blogging

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#7. Launching on the new moon

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“Bald Porcupine at Dusk”  12×12, mixed media on board. © 2103 Karen Rand Anderson

As the old phrase goes…  “Let ‘er rip” . So, it’s January 1st, 2014, which happens to coincide with the Capricorn new moon, an excellent time for beginning something that is crafted from an internal, thoughtful place. You know that feeling of starting a new painting/project/piece–  making the commitment to do, begin, create with passion; having the gumption (love that word) to go for it..? I’ve made a 2014 commitment to myself to confront my fears, my past, and my future; hence, the launch of this blog, “Cleaning Up the Studio“. Welcome… I’m glad you’re here. (I’m glad I’m here!) I hope you’ll scroll down and see my previous posts… this blog has been private until today, coinciding with the new moon which, I’ve just discovered, is considered a “supermoon”. Quite cool actually.

Now that the solstice has passed, winter’s darkness is beginning to lessen, day by day. (Thank God.) I’ll be wrapping myself up in studio work, getting ready for my upcoming show at Alexey von Schlippe Gallery in April. I’ll also be thinking about and planning what to focus on here— writing, wondering, questioning, and marveling, while continuing to be inspired by the words and insights of so many others [see sidebar]. Art, writing, and messes will get made, that is, until that tipping point is reached, when I can’t get anything done in the midst of the chaos, and it’ll be time to clean up the studio again, start afresh, and get new stuff going. I do love cycles.

In the meantime, I’m stumbling around as a complete newbie in the art blogosphere. So please forgive the bumbles and faux-pas as I get going with content, comments, and concepts. By putting myself out “here”, I plan to share my art and studio thoughts, make connections, get exposure, interact with other artists and bloggers, shed light on things, sprinkle inspiration, and pose questions. I’ll be posting images of my work, which is available for purchase… Let me know if you’re interested.

And by all means, please let me know what you think — I’m looking for my tribe. Join me?

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#3. Getting the Urge to Sing

Why blog now?

Zillions of artists are blogging. Multi-gazillions of non-artists are blogging. It seems like they’ve all been doing it for years. What strikes me is that so many people have so much to share in their fields, and have found out how to show and tell it so WELL. (The little monkey on my shoulder is screeching “What on earth could YOU have to contribute, Karen?” Maybe my next post will be about him, the rascal.)

I too have a creative voice, and I’m suddenly getting the urge to sing…  To be engaged and involved with an online community of other artists, and cyber-visible to more than the occasional passer-by of my website. My intention here (more about setting intentions from some Very Smart Girls) is to bushwhack a trail for myself in this huge forest, which will serve not only as a path for me to continually explore and follow but also for you to be curious about, and want to follow too.

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“Sand Beach Path & the Beehive” mixed media on panel, 12×12. ©2013 Karen Rand Anderson

Since discovering the work of Alyson Stanfield and her vibrant and helpful ArtBizBlog, I want to make blogging an integral part of my art practice, expanding my personal creative quest. Spicing up the journey. Thinking, talking, writing about it all. Embracing the awkwardness about putting myself out there (or in here, as it happens).

British artist and blogger Natalia Komis gives some good advice about it, saying “If the studio is where you practice your making, your blog is the place where you can practice your writing… and open up a space for a critical and analytical dialog between yourself and your work.” And, other artists and their work. Cleaning Up the Studio is my other studio. A new place to make, think, look, create, question, wonder, share. Maybe weep. Maybe laugh. And when you find it, please do come in, sit down, pick up a pencil, write a memo, or draw a picture. Engage. Thanks.