Lots of artists’ newsletters fall into a certain safe genre, the sort of writing with wide appeal that emphasizes a positive and sunny outlook. I researched how to write blogs/newsletters before I began and even subscribed to a few. Much of the advice suggested artist bloggers focus on their recent shows or giveaways or their latest inspiration. Those are all great things to talk about and I’ll do some of that myself in this newsletter. I'd also like to be a bit more creative, go a little far afield. You have lots of demands on your attention. Reading someone’s newsletter should intrigue and cause you to reflect.
Self portrait in Mom’s pearls
I want to write about how the sort of humor I prefer and practice has a place and offers a valuable contribution to health and wellness...darkness, whimsy and absurdity are fun and necessary ingredients for wholeness. Topics for this blog will hopefully include: the line between dark/whimsical/funny and gross for gross sake; who’s who for this kind of humor in art right now-an artist survey; and, finding the artist’s throughline-I see that I’ve been dark for a while now as I review my portfolio. I’m also open to suggestions. Time is precious and valuable in this age of digital infotainment and eyeball desire. I swipe right constantly as I sip coffee and peruse the morning's news feed. The authors I follow (below right) write with exquisite turns of phrase and hair-on-fire drama-they’re worthy role models for anyone attempting a blog. They set the standard.
I’ll also likely cover:
my latest show (Europe-I got one piece in a group show in Helsinki Finland, but hey.)
my messy studio (I had a stray dog there who stole my napping chair and left a ton of dog hair but never barked, very sweet. Good jumper. My neighbor claimed she rescued him first. I have no idea what happened to him.)
my latest inspirations (Armand Boua, mixed media painter, Ivory Coast and Andy Altman, ephemera addict and graphic designer
studios I have loved and lost along the way going back to 1980 in Ann Arbor, MI.
I’m thrilled to get back to writing-a welcome respite from scrubbing paint from my fingertips. Let me know what you think. Conversations and dialogue welcome via comments, email or DM. Once upon a time I made my living as a journalist. Entertaining and informing readers while staying true to my own values-integrity, honesty, high quality-continue to be my goals. Hopefully those intentions come through in my writing today..
The following quote from Duy Linh Tu is directed to journalists but is equally suited to bloggers like me: “The principle [of journalism] is that stories should matter more to others than to ourselves. They should have impact.”
My author faves: