olivia jeffries : artists who blog

Olivia's blog: www.sweet-loon-bird.blogspot.com
Olivia's website: www.oliviajeffries.com
Olivia's shop: www.restlessthings.etsy.com



Why did you decide to start a blog?

I started my blog late in 2006. Six years after graduating from art school I still hadn't found my creative niche and was feeling very lost. I was really looking for a way to bring all of my ideas together and help me develop my style as a creative individual. Before starting my blog I had only ever looked at music blogs but after spending some time online one afternoon doing some research I had come across some artists' blogs (i think it was port2port!) which completely fascinated me and by going through all of their favorite reads I uncovered this amazing network of creative bloggers. This completely inspired me and although it still took me many months to finally get to a stage where I had anything interesting to write about I knew it was something that could help me bring all of my ideas and inspirations together.



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

It was some kind of mash up of my partners pet names for me, 'sweets' and 'loon', a loon is a kind of a bird and bird is slang for woman and I can be a bit of a loon so it's some kind of combo of those things!



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

Blogging has really helped me to keep track of my ideas and themes as they develop and also to go back in time and see what I was thinking about at a particular time. Getting feedback from other people who find my work of interest has been fantastically useful and has helped me to make connections with similar minded people. My blog also really helps to fuel me along through those times when I feel like I'm stuck in the mud creatively.



What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

all the mountains
an ambitious project collapsing
claire loder
my love for you is a stampede of horses
grass doe
to name but a few.

I like these blogs because they have something raw about them.



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

It can take a lot of time to develop a space that really comes across as being a visual/virtual version of yourself but eventually you find yourself at home in your little blog space - keep at it!



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

It has to be communicating with other people. I practically work in a vacuum so it's great to be able to finish something and get it straight out there and for people to be able to share their thoughts on it.



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

I find working in isolation is a double edged sword. On the one hand I'm the type of person who really enjoys her own company and can spend many an hour/day pottering around drawing, writing, photographing, resting, eating on my own. There are some times however when it can be overwhelming and I want nothing more than a restorative coffee and chat with someone to take my brain out of the work zone.



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

Promoting my work is something I'm still working at and I don't think there are any cut and dry methods to getting good promotion - it will be different for everyone. I have paid for promotional slots and have found them to be inefficient. The best kind of promotions are those that happen by word of mouth. I try and provide really great customer service to those who buy my work who in turn leave great feedback which makes other potential customers feel confident that I am a professional artist to do business with. Also, keeping other others up to date with what you're working on with a newsletter can be useful. I've recently started a facebook fan page too because I keep reading about how amazing they are for business. We shall see!



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

I don't as I work at home but I try and sneak in a lazy day with my partner where I can and try and have a good holiday at least once a year.



What would you like to accomplish by the end of 2010?

I would like to be able to take part in some shows around the uk, it's proven a tough market to break. I would also like to find the perfect studio and work towards separating my life from work.

Thank you Olivia!

candy glendening : artists who blog

Candy's blog: www.candiedfabrics.com/journal
Candy's website: www.candiedfabrics.com
Candy's shop: www.candiedfabrics.com/shop



Why did you decide to start a blog?

After reading blogs for a couple of years and learning a tremendous amount from them, I decideded to start recording my artistic process in a tangible way. I also had the hope that perhaps I could give a teeny bit back to the blog-o-sphere, sort of paying it forward from the help I’d received.



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

For a short time about 8 years ago I sold hand dyed fabric. My name is Candy, so Candied Fabrics as a name for that venture was not a big stretch! I loved the name, and kept it when I started selling my art made with my hand dyed fabrics, and so it was easy to keep it for the blog as well.



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

I have learned so much from writing about what I do and why I’m doing it. I am sure that a lot of my artistic growth in the past year and a half is because I’ve been able to identify themes and successfull strategies I’ve quantified by blogging about it.



What are some of your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

OH! Such a hard question...but I’ll try to narrow it down to artists who have something specific that I look to for inspiration!

a la mode stuff: Linda has an incredible eye for composition – the way she lays out pictures for a blog have several times sparked a layout for me.
Aimee from Artsyville: The wonderful color/textures she creates for her doodles sing out to me, the lovely casualness of her lettering, and her words just make me laugh.
Arounna from Bookhou at Home: The simplicity Arounna achieves with her work brings me peace.
Daisy Janie: Jan’s use of color excites me. I also love the freedom of her lines.
Lisa Call: Contemporary Textile Art: Lisa has an amazing work ethic, and a way of talking through issues about getting things done that has been an amazing help to me. Her ability to work through an idea with a few huge series of works is awe inspiring!
Lisa Wharton of Urban Bird: I love her birds, but also her use of the informal house shape. I love the texture she gets on her small works, and when the small works are combined into larger compositions, ooh! I just love them.
Martha Marshall: An abstract painter, Martha works in several different styles, and her discussing her work is helping me understand how truly abstract artists work!
Melody Johnson: She is an amazing art quilter who is also an awesome painter. She was the person who began my incredible journey down the path from traditional to art quilter by creating amazing work.
Scoutie Girl: THE place to go for eye candy, MANY of the blogs I follow I found through the hard work of Tara (and before her, Jan!).
Stephanie Levy: Although you’re last alphabetically, you’re TOP of my list for amazing composition skills! I love your ability to combine abstract shapes with realistic line drawings (something I’ve been doing with my Botanical Sketches series). You also create the most delicious color combinations. I LOVE when you work in 3-d, it’s so exciting and one of the driving forces to work in 3-d that is building up inside of me right now!

**Thank you Candy :)



Do you have any advice for keeping a blog interesting for readers?

My last 2 pieces I broke down into several posts so I could show my process – lots of folks found that interesting. I guess I try to show on blogs what I find interesting on other blogs – which is a mix of stuff: Artistic process, behind the scenes business stuff, beautiful shots of finished work and enough personal stuff to flesh out the person behind the beauty on the screen.



What have been the most positive aspects of publishing a blog for you?

I make incredible connections with people that I never would have met, but for the blog. Blogging has taken the place of other down time activities I used to do (watching TV), and I’m so glad it has – the act of recording my process has clarified it for me, I’m learning a lot about how and why I create. My hope is that the more I understand about this, the better I’ll become at it!



What do you find to be the greatest challenges and rewards of having a creative profession?

My biggest challenge should be no surprise to any of us: TIME! I do NOT have enough of it! My biggest reward: always having plenty to do with the time that I DO have. In year’s past, when my kids were very young, I yearned to have time to create, and when I did have that time, I would often struggle with what I wanted to make. Now I have ideas literally screaming to be made inside my head.



Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your artwork and reach new customers and clients?

Local art/craft fairs. I make a line of „everyday art“ that allows me to monetarily support my artistic habit and expose folks at these shows to my art, in the hopes that they will buy a scarf or bag today and call me later to create a piece of art just for them. I completed 2 commissions just this month for folks who had purchased scarves from me in the past; I hope this continues!



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

HaHaHaHaHa (wiping tears from my eyes). Thanks for the laugh...I do NOT have a healthy work/life balance. This is a work in progress!



What would you most like to accomplish in the upcoming year?

I’ve pretty much reached my limit when it comes to setting up for shows. I’d love to increase my online sales. But really, I’d like to continue working in 3-d and see where it takes me.



Do you have any personal New Year’s resolutions for 2010?

Although I don‘t do resolutions (so much baggage behind that concept) I Do have a couple of „inclinations“:

1. Create more Art!

2. Communicate my Art!

Thanks Candy! Your enthusiasm, positive spirit, and great sense of color are always an inspiration :) Read more about how Candy successfully manages to balance family and career time here!

jill bliss : artists who blog

Jill's blog: blog.jillbliss.com
Jill's website: www.jillbliss.com
Jill's shop: shop.jillbliss.com



Why did you decide to start a blog?

I used to keep in touch with my customers by doing frequent in-person sales events, but had to take a break from those these past 2 years while I dealt with some health problems. The blog is a great way to let people know what I’m up to and thinking about since I don’t see them so often any more. Now my back and shoulders have healed and I’m getting back into doing in-person sales events again!



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

Ha ha! My blog doesn’t have a name, poor thing. At the bottom of the page it says „Jill Bliss is proudly powered by WordPress “ which cracks me up every time I see it!



How has blogging affected your work as an artist?

It functions as a reminder for me – if I can’t remember exactly when I did a certain project, I can check my blog. I hear it’s also a great portfolio for potential clients. I do post each and every project I work on!



What are your favorite artist/designer blogs?

I like to keep up with my friends’ blogs to see what they’re doing. Apart from that, I like to check these blogs when I have spare time:

you thought we wouldn't notice - see who’s ripping off who.
this artist's life - whitney smith - great reminder of the artist life.
my love for you is like a stampede of horses - awesome art.
share some candy - awesome art and design.



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

Before you start, think about how much of your private life you feel comfortable revealing. I talked to several other friends who have blogs and asked for advice before I started.



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

I love it when people comment! Especially when they’re positive comments!



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

Being in charge of my own schedule and finances is both a blessing and a curse.



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

Etsy, word of mouth, doing sales events and talking with my customers directly as much as possible! I get as much out of these interactions as they do – I learn so much about how they use the things I make and what they wish I'd make.



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

That’s always a work-in-progress. Two years ago I moved to portland oregon from the bay area, where I was born. That has helped a lot – I no longer have to work 80 hours a week just to barely cover my monthly expenses. I also got a dog six years ago, and she’s great at reminding me to go outside several times a day, and eat at least two meals a day on a regular schedule!



What would you like to accomplish in 2010?

In 2009 my artwork progressed to a new level in the series you see at the beginning of the post: anima. I also began teaching formally and informally. My goal for 2010 is to continue to progress and refine my artwork, my teaching skills, and the rest of my life. It will be an amazing year!

Thanks Jill! I love the peaceful, detailed quality of your artwork, and your studio looks awesome!

tara o'brady: artists who blog

Tara's blog: www.sevenspoons.net

Why did you decide to start a blog? How did you come up with the name of your blog?

I am almost embarrassed to admit the story behind the name, as it was one of those whims that hits you like a ton of bricks and immediately means the world to you and you alone. But we’re friends, right? So here goes. One evening, I was sitting on my couch, flicking through Donna Hay magazine and talking to my then boyfriend (now husband) about the future.

Momentum had carried me on a successful career path after university, but I didn’t feel settled in what I was doing. As he left the room, he asked what made me happy. I looked down at the magazine on my lap, and thought “this.”



Food. Making it, eating it. Talking about it, reading about it. Writing about it. And of course learning, always learning.

It just so happened that in the Editor’s Letter of that issue Donna Hay mentioned her age of 34. I was 27 at the time. 34 subtract 27 gave me sev en, a number that has always seems to pop up in lucky circumstances in my life. And right there, that was it. I picked seven for my name as my little reminder of that night, that moment of complete conviction and clarity (just in case it was fleeting).

And the spoons, well “spoons” went nicely with seven, so there you go.

I’d been thinking of starting a food blog for a while by then, and having the name settled is what got me started.



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

It’s allowed me to focus on my own voice, rather than writing for others (which was my job at the time). By writing for myself on a regular basis I have further developed and clarified my perspective. It’s worked out the kinks.

As far as photography goes, I’d studied visual arts in the past, but never photography. Truth be told, my older brother has always been a great photographer, even from when we were little. I was always intimidated by that. The blog has pushed me headfirst into an area I wasn’t wholly comfortable in, and I’m better for it. I’ve become accustomed to this simple style that is my own, and I don’t think I’d have that without seven spoons.



What are some of your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

This could go on for days - a number of artists already included here are my usual haunts; their diverse talent offering up endless inspiration. Two ladies (and friends) that I’ll mention are the super-cool Kate of For Me, For You and lovely Nikole from forty-sixth at grace. Kate has an flawless eye for all aspects of design and she’s totally the girl I would have idolized in high school. Nikole has a breathtaking ability to capture a mom ent in words or on film, to convey its essence in the most lyrical way. It makes me happy see the world through her eyes. She (and her father) also make the most beautiful things.



Do you have any advice for keeping a blog interesting for readers?

With so many other sites out there, it is easy to become self-conscious about your work and consequently try to change to suit trend or the next big thing. But if that’s not genuinely what what moves you, your readers will notice. Always. Having a strong sense of what you’re about, or even just what you’re not about, that’s the best thing I think.

If you’re honestly enthusiastic about something, chances are your readers will be too.



What have been the most positive aspects of publishing a blog for you?

The chance to be a part of so many amazing communities; it’s a wonder u to experience the interconnection of various disciplines, from food to design to art to writing. The exchange of ideas between those worlds, the way they overlap and shape each other, it’s brilliant to see.

I have met friends I never would have known otherwise, and it is a gift to know people whose work consistently floors me. It’s enabled me to grow creatively to an exponential degree, more than I could have ever imagined.



What do you find to be the greatest challenges and rewards of having a creative profession? How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

Encouraging a constant flow of creativity. There’s always a moment of terror when you wonder if one day you will wake up and have nothing to say. It’s just me and the page, and if I lose that relationship, I’m done.

I try not to give too much thought to those monsters under the bed, and remind myself that wh en I’m the most present in my life - paying attention to the details and not getting too caught up in things, that’s when I’m at my best in both my life and my work.



What would you most like to accomplish in the upcoming year?

As for my creative projects, I am lucky to be in a good place right now. I simply hope to continue. Not overthink things, not burden myself with expectation. I want to move forward with a sense of possibility, keeping myself open to opportunities as they may come.

It’s plan that’s empowering and utterly terrifying at the same time.



Do you have any personal New Year’s resolutions for 2010?

I think I could always say “write more, read more, explore more.” That’s my yearly hope. I can be shy at times, I’d like to work on that.

Thank you Tara! Your beautiful photographs, your articulate voice, and your delicious recipes are always a joy!

pixie campbell : artists who blog

Pixie's blog: pink coyote
Pixie's website: www.pixiecampbell.typepad.com
Pixie's shop: www.pixiecampbell.etsy.com

Why did you decide to start a blog?

It was two months before my son was born in 2005, and I'd left my job behind to prepare for his arrival. The stories were starting to bubble up and I received enough encouragement from a blogging friend to take what felt like a leap at the time. Sharing myself virtually was something I wanted to do but had to learn how. I wanted to talk about motherhood and birth and share pictures of what I saw everyday, to add it to the pool of what was a small, energetic community at the time.



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

I felt like I was learning all of my lessons the accidental way, the long way around. This is what Coyote teaches: humorous foolishness which occasionally results in chance victory. Pink gave it a playful twist and reminded me to keep the content fun and from my heart.



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

Very much! I don't know that I'd even be a working artist if I hadn't jumped into the swirl of brilliant blogging creatives and then asked myself the crazy question of where I fit in to all of it. While I've always been creative, I'd never been surrounded by artists and inspiration as when I began adding my two cents to the communal cauldron.

I recall the feeling of arriving at a potluck, to which I needed to bring my favorite colorful dish. In the beginning, it was my words and vulnerabilities, and later, some visual art. The ongoing conversation of blogging prompts me to dig for words and pictures that demonstrate what holds meaning in my little world. Also, I enjoy sharing the dailiness of my work and life on a personal level.



What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

I love The Handmade Artist for their rustic prettiness, and Mustard and Sage for the romantic quality of her picks. There are squillions of beautiful ones!

I love to read the softhearted images and words of Imagine and Create's Annie Patterson.
I religiously escape into the brilliant sarcasm of Kirstin Cram of Tollipop.
I can't live without Anne Wood's beautiful animals and ships.
I adore the wordy inspiration at Artsyville.

With artists who blog, I find it so fun when the artist's personality is accessible and I love their work even more when I know a bit about their process and what the meaning of the work is for them.



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

Stay relevant to your message and post thoughtfully + often. Create interest in your blog by jumping into the conversation. At this point, with blogs being so abundant and distinctive about content, it's very easy to find the people with whom you really resonate with and forge connections.



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

The most positive aspect is that I feel at home there. It's become a place where I can share my struggles and triumphs as candidly as I choose. Most inspiring of all is that I have made and deepened friendships that I may have never discovered. It's a four and a half year chronicle of my journey as an artist and a mama and I really cherish the medium for that.



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

Most difficult is balancing it with the needs and unbridled, joyful howls of my children. When I really want to have a Calgon moment at home, I retreat into my work shamelessly, if only in my mind. When all gongs of demand are ringing at once, art complains the least about how good a job I'm doing! The things I struggle with, however, are often what inspire the content of my work. The most rewarding part is that this is my dream job. The job I thought would be impossible to have! I hope it's only the housework that has suffered since I've begun working as an artist.



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

Etsy has been wonderful for me. It's been a simple solution for displaying my catalog of work in an accessible format, plus I can connect and sell my work at the same time. I still drop cards in galleries because I love to meet and connect with people one-on-one.



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

This is my life's mission. I tend to under nurture myself, and working from home exaggerates that tendency for me. I keep a list on the refrigerator of what I need daily in order to survive, anything over and above that is sweet icing on the cake. With an eleven month old and a four year old, I am herding all day long. I work at night, don't sleep enough, and have to look at a list to take my vitamins. For me, an artful life, with my family and in my studio, makes all of the messy inconvenient bits tolerable.

What would you like to accomplish in 2010?

My main goal for 2010 is to relocate my family to a city that will inspire our imaginations, and also do a little writing, some weekend retreating, a lot of painting, and become much better at self-care. I'd love to do some more group shows, too- connecting with other artists is the most fun of all.

Thank you for sharing with us today Pixie!



*Photos of Pixie by Thea Coughlin