The Twitter Trap

Where is the fine line between the Twitter advantage and the Twitter trap, networking versus time wasting?  For some tweets the line is nonexistent.  If their idea of useful content is twenty tweets about how they can help me by purchasing their SEO service they get “un-followed” pretty quickly.

But there are networking advantages to Twitter.  People gravitate toward authenticity, something that can’t be faked. Not the “how I got 20 thousand twitter followers in two days” networking, but connections that evolve into relationships that form serendipitously, or sprout from other cyber-connections.

Often these connections go unrecognized.  It's easy to feel like you’re having a conversation when you’re not. 

So I've listed a small fraction of the authentic, enjoyable and under appreciated artists who make a difference and perhaps don’t know it – artists I would never have met were it not for Twitter and blog comments.

 

• Writing from “Samsara,” is Shade of Bleu: The Life and Art of Bleu Knight.  This Blogger is new, judging from the start date on her blog, but the artwork is delightful and I look forward to seeing and reading more. 

•  BB Lancton, from Central Texas, writes One Painter's Easel.  Working in both watercolor and colored pencil her sketches capture my imagination.

• Located in Peoria, Arizona, Kimber Scott – In Progress writes about what inspires her, how she holds herself accountable, and how she fits it all in.

• The Book Girl writes from Asheville.  She introduced me to the book art of  Andrea Dezsö and needless to say, her blog is a visual feast.

• Debbie Lamey-Macdonald lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. An artist and teacher, her work captures the immediacy of her environment.  Harry Bell hails from Gateshead, Northeast, United Kingdom. He hooked me with Boogie Street, and not just because it's also the title of one of my favorite Leonard Cohen songs.  I'm not even sure how I found Harry Bell, perhaps through Katherine Tyrrell's Making a Mark, who writes one of the most comprehensive and informative art blogs on the net.

•  Ujwala Prabhu has been working as a fine art photographer for some time now, and recently shared “East or West, Bengal is the Best!" 
  

• Back in Oregon, here are three blogs of note.  James Elmore , writing Canopy Gallery, is developing an artist’s community on the Oregon Coast.  Portland artist, Alison Newey, is new to blogging but her progression of Black and White figurative acrylic paintings is interesting: see it on My Daily Paint . Another Portland artist and arts advocate, Rebecca Shapiro , works in encaustic with luminous results and has been a long-time favorite artist of mine, as we share a similar aesthetic.

 All of these artists are living proof that you can survive as an artist if you want to - it's just a matter of finding the way that works best for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[James]

Sue,
I don't know how I missed this until now, thank you so much for including me along with all these great people on your blog! I'm signing up to your RSS feed now.
Best James

[Ujwala Prabhu]

What a lovely surprise! Thank you very much for including me and for introducing me to others too.

[Debbie Lamey-MacDonald]

Hi Sue!

What a surprise to visit your blog and find a mention!You made my day-much thanks and appreciation for your thoughtfulness.
I always enjoy our connections and love how you provide great food for thought in your blog posts. It was especially delightful to visit the other artists' sites and was able to follow some on Twitter that I didn't follow already. Thanks! Keep up the great work!
Wishing you a wonderful day and much inspiration in your art making.
Warmly,
Debbie

[Tamara]

What fun. I popped into all the links you introduced and thought it was like visiting several galleries and classes in a fraction of the time and travel. Thanks, Sue! (I guess I especially enjoyed Book Girl.)

[Kimber Scott]

Thank you so much for mentioning me on your blog! I always enjoy reading it. You provide such helpful information. Finding my name here today was quite a surprise. :)