Star Allies, glaze painting, 10" x 14", 2013
One of the greatest gifts of Steemit has been a rekindling of my love of making stuff. It’s restored my value in myself as an artist and even given me a catalyst to find a more confident voice.
Sometimes You Just Have to Hit Reset.During this past week I’ve been considering and redefining my presence on Steemit as I do periodically. Reflection was in the air because I had several conversations off and on Steemit about reaching for meaning, clarifying intentions, reminding ourselves of what we are doing and why. A good example is @ericvancewalton’s post
There are so many ways that Steemit gives back and does so in spades, but what compels us specifically to return and engage regularly? After all, life is chock full of interesting things to do and loved ones to spend time with!
A side note is that my digital and physical life intersected in a wonderful way this week when @doctorcrypto offered to help in my studio. He’s now playing the role of DoctorTILE and doing the not so glamorous but super helpful task of sanding tiles. Incredibly nice fellow and seems to be doing a good job so far too!
On Friday we were talking about posting on Steemit and I shared my philosophy for successful participation on the platform. The act of articulating it seemed to helped me reconnect with my motivation, clarify what’s most meaningful for me at this point and renew my commitment.
Basically my belief is that in order to succeed here you must keep your interest alive and make the act of creating content essential to you beyond the rewards. To find a way to use Steemit for your own exploration, creativity and growth so that you have an internal motivation to return regularly.
This means creating content that keeps YOU as the creator stimulated, interested, fulfilled. Yes it’s great to create what may be meaningful to others, but if it doesn’t ignite you, it won’t ignite anyone else either. Whereas if it’s useful to you and ignites a bit of passion, play, humor or heart, chances are it will for others too. And of course this leads to those great comments and conversations.
Equally important is to value quality over quantity. Give yourself permission to post only as much as works for you and use the time you have for Steemit intentionally in the ways that are most satisfying. This is really important for me and has helped me when I go through times when I’m spread too thin.
How? glaze painting, 2014, this was an off the cuff experiment to try creating a watercolor effect with painting with glaze and I had a great time
As I reflect personally I keep coming back my need to blog about my work in ways that remind me why I love it, why I chose this career. Writing about my work - if approached right - builds my passion for it, much like a conversation with my sweetie about our relationship can help keep the connection strong, clear and the flame alive.
I’m reframing my criteria for my content creation with the question - does it ignite my passion for creating?
I also realized that I want to do more collaboration here. I’ve done some and have gotten so much out of it but don’t know how to find the time for more of it.
In the hope that some answers will reveal themselves in the coming months,
I’ve formed the intention that I want to
*more effectively fund collaborative ventures so that I can give myself more fully to them
And I’m posing the questions:
- how could I reorganize my work-life to allow for more collaboration on Steemit and with Steemians?
- What would I have to give up in order to do so and is that a loss or a relief?
So, my intentions are set and I welcome solutions!My artistic growth is really hungry for this, for the more light-hearted playful challenge of sketching more, making smaller pieces, stretching to meet the engagement that collaboration offers! My mouth waters when I upvote @opheliafu, @mayasky and @paolobeneforti’s work (and so many more!) and I want to initiate contests and projects that proactively and effectively support artists….
Thank you for your support, it’s precious and enables my blog and life as an artist!
That's well said. @natureofbeing
thank you @nigelmarkdias
You’re welcome. @natureofbeing
@natureofbeing
Thank YOU for voting me as your Witness. Just to let you know that I'm honored. I'm following your work.
Have a nice weekend.
It's great to see @doctorcrypto there in your studio, tile in hand! It is pretty amazing how your lives connected through Steemit.
I've been surprised at how Steemit has focused me on a few topics. I think could post forever about foraging and eating mushrooms, weeds, and other wild plants! That's been a big surprise. And I like taking folks out in nature, too, to interpret what's going on out there. And to show mushrooms, weeds, and wild plants, lol.
I appreciate how some of the artists on Steemit, like you, explain your creative process. Here's to many creative collaborations for you and the art community on Steemit!
Yes indeed! crazy how all of our lives connected through steemit.
I want to see foraging posts. :)
her posts are great :-))
Be on the lookout. I'm starting the Foragers Club and a foraging course here on Steemit next week! :D
Heck yes!!! That is so cool. I will for sure be looking out :)
Thanks @haphazard-hstead, I love how I've found a catalyst for such a variety of interests that I really didn't have a place to explore before too! Have you taken steemians out into nature yet? Have I asked you that already? I'm having a vague memory....
I'm in the midst of a series about getting into the forest to forage for mushrooms this past fall, over September - December, under the #walkwithme tag. There's a lot of nature in those posts! And I'm starting 2 new projects this week for foraging -- a Steemit Foragers Club, and a foraging course, right here on Steemit. So I'm cutting loose and going wild here on Steemit, lol. ; ) Here's to the Steemit catalyst!
Really great @haphazard-hstead, cheers!
I'm reading this while sat with my pens and ink around me , waiting for one of my images for Doug's novel to dry so I can apply the next layer to the drawing. I think that is rather fitting situation considering the content of this post!
I like to have a plan of what I'm going to work on next, but over the past year I've allowed myself to be more organic with this. I never know what opportunities or potential collaborations are going to come my way, so I'm now planning for the unplanned more (;D).
I think the greatest drive in my creativity has come from working with others- I step out of my comfort zone more, and take on board new ideas too.
I'm still working on this... but I have some ideas we could explore.
such a great collaboration - you and Doug and I've been so impressed by your hardfork artwork. Actually I like all your work :-) but this strikes me as a particularly good match.
I think you are a model of how to use this platform in fun collaborative ways as an artist and consistently which I think is key. Love to hear your ideas and I'm brainstorming in the back of my mind regularly on how to create more effective support for artists here. On steemitchat I'm ruthgreenberg.
Thanks for your comment and support!
actually we're also on the hardfork slack and can DM each other there as well!
Hi @promisearts, I just took a look at your blog and you are a real master with the pencil!! Great to meet you and welcome to steemit, I've just told Curie (curation group that helps support new steemians) about your work so maybe it will help give you some support.
I am an artist too. I paint animals and nature. I am happy with Steemit because it allows me to show my work and have an answer from other people. I try to do some time, to make a post every day.
welcome to steemit @normazaro, I just went to see your blog and left you some votes and some comments and have also suggested you to Curie (a curation group that helps new people to get support) and I hope it helps. Thanks for your comment and support!
Thank you very much, what really motivates us to create as artists does not limit, I share many of your ideas and questions, come to this post by mere chance and I am fascinated by your words have motivated me to continue creating and believing in myself, regardless of the rewards, definece is limiting thanks, Greetings from Venezuela
hello @edujazz and welcome to steemit. I'm hoping Steemit can help support Venezualans during your difficult times politically! Thanks for your support and comment, I'm glad that my words held some meaning for you.
thanks to you. and I'll be watching your publications. Happy day
I think time to time we all look and assess result of the jobs we done, no matter if it is what you daily do as a job/ the way of life to exist. If you enjoy it just keep going and do it. Steemit is something that stimulates people to be part of it due to few reasons: communication with the world, find people with same thoughts and opinions all over the world, sometimes around the corner. To share what you have in your heart, you may get heard, may not. Many people find back there hobbies and feel valued, reassured to return to their hobbies and enjoy it. The positive side of it if one has luck, supportive followers, they will be visible for many other people and become popular, and that opens opportunity to be an owner of new cryptocurrency that you never know may be will be very successful in the future.
But on other hand I do not think we should forget that Steemit is not the only important thing in our life and think about us, our family and friends, spend time with each other and enjoy real life.
I love your art and it is enjoyable to read your post as you put all your soul in them. I do not think anyone can be advisor in what to do, just listen to your heart and do what you enjoy.
so beautifully said @stef1!! I really appreciate reading your perspective on why steemit is such a contradiction for so many of us, as well as how to keep a clear head in viewing it relative to the rest of our lives. thanks for your comment and support!
I can relate very much to this. I came here on steemit just to write poetry. Then i realized i can wrie articles as well and i did pretty good.
Soon I thought to try fiction and i found another new talent of me. Now I am trying to face camera and speak in front of it. Not so good st it yet but learning and improving slowly.
Who knows what more I am going to find out about myself all because of steemit 😃
I am very very grateful to it for helping me explore and find me!
Thanks for this wonderful post dear :)
really wonderful to hear that you're experimenting and reaching beyond your comfort zone in your creative pursuits to find what you can learn from! That's what I think is SO important!! Really glad to hear it and thanks for your continued support, I really appreciate it!
You deserve to be supported dear. Its All my pleasure.
So precisely and sincerely. Many of us feel that Steemit affects us positively. He gives motivation, he fills with new creative ideas. At least I find inspiration every day thanks to the platform, I have a passion for learning, discovery of new knowledge. And communication with colleagues is a special pleasure.
well said, I agree completely @anna-mi, I also find the forays into such a variety of interests here to be so rich!
So good to see this. I've joined Steemit at what appears to be a strange time and I have had a crazy amount of success for a new person. I'm still finding my voice on this platform but had a post go viral my first week and was the second highest earning post for a minnow in that time period. I see so much potential here but I can also see the temptation to want to cater to an audience. So far, when I have written from the heart, I have been richly rewarded and that feels encouraging to move forward from a place of artistic authenticity. Thank you again for sharing. Xo
Hello @amandarichards! So so glad to hear your time here is going so well, that's really great news and well-deserved. Cheers to artistic authenticity and good fortune!
I too was extremely lucky my first week and would say that I still am. I have always been so grateful for this because many others with equally commendable content aren't so fortunate! Keep up those precious relationships...that's a huge key to success here ;-)
btw, if you come across really great new talent, can you ping me? I've just reserved a portion of my voting power for this. I really want to help newbies who aren't being seen. xo
Will do!
I am constantly watching excellent artists like you to improve myself.
I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to access your work here :)
thanks for the perfect post and sharing :)
thank you @artizm, I'm so glad to hear my posts offer you something you value!
I am so excited to think that you might host or initiate contest. I'm always considering it, but not really sure I have the following to merit it. During the turn of this year my art resolution (each year I make an art resolution that is a new turn of events I mean to instill into behaviour and thus into habit for art. The best one I ever did was the year I told myself I'd draw something anything every day!) Phew, that was a long paranthetical, anyway, that I would try as many contests as I could here on Steemit. And that is what I did. I have sort of lessened them as late, mainly as I can't find them as readily but also because in the act of the contest I found new directions for my own art.
Contests are great for that: opening one up to a new sort of direction but obviously still using your own voice in which to apporach it. It has a bit of the joy of artschool in it where in you are creative but under some guidance and direction.
I LOVE collaberation. I always think it would be cool to do collaberations where in you'd have a pool of artists who want in and then you'd pair them off randomly each week. Then that pair would make something together and the following week switch off pairs. It'd be like a round robin of art.
I know my own work has started down a path I am excited about and so much of it has come from the art community feel here on Steemit. I am a bit of an introvert, so Steemit really gives me that artist connection and I feel in their milieu and that we can have that sort of solidarity of an art collective despite the fact that we are so far apart in the real world.
Now, for your art painting, I am loving it. It sort of feels like the way I moved out of printmaking back into mostly drawing and painting again. I began to enjoy more the making of pictures again with the tools on the board. I began turning my prints into cut out collage and then using pouring medium and acrylic inks to 'paint' in the flow of it all. Then I picked up the brush again one day in the studio and began manipulation the patterns into figures and scenes. That is when I thought, I just need to draw.
I am really excited to see your journey continue. I always love your studio posts and the list of what you have on the table, but I think if you can manage all that successfully, you surely could schedule steemit creative time in there. I bet if you took one day a week, or even a few hours of a three day block that was simply labeled 'steemit' you could start to use it as your designated steemit time.
I wish I could pop over to your studio but I am on the wrong coast :)
@donnadavis your comments make me so happy, thank you for your support, your friendship and for being a fellow creative out there digging your way through life.
So many responses to give.......first of all, I'm moving to your coast this summer so let's actually do something in person this fall or winter, really! We will still be a few hours away with me in CT or the Hudson Valley but we can make a fieldtrip out of it.
And I completely agree about contests, they are like calisthenics for our creativity and I too love how I am challenged. I don't always love what I make but don't care because the process teaches me so much. I really really like your round robin contest idea....let's do this. I am so busy right now that I can barely breathe sometimes. I need an extra few days a week to just keep up and yet work 12-15 hours a day without a day off in weeks. SO - yes let's do this contest but can we wait a bit, until I can get a handle on things a bit more.
I too find the relationships especially satisfying aspect of steemit and maybe it's because I'm a bit of an introvert too and yet love people, so this is a manageable way to maintain more connections than I could handle in person. Of course I have to have those in person real relationships too as we all do.
I'm so heartened by the work you do here, how you show up so generously and authentically and I really connect with your approach to your creative process. One of my really big desires here is to focus more intently on supporting artists. I have what feels like an urgent need to create a sort of guild-like initiative where we as artist can actually support each other enough so that we are all more stable financially enabling us let go of the need to have other income (if we want). I always like to have many income streams but crave (am dying for!) the freedom to actually choose exactly what my art-life is comprised of. And maybe with in this we can have contests and challenges and collaborative endeavors that keep us all engaged along with methods to sell our work outside the steemit community if we want also. I don't have all of the pieces to this vision, this idea yet but can see that with enough of us, it could actually work for real and could become a reliable support system that functions financially, creatively, personally and however else we want. How does this sound to you? Any ideas occur...I'm 100% open.....
It is like you are reading my mind! I think the same thing that as an artist collective we can grow and support and create. And with art being what it is becoming, more digital, and the idea of art being more a part of the blockchain that is, in essence, a new currency all this can come together in some magical way. I am not 100% sure yet how either but part of the power of the artist mileau is the bouncing back and forth ideas and ideals and making something magical out of it all.
You are moving here permanently? The irony of it is that in Autumn I am off to London for probably into Spring. Now, if you are still living in CT then, by all means let's get together. I have been working to split my time between here and UK and my next chance is then, tickets bought plans made. But I will be back in Spring.
I'm glad you like my round robin art idea. And yes, let's give it some time. I just heard we might have another noreaster blowing in for this Wednesday so I have to plan for more days without power, I guess I am going to be pumping out the robot automata paintings like crazy this month! ;)
I'm so excited, I really think we are going to have an amazing artist collective!
I love the half time in UK idea, good for you!!! And yes, the idea is to actually move east and presumably stay there for the foreseeable future, so there's no rush for an in person thing.
Great to bounce these ideas with you, let's keep thinking....I sent you a DM on the steemsugars discord about a contest I saw today, and we could continue this discussion there. I too think this could be something really great!!1
I'm newish here, but I feel the same way - I did not expect to want to write more and more and even try to do things I've never done before. My studio is the dining room table - which is a mess - but it works :-)
that's really great to hear!! And i so enjoyed your entry in to the drawing contest ;-)). Keep up your good work!
I'm new to your feed so I'm intrigued to learn how a Steemit connection led to someone sanding your tiles. I'll have to go back into the archives...
I see connections like this forming all over the place, and I think it's one of the most wonderful things about it. Steemit seems to lead to real-world interactions so much more effectively than any other platform.
I organized a meet-up here in portland a few weeks ago and met some fellow steemians and one was @doctorcrypto. So last week when I posted about how crazy busy I am he offered to help in my ceramics studio. He came in and I hired him :-)
I agree that this platform uniquely fosters loyal and authentic relationships and I've met up with steemians when traveling, people who I've communicated with for a year on the platform and then in person I like them even more than I expected!
Thanks for your support and comment!
You already know that what you say here is like I'm saying it so I hear ya!
We do need to reflect from time to time and also find a balance otherwise It'll probably not work ;)
YES for reflecting and getting your schedule and priorities in order :-) And it is SO cool you found a personal tile sander via the community!
For me for now I want to keep a 'write everyday' schedule because I have noticed I want to write more by writing more! I've been a daily blogger for a decade and then I suddenly stopped for years. It feels GREAT to get the juices flowing again and daily practice also helps me overcome the fact I feel a very stiff writer in English :-( Who knows, maybe I'll even do a course if I keep feeling that way.
I'm also looking for collaborations and getting out of my comfort zone a bit, so who knows, we might meet each other somewhere in a collab. I will have to zoom out for a bit first though, since I've been quite overwhelmed with my first months of Steemit - what will be the next level?
Hope you'll find your path too for the coming months!
Yes I agree - the more content I create, the more it gets my juices flowing ! I always have several posts in process and wish I had more time to give to finish and publish them!
Love to collaborate with you and can think of several directions we could take ;-)). things are a little crazy for me right now, but soon let's revisit this idea!
Thanks for your steadfast and heartfelt support, I always appreciate it so much!
Thank YOU for your support! I feel the same way, that your encouragement helps me as a writer and creative person to stay passionate and have fun. Your point here is spot on:
Honestly, after ten years of blogging about yoga and meditation, I don't want to write about those topics very much anymore. They're great topics, and when inspired I will, but I want to express MYSELF, to play and be creative in whatever way is fun, interesting, motivating, or important to me in the moment. I want to engage in ways that are as authentic as possible, so I must create from that place of sincerity.
I see many people taking time to reprioritize right now, and I think that's crucial. Quality over quantity is something I read in @techslut's post yesterday as well, and it's a great reminder when I'm trying to push myself to post each day, but would rather spend time with my kids. So I'm taking time with family, doing Steemit as much as I can/want, and this keeps things balanced (for the most part).
I'll stop before I write a whole post in this comment, lol! But I want to say that your honesty and continual support are some of the things that keeps me coming back to Steemit. It's the people here, who are willing to be honest and share their incredible creativity, that make this such a special platform. Gratitude and love! 💖
So great to hear about how this platform is freeing you up to explore your other ways of expressing yourself! It really is effective in that way and I'm always impressed at how so many of us have this same experience of feeling free and supported.
It sounds like you have a really good handle on balancing steemit with life time-management which is so important! It's really great to post daily and I know I would likely have more success here if I did, but I have to continue to work in my studio because after all that IS what my content is about, LOL!! Anyway, so glad to hear this is working out so well for you. Thank you for your friendship, support and for all you bring to the platform!
My guiding principle for online survival is to always have fun. I feel a lot of folks here try to create content that will be voted up.
Ah, I actually was typing this last night and fell asleep lol. So that is somewhat of an honor lol. But doing what you enjoy and not worrying so much about being voted up like so many are, keeps one interested and able to weather the slow times. Having it also intersect your work and art is brilliant !!!
I couldn't agree more @old-guy-photos, the whole "create for the upvote" can be so boring and tiring from a reader's point of view, once I see that someone is doing that, they've lost me forever. And I can't imagine how boring it must be for the creator too, even more so!!! Just couldn't do it. Thanks so much for your friendship and support :-))
And btw, I finally set up ginabot for notifications just now!! thanks so much for this tip and let's see if it works if I tag you in this comment ;-)) @old-guy-photos
I really enjoyed reading this post. It seems that every post I read of yours, I learn something new about you. You're an extremely deep thinker and I like that about you. Your answers will come to you soon.
So glad you enjoyed my post and thanks for your always supportive perspective, it means a lot to me!!
Wonderful post as always! I'm a little late as I have been incredibly busy recently, but I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated it anyway! I completely agree with your article, Steemit is not to meant for creating money... its root purpose is to provide a platform for people to share and develop their interests and passions and the bonus is making some money doing what you love. This is important to keep in mind while creating content. Thanks so much!
amen! late or not late is always welcome :-)
This was such an important post for me. Last week I was really busy in real life and felt such stress that I couldn’t keep up my steemit schedule until I just allowed myself to relax and realized that quality over quantity always matters--and that I can set my own pace and that is 100% okay! Thanks for writing this and affirming all of that, I always appreciate everything you share. <3
Thanks @lilyraabe! So glad to hear it :-)))
I’m in business and I believe it’s important to be visible when you are in business. social media is one way to do it and steemit is one of the best Social media platforms I’ve ever seen
Steemit is the best social media platform that I have come through. It's important for people to be social and not be totally busy with the routine work. Steemit doesn't only let you post you life but helps you earn money, and we all know how much a few extra bucks mean. I vote for steemit.
very true @wa2pr, thanks for your support!
Steemit is really an amazing platform to pursue our passion. As it pays for our hard work also, once we join and start blogging become addicted to it.
Thank you very much for sharing your experiences.
I'm glad that you've found Steemit to be a place where you can pursue your passions and thanks for your support!
I am very happy to follow you because you every time bring some special info front us. Thanks f9r giving knowledge about steemit. I had no knowledge about it.
steemit is not just a platform for earning it is also a place where you can express your craft. like me who not really good in graphic designing and digital art where I learned it because of my intention to discover my other skill and steemit is one of the booster that helps me to do that..
Hello my friend!! Peru to Chile...pretty cool :-)
And I love the idea of videos of eating (sometimes exotic things) in exotic places, that really sounds fun and maybe funny too.
Like you say, you're having fun making these so chances are it will be a lot of fun for us consumers of your content!
It really is fun to evolve together and witness each other growing and evolving as we experiment and try out new ideas. I chuckled at your ART PRO ideas :-)), really sweet of you and I like them! i've considered videos of projects in action but just haven't made it a priority. Guess I'm still hooked on improving my written expression and story telling, but I'll keep it in mind. Thanks for your great support and friendship, I treasure it!! Happy travels xoox