All about blogging

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Gosh, dear reader.

The start of a new week and it's a rhetorical question rather than a fluffy 'here is what I've been working on'.

And I have asked it before, but i think it's a question worth asking again. Why spend time,  in my case usually early in the morning over that first cup of coffee before the dogs are awake, composing a blog post for you to (hopefully) read and enjoy?

So why do I do it?

To keep me working - without a doubt my blog has spurred me on to keep making art. In the early days in particular, when I had not started showing any work and with a fairly full on day job, without you, dear reader, the art would have ground to a halt. I used to feel a pang of guilt ( bonkers I know) if I did not have something to share.

To learn new techniques - linked to the above really. "I need to write about something new. I can try this and share the outcome on my blog". Some of the techniques have not made it much past the blog post. Others I have incorporated into my work more frequently. Now, I guess, it's not so much about new techniques as new materials and new work I produce and of course all those inspirational days out in between. But there are also all those other techniques that you have to learn when posting a blog - writing, taking half way decent photographs (still got some way to go on this) working out how to make a nice looking blog etc. I hope I have improved with all of these over time. 

To get feedback - fiddle faddling about on my own in my own little studio, sometimes it's good to get feedback from fellow artists. I do love it when you leave me a comment, dear reader. "Yes, I like that!" - Spurs you on when it would be so easy to slump in front of the television instead.

To satisfy my ego - ok, let's cut to the chase here! Confession time. I get a real buzz when I look at my stats and see how many page hits I have had. Recently, I had some amazing spikes in readership. Ok, let's be honest, they did not last but I have to say that knowing that people in other countries stop by and have a little gander at my words of wisdom ( ahem) does feel rather good! Is that bad of me?

To make friends - Kim, Sheila, Chris, Alison, Mrs Bertimus, you are all people I know I could stop and chat with over a coffee and a custard cream. If it had not been for this lovely wonderful thing called The Internet and the opportunity to self publish all these little fripperies would we have met? I somehow doubt it.

To build my name now I'm an emerging artist - ok, another 'let's cut to the chase' moment. Recently, I was picked up by a small gallery and have had some success selling my work there. And they described me on their blurb as an emerging artist. And I do now sell work. Who would have thought it? But people like what I do, are prepared to part with hard earned pennies and put my work in their homes. Heart skips a little beat. So, if I am to keep that momentum going I need to create a bit of a noise. Though of course here, I still hide behind a slightly anonymous blog title. Whoops!

Because I enjoy it - I really do. It's not a chore. I really enjoy tippity tapping away on my laptop or silently on my iPad. It must be a bit like the pleasure of keeping a diary, which I never have, to be able to look back at what I have written in the past - "Gosh, was it really three years since I did that?" - some posts I remember so clearly. Others I have completely forgotten about.

So- there we have it. A little bit of self analysis. 

Normal service will be resumed!