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Should you write a blog?

should you write a blog
Art Business / Step by step demonstrations / Thoughts

Should you write a blog?

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Have you ever wondered if you should write a blog and what it could do to help your career as an artist? Here is what I learned from my experience with blogging.

I started writing a blog about 5 years ago in 2012, with no clear idea of what the content would be, who my audience was and what it would help me with.

Over time, I started to get a better understanding of what that blog would be about. Writing a blog has definitely helped me in many different ways and I am sure it coud be beneficial for you as well.

What writing a blog can do for you?

Get into the habit of writing regularly

This one might be more relevant to me because English is not my first language, but still I believe that the more you write the easier it gets. Now if I have to write something for an application, an article, a book… it is easier than it used to be because this is something I am doing regularly for my blog.

You might also be interested in: Sell your Art online, reach new markets, learn how to use social media

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Get into the habit of documenting your process

When you are writing a blog, you need pictures all the time, maybe videos. So you get into the habit of gathering all these materials, documenting your process.

Taking pictures is like writing, the more you do it, the better you become at it. The same goes with shooting videos and editing them.

Connect with artists and patrons all over the world

The Internet is word wide and open 24/7, so what you write can find an interested audience on the over side of the world. I am always very happy when people visiting Vancouver from another country pop up in my studio to say hi and recognize my work from my blog. We already have a connection because they got to know me a bit through my blog.

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Share your knowledge

I really believe that you are doing something good by sharing what you know. In my case, I am sharing some of it for free on the blog and I am sharing some of it for money with my online classes. I like that balance and am happy that some content is free.

Sometimes artists are a bit worried that many other artists are going to copy their style and what they do if they start sharing their techniques online. I don’t think that is really a problem: First, most skills need to be practiced to be re-produced and just looking at someone else doing it doesn’t mean that you can do the same without investing the time to become good at it. Second, it is not rewarding to literally copy someone else’s style and the copy, if too literal, very often doesn’t have the same impact as the original.

You might also be interested in :” The fine line between inspiration and imitation”

Show some exemples of what you can do to book and magazine editors, classes organizers

Finally, your blog is  an online accessible archive of your work and techniques. If you ever have to show your work to an editor, you can always send them links to your blog.

You can link to your online print on demand stores from your blog
You can link to your online print on demand stores from your blog

You can link back to your website and more

Your blog is just one part of your online presence, you can link to many places from your blog:

  • Your website and store
  • Your social media accounts
  • Your print on demand online stores
  • Your  classes if you have some
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Don’t worry if you don’t have time to write regularly

The most common argument I hear against writing a blog is lack of time. Well, I would say any little you can do is still better than nothing for two reasons. First no one is going to be upset if you don’t write too often, people will usually get upset if you write too much and become spammy.  Then, consider that it takes a lot of time for a blog to develop an audience and you might as well start now. The first 1 or 2 years are usually a bit slow so you have to be consistent and not get discouraged until it starts to get better.

Are you writing a blog? If not what is your biggest obstacle?

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Comments (14)

  1. […] You might also be interested in : Should you write a blog? […]

  2. […] I recently wrote a post explaining how writing a blog could be beneficial for your Art career, you can read it here: Should you write a blog? […]

  3. Always enjoy your blog and “step-by-step” demonstrations. I had a website for a few years, but I didn’t get round to updating it as regularly as I should and got hardly any feedback from it anyway. So I have this year decided to replace it with a blog so I can continue to show my work online – we will see how it goes.

    1. Yes, that is a very good idea and some of your blog pages can be like a website, with galleries of your artworks. I think it is better to have a blog that is easy to update than a website if it becomes quickly not up to date.

  4. Wonderful! I just came by from Pinterest!
    I’m a wannabe artist that’s just started painting in watercolour and I’m
    finding that You Tube has helped tremendously .
    My blog consists of home style, DIY, and now that I have found this new
    hobby I will share my work as I grow.
    Also a fellow Canadian!

    1. Thanks Linda, this is great. Good luck with your new blog 🙂

  5. edreid49573300

    Sandrine, you have such a gift for jogging us into action! I noticed the article a while ago but have only just read it – a jam packed week! I have often thought of writing a blog but not art related. I love gardening and everything to do with it , so that was my inspiration. Reading your article today has me wondering how I could combine the two!
    Thank you for the encouragement to “just do it”.

    1. Thanks Eddie! Many artists are finding inspiration in nature and in their own backyard. And I know many artists who are also gardeners. Everything we do in life feeds our inspiration, I think your blog idea is very good:)

  6. Christina Nelson

    I update my blog so seldom. I don’t take enough pictures and have some mental block about posting. I’ve had a nearly complete post in draft for the past 2 1/2 weeks. I know I need to. I just….(no good excuses) ?

    1. It might be just me but I find it helps to have a regular schedule with a deadline. For me it is every two weeks.

  7. Rupa

    Your site/blog is fantastic. You are extremely generous in sharing your techniques and I am always inspired by it. Although I don’t seem to have enough time to work on my art, I come here to be inspired. The next time I visit Vancouver, I would love to visit you and see the studio and the artist in action. Best wishes!

    1. Thanks Rupa, yes let me know if you are visiting 🙂

  8. Wonderful points, Sandrine! I started blogging as soon as my site was live even though I didn’t yet have an audience. I’ve found that it’s been extremely beneficial to my art practice as it forces me to articulate my inspirations and processes. Always a win-win when it comes time to do that live! It’s also helping me clarify my focus, and that’s a beautiful thing.

    1. Excellent Lisa ! Yes I totally agree when you say that it forces the artist to better articulate their inspirations and processes .

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