Art and Creativity Journal: Social Media Housekeeping... and Places to Find Inspiration

in GEMS2 months ago

Yesterday, I spent a good bit of time checking and polishing up my social media accounts, making sure everything is up to date and that there were no dead links. I then went on to reactivate my LinkedIn account which I have not really looked at since setting it up in 2017.

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I have a main LinkedIn account of course, but I never really finished the one I set up specifically for my artwork.

I'm not sure how LinkedIn fits into the greater picture of publicizing art, but I know an awful lot of my artist colleagues have LinkedIn accounts. Case of FOMO? Not really... all points of contact are likely useful.

Because I do have so many online places that relate to Alchemy Stones, I'm now considering whether it might be worthwhile to assemble everything in a "LinkTree" page... something it also seems like a lot of my fellow artists are using, these days.

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Places of Inspiration

I got to thinking about the many places I find inspiration. Earlier I was watching accidentally a YouTube clip about the puffer fish and how it attracts a mate. Evidently, it's a male's custom to choose a flat sandy piece of sea bottom and with its fins creates a very interesting set of geometric patterns which — when approved of by a female — allows for mating to happen.

A bunch of my inspiration comes from nature. I also draw much inspiration from such things as Nautilus shells, pine cones, and the heart of flowers — the way the seeds are arranged/assembled in a sunflower, for example.

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More Product Listings and Preparation

Yesterday I continued the process of putting new items up for sale on Amazon Handmade, and this evening I am planning to continue the process by adding more items to my Etsy shop.

The Etsy shops needs a little overhaul, mainly in renaming and reorganizing the 20 available "sub-categories" sellers can use to divide their work into relevantly grouped sections. This is going to become more important as I move over additional inventory from eBay, to close that shop out, before the end of the year.

Somewhere in between, I'm stealing a half hour or so to do a little painting, but once I am done with putting all previously unaccounted for Stones for sale online, I will spend a lot more time painting.

If the timing works out just right, my new painting supplies should have arrived by the time I get done with the current listing project. At least that's the plan!

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There is only a little over a month to go before our first holiday season show so I better get on the ball here! Meanwhile, there's always the pervasive background noise of having to make a living to worry about.

I really admire those artists who seem able to manage a full-time job (plus daily commute) and still seem to have many hours a day to put into both working on their art, as well as social media. I guess if you're OK with not having any kind of other life (and friends) you can do that!

Or maybe they are just more driven and ambitious than I!

I appreciate you coming to visit and please do leave a comment if you feel so inclined!

Thank You!

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If you enjoy painted rocks, do check out The Hive Rocks Project and help spread the word about Hive, while also being creative!

Because I am trying to make some semblance of income — a part time living, even — I now add this footer to all my posts, in the hope that someone, somewhere, might decide to take a further look at my work, and perhaps consider supporting independent art.

Thank you, in advance, for your consideration and support!

My Alchemy Stones Patreon appeal

Alchemy Stones web site and blog

Alchemy Stones on eBay

Alchemy Stones on Etsy

Alchemy Stones on Facebook

Regardless, your upvotes and comments are always appreciated!

Thank you for supporting independent art & creativity!

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