need to watch people walking along the street their heads are down and they are so focussed on their phones etc that they miss out what is going on around them. Sad...
Why do I create art? Self expression for my own and maybe others. Whenever I try and put it out there my creativity dies!!! It has taken me a long time to realise that!

bellefrogworks said...

I love painting and admiring cityscapes and your is wonderful. I love the color, the collage and the dark outlines. Your portraits are wonderful too - I'm glad you and your muse made up! LOL Do I resist change?-yes and no. Twitter doesn't interest me at all - but I know the value of posting on Instagram - yet I haven't. I guess I feel so pulled by all I have or want to do, that anything extra seems like too much work. Love your post today

Šolanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Looks like we were both in whimsical city kind of mood. :) Social media has gotten out of control. It's just too much work to keep track. I like it when you can connect all accounts and post just once and all social media accounts get updated.

PiaRom said...

Haha, the muse seems to love messy house...I can say this from mine too ;) And how I love your vibrant funky art! The city is big, but yet so invitingly! And ohh, you have inspired me to try out instagram too, will see ;) ♥ Conny
Piaroms Art Journaling

alarmcat said...

very interesting post!! i find that i have to try and keep up with the changes so i don't get left behind. things happen so fast these days!

Viola said...

Oh thank you for a lot of info, I did not know all about this..
How fun to think of, how fast things can change!
I'm just blogging.. I've been thinking on making an instagram account, but so far I haven't..
It's great to read your posts, you are reflective, intelligent and informative.
xo

Viola said...

AND youur paintings are lovely!

JKW said...

OMGosh me too. Mom and dad both worked and never went to school functions. I even paid PTA dues one year (7th grade) b/c I was the ONLY one that wouldn't have paid if I hadn't. I got little enough allowance too. Yep, I went to school with my kids, lol. I believe it is too negative and too violent in today's world - kids/adults. I paint b/c I have to. I've drawn since I was 12. Love those colorful pictures you add to your stories. Blessings, Janet PPF

JKW said...

PS. forgot to mention I'm on Flickr because it was first. . .not instagram whatever that is. I got a late start with Twitter, but there are so many ways to use it. . .one way is to complain about something wrong with a store/company that happened. . .Instant 'taken care of' so this is just a little FYI. Blessings, Janet

J C said...

Whew, Ms. Giggles! That was a whole lot of information. I guess I'm at the bottom of the ladder because I only create because my soul propels me. Maybe I need to create a "brand". Ha! I'm certainly not resistant to change. I do believe past midnight! xoxo

Carol said...

So happy your mojo is back and I love every bit of your post this week ♥♥♥♥♥ The art is over the top ♥♥♥♥ Love ya !

Katie Jeanne said...

I hope your daughter is feeling better now. Being sick stinks. :/

My social media favorites are Instagram and Pinterest. Pinterest being number one because I like all the eye candy. I only follow art boards. I'm somewhat leery of IG because it's owned by FB. Who knows what they'll do to it.

I used to LOVE FB, but I got tired of never seeing anyone I'm truly "friends" with in my feed, and having to post a million times a day in order to be seen. It's all about $$$ now, and how much you will pay them. It wasn't worth the hassle, so I deleted my account a couple months ago.

I like Twitter now that you can post photos, but I can't say I use it all that much..only when I think of it. I do like reading what other people post, tho. I've read rumors that it's going the FB route, and will be controlling what you see in your feed. If that's true, I'll be glad I'm not making a huge effort. They're putting a ton of ads every couple of posts, so..who knows?

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