lisa leonard : artists who blog

Lisa's blog: www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog
Lisa's website: www.lisaleonardonline.com

Why did you decide to start a blog?

Years ago, I followed a couple blogs and felt so connected with the writers. And inspired by their photos and creativity. Eventually, I began my own blog as a creative outlet and a way to connect with family and friends. I hadn’t intended to use the blog for my business but it’s become not only a daily journal, but also a connection point for my customers.



How did you come up with the name of your blog?

My oldest son was born with a disability and at the time I sincerely thought my life would hold no more joy. Over time, I began to see that it’s the little things that give us joy every day. So I named my blog, “It’s the Little Things’.



How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?

Blogging has definitely helped to stretch and grow me as a designer. I appreciate the feedback and input I get from my readers—they are so encouraging!



Name a few of your favorite artist/designer blogs:

Bluebirdbaby
Tara Whitney
Smile and Wave
Sarah Markley



Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?

*Blog consistently until you find your voice.
*Be genuine and share a bit of yourself.
*Always include pictures-the more the better.
*Network with other bloggers.
*Be unique-no one likes a copycat!



What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?

Definitely the community of blogger-what an amazing group of women I have met.



What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?

I really struggle with setting boundaries between work and family. Sometimes I feel like my computer is calling me—but I need to focus on my boys and get housework done. When you work for yourself, especially if you are in a creative business, there is always more to be done.



Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?

I love networking with other bloggers. They are the number one thing that has grown my business from a hobby to a career.



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

Yeah, this is really difficult and something I struggle with. Often, we just have to get out of the house and go to the beach and play. I love to snuggle with my boys, play games, create with them, but the house and laundry really suffer. And I don’t cook much.



What would you like to accomplish by the end of 2009?

This is a great question. Some of what needs to be accomplished is very ‘behind the scenes’ with paperwork and website function. Not my favorite stuff, but so important. I’d love to get featured in a couple holiday gift guides this winter—so we are working on that now!



Thanks for sharing with us Lisa!

Thank you, Stephanie! It is such an honor to be included among these amazing artists!

letha colleen : artists who blog

Letha's blog: www.lethacolleen.blogspot.com
Letha's shop: www.lethacolleen.etsy.com

Why did you decide to start a blog?

A year or so ago I injured myself in a spectacular manner. I didn't take well to crutches and I was basically immobile for months. During that time, I escaped into a lot of in-the-head activities: reading, writing and poking around the Internet. All of which led to a massive period of discovering art, artists and designers that amazed me. It really re-kindled my creative energy. I got fired up and engaged. I wanted to share the wonder I was experiencing with others --- or at the very least, if no one was interested, find a way to document, archive and muse about what I was finding. So I toyed with starting a blog. It turned out to be quite a natural and effective venue.



How did you come up with the name of your blog?

When I was young I was really drawn to the bit of the Preamble that declares we are all entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Being ‘happy’ was my ultimate goal when I was a kid. Not to say I wasn’t a happy child; but I believed 'happy' meant a grownup sense of arrival and fulfillment. I didn’t know how to achieve it exactly, but I saw ‘happiness’ as a pursuit, for sure. Now I see the "pursuit of happiness" to be a lifelong struggle for independence, balance and personal creative freedom. So, it’s both the name of my blog and also my little art business, which is my current …pursuit of happiness!



How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?

Part of my continued drive to blog is that I spend far too much of my time everyday as an art & design explorer... and I find so much! I feel like I am only seeing the tip of the iceberg. Knowing that I am a part of this massive swelling of expression---instead of it making me feel small, only one of many---it makes me feel huge. Just enormous. I'm filled with the sense that art is a momentum that drives us all and has the capacity to beautify and explain and condemn and embrace. In other words, blogging---including all the art and creativity, ideas and new friends it provides---fills me with a great confidence, sends me along my artistic way with a re-doubled sense of purpose and willingness to share my own small creative path in a common journey we are all sharing.



What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

"High up in the Trees" is a beautiful and intriguing blog. I really, really love Gracia and Louise’s art but I particularly love the collaborative nature of what they do, and how it extends to their blog. I also admire Kariann Burleson’s blog "Daily Poetics". Kariann is one of my favorite collage and mixed media artists---she's a hero of mine---and her blog is so wonderfully atmospheric, purposely a bit obscure so as to provoke thoughtfulness. I love it.



Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?

Know that it takes time, just in a general sense, to publish a blog. Perhaps even think of it like publishing, but don’t let it daunt you! There's the researching, writing posts, getting photos formatted... it’s all very time consuming. And then know that it takes time to develop a good consistent aesthetic and for others to begin to follow along with you wherever it is that your blog is going. And personally I think your blog should be going somewhere, decide where that is and be aware of the journey! For me the journey is a continual discovery process of the art and craft of others carried out in a perpetual state of amazement (I can’t help it). For someone else it’s a documentation of life overseas or in a new city, the growth of their child or the process of their own art. Whatever it is, the blog should be authentic, real and heartfelt. And whatever it is, show us lots and lots of pictures!



What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?

I’m so inspired by the work of the artists and designers I write about, it infuses me with such large amount of hyper creative energy that if I wasn’t already an artist I’d become one though sheer force of their influence on me.



What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?

The most difficult part is balance. I’m a full time interior designer and I work for a architecture firm designing hospitals. Architecture is a very demanding job and far less creative than most people think. Thus I often have too little time or energy to put towards making art and being involved in all the activities related to the business of being an artist. But the best part is balance too. Architecture teaches you limits, how to design to a set of expectations and parameters. Being an artist as well as a designer I get to know both the satisfaction of designing the best solution within the boundaries I’m given as well as the total freedom of artistic endeavors which are completely under my own control, limited only by my imagination (and skill!). Experiencing the contrast between the two really makes me value both.



Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?

Getting my work out into the world physically--- in galleries and the like--- is by far the most effective way to promote my particular art. A few 3d elements, shadows, paper imperfections... I find many people still really like to connect to art in person. But I also appreciate several online venues for exposure as well, Flickr in particular (which I am addicted to). Flickr has connected me to so many talented new pals, shown me so many inspiring things and has been an amazing tool in helping me build a following.



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

I draw strong boundaries with my day job, I don’t work much over time and I leave work at work. I have an art studio and I work hard and love it when I am there, but when I leave, it stays there too. Just like the day job. I have a very supportive partner who is a creative as well; a graphic designer, illustrator and musician who often helps me with artistic composition and gives me amazing critiques and feedback. And I walk and run and play a lot of soccer! Physical activity definitely helps with maintaining a consistent and realistic perspective on life.



What would you like to accomplish by the end of 2009?

You know, that is a difficult question. I carry around a lot of ideas and thoughts about what I would like to see happen, what I would like to accomplish. But in this way I am a bit of a superstitious person; I feel like if I don’t put too many expectations out there, especially things that might involve the cooperation or attention of others, then I will be pleasantly surprised by positive results. But I do have several avenues that I am exploring and/or want to pursue in the next several months. I am working on developing a series of different variations on my original art --- ACEO’s, pendants, magnets, etc. And I’d like to be offering prints of selected art work by the end of the year as well… all very do-able, I think!

Thanks Letha and good luck with all of your new projects!

heather braun-dahl : artists who blog

Heather's website: www.dahlhausart.com
Heather's blog: www.dahlhausart.blogspot.com
Heather's shop: www.dahlhausart.bigcartel.com

Why did you decide to start a blog?

I decided to start a blog as a way to document my own journey while also giving people the opportunity to get to know me in an uninvasive and yet authentic way, no matter where they were from. I really enjoy writing and taking photos of my inspiration and my work and decided that a blog would be a good format for me to put that together. I wasn't as concerned with having a huge readership, just wanting a bit of company along for the ride, especially during the times when I'm more isolated between the studio and at home.



How did you come up with the name of your blog?

Dahlhaus art is the official name I launched my website with around 2 years ago. I came up with the name because as both a ceramic artist and a painter I needed a way to link my work together under one roof, so to speak. An interest in the Bauhaus movement in art, design and architecture along with the root function of both painting and ceramics being for the home made a play-on-words that worked well with my last name too. It just made sense to use the same name for my blog.



How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?

Sometimes I catch myself with a running commentary going on in my head while I think of things to blog about during the day. Silly, I know, but I guess having a blog has made me more aware of my process while also giving me permission to present it to the world way before I ever would have before I had a blog. Process is always important and I've always felt that it was in the process that a lot of interesting bits happen in art. Often your audience just sees the final result and never the process and they miss out the in between stuff.



What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

I pop by the Sycamore Street Press and Lovely Design blog daily, more because I feel some sense of connection with who they are and what they post about than anything. I get a kick out of Whitney Smith's blog (this artists life) where she rants about the ins and outs of the studio potter's life- I can totally relate to some of it. I love seeing inspirational images of great blogs like design*sponge and Poppytalk, but also love reading smaller blogs by other designers and makers on occasion, just to see what they are up to and how they are managing to balance their lives.



Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?

I'm sure this has all been said before, but be yourself, try to blog about what you know- what concerns you and your work. Be consistent and blog every couple of days at least. If you aren't great at writing, take pretty pictures, blog about other artists and highlight your successes and blog about your failures. Other artists will be sure to come by and check out your work if you are consistent in this. Broadening your community should be what having a blog is about at the get go, the sales will follow after time!



What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?

I would have to say just seeing where I've come from this past year and where I'm going. I now have a record of past goals turning into reality on my blog, and when I'm feeling particularily frustrated or low, I've been able to look back on the year and celebrate the big and little things that came my way.



What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?

Well off the top, I would have to say the most difficult thing is the lack of consistent income and sales compared with the high cost of running and keeping up a creative profession. To sell what a person makes actually costs a lot of money, whether it be the costs of online shops, the costs of materials and space to make what you sell, the costs of doing art and craft shows, or the 50% cut the galleries take, it all adds up! In other words, there's not a lot left over for a pay check at the end of the day and this can be really discouraging some times.

The most rewarding part of a creative profession would be to be approached by someone who owns your work and have them tell you they use my mug or bowl every day, that it doesn't even get to the dishwasher and that they fight with other family members over who gets to use their mug. I also really appreciate hearing from people that they've never seen work like mine around- that they've seen a lot of pottery out there, but none like mine, and that it's really lovely. Yay, that's what I was going for!


Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?

Online the most effective way for me to promote my work are on other blogs- be it to be on some design blogs or online markets. I was able to be on Poppytalk Handmade a few times and have seen a difference in my online exposure. Articles and interviews also help, I'm sure ads on prominent blogs would make a difference but my advertising budget is pretty low still. I send out emails to my contacts quarterly, telling them about up-coming shows and sales, and just meeting people face to face at exhibits and shows, or out and about lays the groundwork for up-coming sales.

How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

Having kids has forced me not to become a complete studio recluse, at the same time, I find my stress level with having time to maintain a healthy studio practice and business a lot higher because of the balancing act that I'm on. I can't do it all, and sometimes I realize I'm trying too hard to do too many things and something's got to give. This year I've specifically stepped back from painting to focus on ceramics, but maybe in a couple of years it will switch. My kids are in Kindergarten and grade 2 this year, so next year when they are both in school for full 5-6 hour days, my balancing act will change once again.



What would you like to accomplish by the end of 2009?

Outside of some financial goals that I have (completely pay off my Visa bill and pay myself a decent paycheque every month), I am working towards a magazine feature, and some of my work being published. I just got the news that my work will be part of a large contemporary ceramics book that will come out next year sometime and that's been great news for me! I've been deliberately getting professional photos done of my work every 6 months or so, with books and publishing in mind, so I'm excited about keeping at this.

I would like to finish some paintings this year that I've started, but we'll see if I get some time in to do that. I have a number of shows lined up for the season and have high hopes of being ultra prepared with lots of stock for the winter rush, so that is pretty foremost in my mind!



Thanks Heather! Best of luck in all of your upcoming endeavors :)

carolyn gavin : artists who blog

Carolyn's blog: www.designerjots.blogspot.com
Carolyn's website: www.ecojot.com

Why did you decide to start a blog?

I think it's an extension of what I do, and people seem to be interested (I think) in the day to day process, of a designer or Illustrator. The blog is a discipline, a day to day diary of what's happening in my life creatively. I think it has to be kept up and kept current to maintain it's interest. I generally try to update everyday. Sometimes this can be tiresome. It's a back and forth process and it provides another creative medium for my work.



How did you come up with the name of your blog?

Well my company is called Ecojot... so designerjots was a natural followup from that.



How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?

I sometimes use the blog as a tool, so if I'm working on a particular design I will extend this into a work for the blog only. And vice versa. It provides another medium for my work to be seen and it definitely keeps me busy. It's a lot of work to keep it fresh and intesting.




What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

Nate Willliams of n8w & Helen Dardik of Orange You Lucky
I am crazy for both their work and Helen updates everyday also. Always with something interesting.



Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?

Try and focus on your speciality and keep it consistent. Make it very visual and colorful. Try and be original. Engage people and don't be afraid to show your work.



What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?

If you're visually exposed with a blog like I am, then more people get to know and understand your work and relate to it. This helps the work sell 'cause more people are starting to recognise it. I also have met some wonderful people through blogging.



What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?

I have to work all the time! I have to create all the time. Sometimes this can be challenging. But then I go on a nice long vacation somewhere and literally just drop everything. I think this is important. My creative self needs a complete break and rest to come back fresh and rejuvenated!



Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?

Well I have a company with my family called Ecojot. I am principal designer/creative director for Ecojot and year after year, my work is featured. Also I now have Lilla Rogers as my agent and that has enabled my work to find other outlets which has been fantastic! They are the BEST agents to have and really try and promote your work to the max.



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

It's a juggling act for sure. I do yoga which helps, try and eat well, sleep well and travel a bit. In between working a lot.



What are your main goals for 2009?

To stay calm, and continue to get lots of work from LRS and hope that ECOJOT continues to grow.

Thanks Carolyn!!

anne harwell : artists who blog

Anne's blog: www.annechovie.blogspot.com
Anne's shop: www.annechovie.etsy.com

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

It was already the name of my Etsy store and was a silly play on my first name and my fondness for anchovies!



How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?

It has provided me with a lot of added inspiration because:

1) it's so motivating to be able to share my work with a larger audience

2) the feedback, interest and networking with clients, bloggers and creatives keeps things fresh



What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

Decor 8 - One of the first blogs I started reading and Holly Becker gave me my first post! She is so supportive of Indie art and always introduces me to something new.

Style Court - Courtney Barnes has been tremendously supportive of me from the beginning and she is very knowledgeable about both art and design.

Creative Thursday - great inspiration and practical advice from an artist I admire, Marisa Haedike.

Liza Moves On - amazing talent and gorgeous color - Liza Hirst is a very supportive friend, also.

Absolutely Beautiful Things - Eye candy and inspiration from my favorite Aussie, Anna Spiro.



Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?

Be who you are and don't be afraid to be more personal and allow people into your world - people enjoy following a person's life, as well as their work.



What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?

All of the wonderful people I have met and the relationships that have come out of it. Being an artist has a tendency to be isolating at times, and blogging has connected me with many kindred spirits I would not have otherwise met. Giving and receiving support in community, even via the world-wide web, is very underrated.



What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?

Probably the business end of things and trying to make a good living at it is the most challenging part. I never want to become one of those cut-throat artists who is so driven to make ends meet that they compromise their integrity to do so.

The most rewarding part of it is being able to do something I love and hearing from clients/customers who enjoy my work everyday in their personal environments. It's tremendously gratifying when every overtime hour you spend working is going towards building your own business and you can actually see growth and progress year-to-year. Beats toiling for some corporate giant who distinguishes you purely by a number.



Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?

Through developing relationships with bloggers and people in the art/design industry and networking.



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

I am not sure that I am that successful yet at keeping things balanced - I tend to work a lot. I am still working on the balance issue - it's easy to overdo it when you have your own business and work from home. I tend to take a mid-day swim after lunch, so I can get away from my work and get outside for a break and some exercise. Sometimes I have to shut down the computer, put away the materials and just get away to the beach or away on a daytrip.



What are your main goals for 2009?

Paint and create more

Learn new ways to be efficient

Appreciate every day

Live in the moment

Invest the bulk of my time and energy in what will last and avoid getting bogged down with the superficial.



Thanks for sharing with us Anne!