Wednesday, February 26, 2014

MAKING THE ARTIST'S BLOG SUSTAINABLE: Let's engage and discuss this idea


Hallelujah for ART! Hallelujah for the Internet and BLOGGING! Hallelujah for the ARTIST’s BLOG!

Yesterday, Tuesday, February 25th, 2014, I gave a presentation at a place I have grown to love and cherish: C4 Atlanta—an organization that envisions Atlanta artists earning a living making ART! C4 Atlanta “connects arts entrepreneurs to the people, skills, and tools they need to build a successful artistic career in metro Atlanta.”  And, yesterday, I was one of those people!!!

CELEBRATING THE ARTIST'S BLOG AT C4 ATLANTA. It was my pleasure to share my perspective on the Daily Artist's Blog at C4 Atlanta in the Fuse Center. Such a nice warm and interested group of artists, writers, and entrepreneurs were present to engage in a discussion about sustaining a blog. (Photo by Callahan Pope McDonough)
Yes me! I am a person who can help others (including myself) build successful artistic careers! You know how? There are many WAYS oh beloved artist! And yesterday, I addressed the ARTIST’s BLOG as one of the avenues!

I began with two words that are really important to me FUN and SUSTAINABILITY! Follow the FUN because it is filled with energy, excitement, and discovery! Make that fun SUSTAINABLE.


What is SUSTAINABILITY in this context of living the life of a fun-loving artist?

To answer this question, I’d like to first think about how essential it is to know what our bodies or “bodyspirits” need to be SUSTAINABLE. We need to sleep and be rested. Yes, we need to work to earn a living, but we also need play and relaxation. Good-bye to the competition with others over who is more exhausted or worked more hours! Hello to a SUSTAINABLE life-style of rest, work, and recreation.


Once the ARTIST knows how to rest, work, and recreate, then SUSTAINING an ARTIST’s BLOG follows this pattern of resting, working, and recreating. A blog entry can arise from any one of those three segments of the pattern. KNOW THYSELF, your rhythms and what you need. Let your blog flow from there.

For me, the ARTIST BLOG is personal and expands from that intimate place to meet the public (blog readers) who want to see the environment an artist inhabits. So for the artist part of creating a SUSTAINABLE blog is establishing an inviting environment for the SELF.


Speaking of SUSTAINABILITY invariably brings me back to MOTHER EARTH, GAIA, and what SHE needs to be SUSTAINED. What we learn about ourselves and our own needs for easeful living, let’s apply to our understanding of what the EARTH needs…let’s give HER equal amounts of rest, work, and recreation.
 
LISTENING TO CONCERNS OF AN ARTIST. I love, love, love to hear what other artists' concerns are about blogging. It is so very interesting to learn about their work and ideas and what they desire to communicate! Hallelujah for communicating about one's art passionately! (Photo by Tony Martin)
That’s Coffee with Hallelujah. SOUL BLOG with me and tell me what you like about what you think of the environment of my blog? Do you lead a sustainable life? Tell me what your methods are! And, meanwhile, bless you and may you rest, work, and recreate equally!

12 comments:

  1. Thank you and Hallelujah for the Truth! If we are to create and cultivate a space in our lives for our true creative genius to emerge, take root, thrive and be sustained, we have to unclutter the space for it in our world and in our hearts. Clean out the shelves of your dark spaces where the insecurities lurk, get rid of the 'gotta haves, see what can emerge from a bright, empty open space. Have hope. Let creativity blossom in all you do!--Carol Hays

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    1. Dear Carol, Hallelujah for your presence in my life and thank you so much for leaving a comment here. Your ideas about cleaning out the darkness and moving towards the light is just thrilling! May creativity blossom in all that we do! Hallelujah for community of blogging artists!

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  2. I still have so much to learn from you...and so little time to learn it in...Thanks for sharing the basics of the day with artist...

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    1. Darlene I am so thankful we met and are having this exchange. I continue to learn so much for you. You have enriched my life and I know you will continue to do so! It amazes me that we have this reciprocal relationship of give and take! Thank you Thank you Thank you!

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  3. love your blog! always read your posts , but this one got me, deep in my soul Yes Ruth you are Absolutely right indeed we all have to create balance in our life as an artists, some times is difficult to achieve all but we got to try THANK YOU you for this great post!

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    1. Elieen A! Thank you for reinforcing this important idea about sustainability! If we are to sustain our EARTH, we must first learn what that means for our personal lives. I am so glad we are SOUL BLOGGING together. Big hugs!

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  4. Yay Ruth. Sounds like the presentation was a success. I'll always be grateful for the time you took to help me set up my blog.

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    1. Cecelia how time flies! I have enjoyed your blog and following your journeys into the SOUL through art and travel. I appreciate your company on this awesome TRIP!

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  5. Thanks for your great talk yesterday. I'm really excited about restarting my blogging. I'm trying out tumblr for now. http://kellycrosbydesign.tumblr.com/ I decided to name it Random Acts of Beauty. Also, I would love to see your work about Muslim women since I'm a Muslim and I do artwork based on women's dress as well. Thanks again! "see" you during the blogathon.

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    1. Izzy! What an inviting title for your blog...I want to visit Random Acts of Beauty as often as I can. I hope you will post regularly. Thank you for giving me such warm feedback about my talk on the artist's blog. I am looking forward to getting to know you better during the C4 Atlanta Blogathon.

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  6. Your presentation was all heart and inspiration! Thank you for sharing yourself with us. I hope to get a blog up ASAP!

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    1. Lori! How wonderful that you are here and ready to begin your own adventures into blogging. I hope you will love blogging as much as I do. I know you have a lot to share with the world!

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