January 5, 2006 (Thursday) - Bloggdom

Another year. Actually, I started this blog in October 2003, but I prefer January as an anniversary month. And I'd like to remind those of you who just started reading: I'm a painter. That's what I really care about. This blogging thing, here? It's a hobby. Please do not confuse me with any art critics, real writers, or techno-geeks... much as I love and admire them all, I know my limitations.

When I'm not actually making art, I like to experience it, look at it, talk about it. I'm especially interested in talking about art with artists and other people in the arts. So this is a place to record and share some of those exchanges.

The loose-knit web of art bloggers creates some of those exchanges.

Roberta Fallon visited SF last summer and wrote about it on "artblog".

In artblog's recent "liberta" awards, I was included in the "Royal Order of Art Bloggers"

Roberta and Libby started another blog, called "visiting artist," which is a kind of dialog in drawing and painting. (I added it to the sidebar.)

Tyler Green at "Modern Art Notes" visited SF over the holidays and compares our local museums with those in LA and Ft. Worth, concluding, "Museums that mix up their permanent collections and find ways to drive visitors to them (signage, cross-hangings) have crowded galleries." (SF museums are crowded.)

Rachael at "Honest Art Talk" and Scott Listfield at J.T.'s "Thinking About Art" are wrestling with the never-ending issue of how to make a living and/or make art.

In that debate, I've come over to the side of making art first and making do in the rest of life.
And I'm heading back to both of those, right now. Seeya tomorrow...

(The photo above is a cloud off Ocean Beach, between storms, a couple of days ago.)

permanent link to this entry

January 3, 2005 (Monday)

Hey! One year (plus) of blogging and I'm still alive. Actually, I started this thing in Oct. 2003, but the first few months I was groping in the dark, and only posting once or twice a week, so I'm not counting that time. It's been more fun than I'd anticipated, and useful too, in terms of exercising the part of my brain that was getting dusty and creaky from lack of use.

So, I'm planning to keep at it, posting 4 to 6 times a week about things I'm working on, shows I've seen, art issues that come to mind. And interviews, more interviews! Those were a blast, and I have have lots of ideas for interviews I'd like to do.

This blog has replaced the journal writing that I used to do in sketchbooks and notepads. But the blog is not as personal as the sketchbooks. I seem to be self-censoring, for obvious reasons, but maybe I can loosen up a little bit - I'll try.

I'm disappointed that I'm still wrangling this thing with an HTML editor (GoLive.) I was hoping I'd be posting in PHP by now, or at least using some kind of blogging software. I've tried Blogger, Movable Type, Squarespace, Bloxsom, iBlog, and a few other programs, leaving nascent test blogs scattered all over the virtual landscape. For a variety of technical reasons, none of them worked for me. Next week I'll be seeing some of the Laughing Squids - maybe they'll have some advice for me.

May 14, 2004

Welcome to all the new readers ! (My latest mailing went out yesterday.)

I started this journal about 5 months ago, intending to use it as a means of communicating with the people who like to see my paintings on the web, at shows, or in their homes. People often ask me the same kinds of questions about my inspiration, process, the artist's life, what I think of other artists, and so on. Since I work alone and opportunities to talk with you all in person are rare, I'm hoping this blog (short for "web log") will help make and maintain a connection to you.

I'll tell you about art shows I've seen and what I thought of them. I'll pass along art news I've found, that I think you may not have come across. I'll talk about my process, in and out of the studio, but I won't have a lot to say about the work itself. Unless you ask questions about it. (Email your questions and I'll answer here in the journal.) I'll also point you toward other blogs that I think you might find helpful or interesting, for instance:

- if you are a collector, or thinking about buying your first piece be sure to read the journal, "Art Addict" by collector, Paige West. She demystifies the art-buying process with advice that is friendly and accurate. I especially liked her reports on gallery back rooms, and studio visits. Caryn Coleman is a gallery professional who gives you a view of the other side of the desk. Plus, both Paige and Caryn see a lot of art shows, which they review in their blogs.

- if you like to keep up on general news and gossip in the art world, Tyler Green's "Modern Art Notes" is a good place to start. Roberta Fallon and Libby Rosof's "artblog" covers an amazing number of shows in the Philadelphia/New York area. If you like my work, you'll probably like most of the work covered by Fallon and Rosof. Alan Bamberger covers the San Francisco Openings with pictures galore.

- if you are an artist, you'll find great tips from the "Art Biz Coach", Alyson B. Stanfield as well as Robert Genn's "Painter's Keys." Both of them offer free newsletters. Other artists who blog, Rachael Balduffington, Marja-Leena Rathje, and Elise Tomlinson can offer the kind of insights you need from fellow travelers.

- if you're an art web junkie, and like to comb the web for anything at all related to art, check out my side bar (the list on the right of the main page) from time to time. I'll add new links there, as I find them.