I have been selling my art online since 2000 and I started blogging in 2003. In this virtual arena, I have seen people come, I have seen people go, and I have seen everything change. We have all changed over these years and often we have changed together. I am about to change the way I do things here in this space and I want to explain why and how. However, I can't think of a more boring blog post than one about blogging so I will see if I can make it more entertaining in a groove list!
~Instagram: I love seeing everyone's life and I love being able to post photos and art and general life observations in real time instead of saving it all up until the end of the day and writing one blog post. I post things on instagram the way I text with my seester. I say things I like, I say things I do not like, I wonder about things. Instagram is basically my journal (or blog). My siblings are there interacting as well. This will not change.
What will change: My instagram feed will now be auto-posted on the
Journal Revolution Facebook Page.
~Pay What You Can Art: I started this years ago on days when we all became football widows and widowers but it has turned into a much more rewarding personal project for me and people have expressed a need for me to keep it going. I aim to please! I will keep Pay What You Can Art sales open all year as often as my schedule will allow.
What will change: Pay What You Can Art will have a dedicated section here on the site. When there are items available,
they will be posted here.
~Twitter: I still love twitter.
My twitter feed auto-posts to my personal Facebook page.
What will change: Nothing.
~Big Cartel: I am still happy with Big Cartel for
my original art shop.
What will change: Art in my original art shop will be larger fine art pieces with set prices starting at $50.
~Facebook: It is still my least favorite of the social media sites but I like keeping up with my friends and family.
What will change: Nothing. If you prefer a less active version of my facebook page, the
Journal Revolution Facebook page does not include my twitter feed.
~The I Am Art Blog: Ah, the home base here! Here is where I get a touch emo. Here is where the evolution is happening. Look back up there at my love of instagram. Everything I used to blog about in this space is now what I put on instagram throughout the day. My blog has evolved into my instagram. I have been doing some analyzing and asking questions and what many people want is more direct links to art prints, cards, and originals for sale when I post projects I am working on on instagram. It is hard to post links on instagram because you only get one in your profile. People want the clickability of what was here in my blog posts and the scrolling ease of instagram.
What will change: Instagram will be my primary home for daily "blog" posts. The new mobile version of this site has a menu at the top of the page with links to my print shop, original art shop, and pay what you can page. A few times a week, I will do shop update posts here with individual product links as many have requested. I hope this will make it easier for people to find what they are looking for, and an easier shopping experience for people on smart phones and tablets. I will not post as many personal blog posts here as before since those posts will mainly be on instagram now (or via the facebook auto-post). I will continue to write captions on my art updates and things will not be robotic. It is still me doing all the updating here.
Things That Bug Me:
~Sponsored blog posts: This is the main reason I stopped reading blogs. I like honest opinions. Nobody gives an honest opinion when they are paid to give an opinion.
What will change: Nothing. Nobody pays me to say anything.
~Sponsored Instagram posts: As annoying as sponsored blog posts. What will change: Nothing. Nobody pays me to post anything on instagram. I post photos of projects I am working on, things I like, things I do not like, food, cats, whatever. Some of the art I work on will be in stores, some will be on tv shows, and some will just sit on my desk for a year until I decide what to do with it. I love art, I like looking at art, I make art for a living (I AM ART!). When I post that my art is on a tv show or in a certain store, it is not an endorsement, it is just me being proud of my hard work.
~Pop Up Ads: I got super irritated typing that. There will never be a pop up anything here if I have any control over that.
***Thanks so much for following along all these years! I hope this change will be easy to navigate. Trader Joe's Chocolate Babka for everyone!!!***