An Artist's Notes - Top 10
Highlights from the most popular posts on "An Artist's Notes"
Hello Monday!
Instead of trying to dig deeper into my few ideas about what to share this week, I became lost in my pursuit of little studio projects - which is honestly an exceptionally good thing for me and my art practice right now. I had been stuck and not making progress for too long.
In talking with a fellow artist, however, I was reminded of some of my favorite past “notes” and thought I could at least share a “Top 10” list of hits - especially for all of you just joining me here (THANK YOU to all the new followers). So - without further ado - here are a few highlights from nearly three years of “An Artist’s Notes”. I hope you enjoy!
An Artist’s Notes - Top 10
#1
This short note, surprisingly to me, is very popular. Maybe it speaks to a need to feel okay about making a mess in a society where order and minimalism seem to be in high regard?
The Messy Artist
Artists are often seen as unstable, flighty, disorganized, intensely focused, and eccentric oddities. And messy. And why not? When the paint is flying everywhere, who doesn’t want to be messy? (You can check out a long list of even more labels on The Paperblanks Blog
#2
I think the title explains its popularity - I know I can always use a little artist pep talk!
Artist Pep Talk?
Hello to September (a little late) and a new month of art-making! Despite the latest Pacific Northwest heatwave, I am thankful the evening air here is a bit chillier as Summer slowly wanes and Fall approaches. I welcome the chance for cooler temperatures amidst my return to a studio artist life after a busy summer of showin…
#3
I continue to find this topic interesting and challenging. I’m sure my thoughts on AI Art will evolve just as the art itself evolves, but, hopefully, this take from a couple of months ago is still worth exploring especially if you’re new to the topic.
AI Generated Art
I’ve been curiously watching the news from the sidelines as AI-Generated Art has been recently making quite a splash. So, what’s all the fuss about? First - I do not claim expertise in this area. I am not a digital artist, though I dabble with digital tools. I do, however, care deeply about artists' rights while also trying to keep an open mind about new…
#4
I continue to be haunted by the story which unfolded in this podcast. If you haven’t yet listened, I hope you will consider adding it to your queue.
Death of an Artist, a Short Review
The podcast Death of an Artist, hosted by Helen Molesworth and produced by Pushkin Industries and Somethin’ Else, is a poignant look at a moment in contemporary art history that elevates many important topics for discussion through the tragedy of a singular event - the death of artist Ana Mendieta - nearly 4 decades ago. Among them are the art world's s…
#5
This is one of my personal favorite poems that I’ve written. And even though I’m still learning about this art form, I find it very rewarding to play with my thoughts in this way. I hope my attempts at writing poetry encourage others to play with it too.
Listen to the Fawn Lilies
Listen now (1 min) | (“Listen to the Fawn Lilies”, a poem written and read by Jennifer with a contextual exposition provided below.) As I sat at my studio table, carefully trying to construct a piece (what I hope is a stepping stone to the vision of art I want to create) - I was overwhelmed by the implied meanings and emotions touched in…
#6
I especially enjoy this article for the related content I pulled in with it, including video links relating to Salvador Dali which I strongly recommend viewing. They definitely provide an interesting look at the creative mind and process.
Giving a Voice to the Art
Welcome back! I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted. I hope you are doing well and I just want to thank you for taking the time to read on (my apologies, I know it’s long and meandering). I’m rather new at writing this much, and I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m enjoying the process. I believe it will make me a better artist and enable me to cr…
#7
I have a few Business of Art types of posts (including this one and the following post) that provide a little insight into the professional side of being an artist. I hope their popularity means they are useful to readers at least in some small way.
Art Marketing
I will tell you up front, I am no marketing guru, as my modest (yet, thankfully, very supportive) online following and my experience-based marketing knowledge will surely show. I admit that these days I am grateful for the freedom to randomly market when I want, how I want, with the hope that I will connect with a few folks along the way. It wasn’t alwa…
#8
Tools of the Trade
This morning as I was reviewing my incoming emails I saw an announcement for “YouTube Creators” (which really, we can acknowledge I’m on the peripheral of this category). Nevertheless, I read on to see: “Easily share 5-60 second must-watch moments of your videos or live streams on social media to potentially get more views and fans!”
#9
A little glimpse into where I am along the arc of my art-making career and the importance of embracing the stage in which we inhabit.
Aging into the Work
This week I’ve been reviewing my current list of projects to decide on which pieces make sense to group together for an art show installation proposal. What strikes me most about my work right now, is the shift in perspective it has taken as I get older.
#10
And finally - as a nice little bookend to my “top 10” journey (since this week found me playing with the project once again instead of exploring writing topics) - my most viewed Substack article (after my gift guide holiday posts) features the first art piece I made for my 2023 “Swatch Journal”.
Art for Art's Sake
Today, as I mentioned last week, I am out counting birds. Until I return next week (with a new post sharing my observations about AI-generated art), I’m sharing the following Valentine’s post from my Patreon page in which I consider my current art practice within the context of this simple Swatch.
Thank you for reading here and perusing my “Top 10” with me!
I hope you enjoyed this little journey into “An Artist’s Notes” past posts. I look forward to continuing to share my art, inspirations, and insights about all things art-related/adjacent with you! And if you have any questions or topics you want me to explore - feel free to let me know with an email or comment below.
Sincerely,
Jennifer