THE ART OF POSTING

The instant gratification that Facebook brings to artists is irrefutable – what artist could pass up a 24/7 audience where “thumbs up” and “hearts” are instantaneous after sharing one’s work? Although at times I wax poetic about life before the internet, the outreach of the virtual world is irresistible.

While the 200 views I received on a recent post is a blip on the screen compared to ones that go viral, getting noticed is a start. And yes, I check the number of views and engagements (for days and days and days…) and hope they go up.

Reasons to Share
My reasons for sharing are twofold – to put my work out there and hope it clicks with someone as well as for my own record of what I’m doing and what I’ve accomplished. Most recently I made three posts in a similar number of weeks. I loved how my newest bisqued piece “Tipping Point” was “resculpted” each time I photographed it in the sunlight and wanted to share the imagery. Below are the images from these posts:

While still in the greenware stage "Tipping Point" was set aglow by the sunset.

And then "resculpted" anew in the sunlight after it was bisqued.

And "resculpted" yet again by another sunset.

Habit-Forming
Posting is definitely habit-forming – once the views, engagements and likes come to a standstill, then it’s time to do it again. However, finding a balance is important. That’s the art of posting.

There is a method to this madness – along with the “likes” comes the underlying hope of success. Unfortunately, there’s no Facebook emoji for "success."

What an Artist Needs
For most artists, being successful means making a living through selling their art. In her 1929 extended essay, A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf echoed a similar sentiment, stating that in order for a woman to create, she needs to be financially independent and have "a room of one’s own." It is something that we artists all dream of and strive for.

Successfully Lost
The creative spirit definitely has a mind of its own. American Trappist monk and poet Thomas Merton once said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” I am truly enamored with this latest piece "Tipping Point" and have taken hundreds of pictures. I am most successfully lost.

More of "Tipping Point" being "resculpted" by the light.

And more...

And more...