What Are We Doing Here?

What Are We Doing Here?Dear Readers,

Yesterday marked the one-month anniversary of my new combined blog and website, and a little over four years since I initially started my art blog.

When I began my blog, I did not have a clear idea of why I was starting a blog (read my tiny first post).   I started it because I could, I guess.

Over the years, I have used my blog to post my new work, my art news, invitations to and photos from my art openings.  I’ve also published reviews of other exhibits, class notes from classes I have taken (going all the way back to art school), and a few how-to’s and reviews that may be of interest to other artists.

I don’t really know how many people have read my blog; I seem to get about 125 visitors a day, though very few have commented.

So I ask myself, why am I here?  What am I doing?  Does it matter?

Well, of course it matters.

More importantly, why are you here?  Who are you?  What do you find of interest here?

Partly, I write this blog for myself, and I’m sometimes a little surprised and always gratified when I find that others are reading it.  For me, it’s a good record to look back and see my thoughts and progress over time.

But I also hope that other artists will read some of what I’ve written and find something for themselves here.  Even more importantly, I hope that I will develop new relationships with artists from all over the intertubes, and that we can share thoughts, insights, and information.

I love art and I love artists, and I would really love to have more involvement with more artists — both online and in person — but we’re a busy bunch, and often we keep to ourselves a bit.  So, if you’re an artist and you’re reading this, why not say ‘hi’ and let me know who you are and what kind of work you do?

I also hope that friends, family, fans, collectors, curators and all art lovers find my babblings to be enlightening in some way, and — let’s face it — I hope more people who visit here will find my work appealing, and decide that a painting or two of mine hanging in their house or business would make them happy.

So, dear reader, if you’re reading this (doh!), let me know you were here, and tell me what you would like to hear about from me.  I have a lot of ideas for future posts, but I’d like to know what you might want to hear about.  If it’s something I know something about, I’ll do what I can.

And most importantly, please tell me about yourself — who you are, what you do, what you love, and why you’re here…

Cheers!

Marilyn

15 Replies to “What Are We Doing Here?”

  1. Hi Marilyn,

    I wanted to say that I like your use of color in your "work". Looking forward also to getting alot from this class of which we are both members. Well, I'm a painter and look forward to talking with you online because I am enjoy talking about art, and the creative process.

    And check out my blog, I do portraits, and BrooklynScapes.

    All the Best Marilyn, see you in class! fondly, Magdalena

  2. Magdalena,

    Thank you! I've looked at your work, and I really love how you've applied color and shape in your portraits. The detail on "The Seer" really rocks! I love the colors in the landscape, too.

    Here's to onward and upward!

    Marilyn

  3. hi

    Hi marilyn

    Just reading your blog-found you on twitted….a fellow artist! Looking forward to more blogs…

    Martha league-Calhoun

  4. Hi, Martha,

    Welcome here, and welcome to Twitter! I believe you're a fellow Austinite, right (in the general sense, anyway 🙂 )? I am familiar with your wet paintings, which I love!

    Glad to begin to get to know you!

    Cheers!

    Marilyn

  5. Hi Marilyn,

    I love your blog! I been meaning to tell you that since the last class we took together. I love the color combination. It is a very cool looking blog, totally different from most others. Well, the good thing about this class is that it makes me blog and make time to read other blogs like yours. Look forward to keep reading your posts! Cheers, Dora

  6. Dora,

    Thank you! I love your work, by the way! I think, like me, color makes you very happy! I'm so glad to get to know you (finally!).

    😀

    Marilyn

  7. Here's what I wish for your blog, Marilyn: that it is a place where you get to know your art better and it grows as a result. Becoming more articulate about what you do and why you do it will be a bonus. Your energy shines through.

  8. Hi Marilyn,

    Just checking out blogs from fellow classmates. I love that you have combined your website and blog. It is so easy to navigate too. Your work evokes a lot of strong emotions in me. From the tornadoes (having lived in Texas) that really terrified me to the beautiful nebula painting in oranges and yellows. Your exploration of silhouettes in the news is really interesting. Silhouettes are such strong images even in advertising and you are right very recognizable. I want to say very cool, but that term sounds pretty lame, but cool.

  9. Hello Marilyn,

    Found your great blog via twitter; I like your artwork! I’m a painter “of a certain age” from NH.
    Austin intrigues me although I’ve only seen its airport. The people there were wonderful and I like folk music.
    Best of luck to you; I’ll continue to follow you on Twitter.
    Sheila

  10. Hi Marilyn,

    I’ve been feasting my eyes on some of your artwork. I’m especially liking your Tornado.

    I also enjoyed your story in your About section. It reminded me of how far we’ve all come! Now I look forward to seeing all that you’re up to.

  11. Hi, found your blog from todays Art Biz post. I wanted to check out a fellow Texan's work. Great work and blog, I am so glad I looked. I live in Abilene where I do acrylic still life and mixed media. Polly

  12. Sheila, Katherine and Polly,

    Thanks for your comments! Apologies for the late thanks…not sure if I missed them or just got insanely busy and forgot to say thanks in a timely manner.

    More later…

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