On Twitter I shared a popular post, Should Artists Have Their Own Blogs? According to Topsy.com, this topic sparked 108 shares on Twitter, however this interesting tweet caught my eye.
I retweeted and commented to his response, and then I decided to ask my loyal Facebook friends on my Fine Art Tips fan page for their thoughts. I asked, “What do you think? Do you think blogging steals the mystery of an artist? If so, how do we promote ourselves???”
Here are the responses I have back gotten so far…
…and here are a few responses from Twitter:
What do YOU think? Should artists be allowed to speak, or does it ruin the mystery for art collectors and fans? Please share you thoughts in the comment section. I hope some non-artists chime in this conversation. We all learn from each other!
*Let’s also meet on Twitter, and on Google Plus, Pinterest, and join in the fun at Fine Art Tips Facebook Fan Page! Please checkout my art too LoriMcNee.com, or find me on Instagram lorimcneeartist. ~Lori
I’ve been quietly reading you wonderful blog, and if you were more mysterious, there would be a lot of help lost to us other artists!
I’m with Melanie. I was a bit peeved the moment he called you little one and sent you kisses. Really? All advice after that would be null and void. A professional who gives sound and sage advice doesn’t need to resort to patronizing, condescending or flirtatious behaviors.
Hello Michelle, thank you for deciding to comment today! Yes, I agree with both you and Melanie…it was a condescending tweet, but after visiting his Twitter stream that was filled with strange tweets, I wasn’t surprised. Thank you for your support of this blog, and for sharing your thoughts today.
My best,
Lori 🙂
I have always been told by my professors that clients/collectors want to know about the artists they are buying from. When they buy art, they want to be able to talk about it. They buy it because they feel a connection with the artist.
Melinda, I’ve heard this from my mentors, galleries and collectors as well. Connecting with buyers/collectors has proven its importance to me – especially in today’s marketplace. Buyers need the extra confidence before making expensive purchases. They want to make a connection with the artist. Oftentimes, collectors buy art because they like the artist as well as the art! People buy stories…blogging helps tell our stories.
Thanks for your input,
Lori 🙂
It will depends on each personality actually.
but In my opinion, if we can feel “connection” between artists,we could understand their artwork’s meaning more carefully and could get inspired by that as well,then buy it.
So i think “communication” is positive effect for artists.
Good points. Thanks for sharing.
Lori 🙂
I personally think that an individual having access to a more personal side of an artist, humanizes the artist and also inspires the individual viewing.
It is only when the artist is so big that their available persona has to be either A. managed by someone other than the artist. B. Unavailable to anyone they didn’t know prior to their fame, that the whole twitter and facebook thing becomes sort of a joke.
I want to learn stuff, not just hang out like another fan following someone blindly just because they accepted my friend request. 😉 Sometimes networks like that only make the artist attempting a personal approach to appear more impersonal than ever before…….
Hello Rebecca,
Thanks for your interesting perspective. Yes, social media and blogging seem to make people more available – but, not all users are. I am there, but careful about sharing too much private information.
Thanks!
Lori
It has been my experience that artists that have created a following are more apt to gain gallery representation. Galleries see that you would be bringing more than just your work to show, you would be bring people and possible buyers. Artist’s can not create a following by keeping quiet about their work, especially in today’s changing gallery system.
That said, depending on the type of work, mainly conceptual art, often it is what is left unsaid that allows the viewer to connect to the piece through their own experience.
There’s a difference between blogging and using social media to humanize the artist and diving deep into the psychology of the work. Perhaps that’s were Kevin was coming from.
As far as his “little one” comment goes; rather nervy.
Yes Kim, I agree with you about high profile artists. However, I have also found that just because an artist might have a large following, this doen’t make that artist a great artist! The caliber of artwork is always most important to the gallery. Thanks for sharing your thoughts…Cheers!
Hi
I have recently come across this thread. I am concerned with the benefits of Social networking fan pages.
I have one and I have also just signed for a major 3 month show in 2015. I have 6200 followers but many don’t seem to engage, I seem to have a few people trying to copy the style of work that I produce from this page. It makes me feel like not showing, not having an online presence, just produce work and never show. I want to take the page down but its taken 5 years to build the audience. I feel if I do then I am shooting myself in the foot as social networking is part of the future for publicity. Is fan pages beneficial or is it best to work hard with strong real material ie publications and shows. I feel every time I write something on the page I am trying to sell and I am not comfortable with that. Something is saying don’t have a social networking presence and be un-attainable
I really love my FB fan page. Your fans are following you because they want to learn more about you and what you do. That is the place to promote and sell your work. However, I wouldn’t make every post about selling. Try and come up with interesting photos of you working in your studio, travels, a glimpse into your life. Try that!