writing an art blog - while consistently inspiring - often feels like an uphill battle. they tell you to "write what you know" and "write what you love." because otherwise readers will sense that you aren't passionate about your topic. well, i certainly don't lack for passion when it comes to art! but regardless of how much i love it - "art blogs" are still not in the mainstream. whenever people discuss possible blog topics they always list "food, fitness, fashion, craft and lifestyle."
just like in real life - art is not a common topic of discussion. despite the fact that we all enjoy hanging it on our walls, admiring prints online and creatively producing something ourselves! i wonder why this is? for me, the worst part is that in my need to share art and get people interested and inspired by it - i've begun to dumb down my discussion of it. i'm scared if i'm even remotely academic about it, that i'll alienate readers. and now because of that, i've conmpletely forgotten how to analyze works for a deeper meaning, or search for symbolic images and intentions by the artist. when kristy commented on this post with such a wise response, i felt like a goofball for not seeing all that she pointed out. and i often find myself jealous of lesley for the balanced way she writes about art - she keeps it light and fun, but still manages to offer readers a unique take on the work she posts.
how do i find a happy balance? do you like to see and read about art on blogs? why or why not?
don't worry - you won't hurt my feelings!
don't worry - you won't hurt my feelings!
I have to confess, I am obsessed with art and I love reading and writing about it, and most of all...I love seeing art. So I love art blogs, all sorts of them. I think what I like about Lesley's writing is the genuine quality of it, she is enthusiastic and eloquent.
ReplyDeleteSo...I think you just need to write what you're feeling, sometimes you'll be academic, other times humourous, you're a person with different moods and feelings, let them flow.
Aww.. thank you both for your kind words! I struggle with it too, Kaitlyn. But in the end, although I have an Art History degree and can analyze all I like, more often for me, it is my emotional response to the work that I most want to express. Art makes us think AND feel and there's definitely room for both. It is a tough trick to make the art writing both accessible and knowledgeable-- therein lies the rub.
DeleteJust as you have your own artistic vision & style you are drawn to, so do you also have your own unique voice. You're finding your way and I'm personally loving some of the more academic/analytical posts ( ie art vs art & slide school ).
Loving something so much that all you want to do is help people love it , too - what could be greater than that?
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes down to it, the thing that stands in our way is, we don't always feel like what we have to say is worth being heard. But, what you do is a wonderful thing so, write what you want, I say : )
Food, Art and Fashion are topics where a little pretension is totally expected anyway ; ) Help us go to your happy place with you.
I think that because the pre-internet art world was so tight knit and inaccessible to many people, there became an unfortunate stigma and a certain way of talking about art that still exists and can sometimes prevent people from opening up for fear of getting it wrong or sounding stupid. I lived in that fear for the first two years of art school, in fact, I'm even experiencing it a bit right now, hesitating whether to even post this comment! It took me a long time to realize that much of the problem was in the phrasing of the discussion. I didn't need the content dumbed down, I needed the language dumbed down. To me there is a big difference. I think I have a fairly good head on my shoulders but when the post modern speak comes out my eyes start to glaze over and my mind starts to wander thinking about anything else but what I'm reading or what is being said. I love learning about art and what people have to say about it but if it takes too much effort to decipher and isn't easily understood I will just skip over it. I also enjoy it when there is room left for my own opinion and further discussion rather than having it all laid out perfectly for me.
ReplyDeleteThat being said (and sorry for the rant), thanks to the big wide Internet, almost everyone and their grandmother is able to learn and share their opinions on art. Because of this, the language of art is changing. You don't strike me as the kind of person that would offer your opinion in an old fashioned and inaccessible way. So I say, go for it with gusto!
Just have to say, AMEN, Meghann! :-)
Deletethese are probably some of my favourite comments that i've ever received. i think you all touched on the fact that it's very much about feeling, and emotional responses to artwork. i always experience that so i don't think i'll struggle to express it!
Deletemeghann - i know exactly what you mean about art school language. when i first arrived i was SO LOST. i didn't understand how everyone knew all these terms. because it had never been about that for me - it was about the ART and sharing it with the world. and it still is about that.