Comments on: Dialogue

By: Lynsey

Lynsey — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 23:29:46 +0000

Hi Christine – some very interesting answers to your questions – I think the best part has been recognising some of the writers.
The creative act requires no justification; however I was motivated to start writing to see if I could write 100,000 words in a year – a test drive for a novel or thesis. I’d never written that much before. I write in two places – one for my thoughts and observations (http://marginalia.ako.net.nz), one to collate information on aquaculture available on the net (http://aquaculture.ako.net.nz). I believe that because I have high speed net access and good skills at exploring the deep web, I should create a searchable tool that brings research information to the surface to help people with more limited resources. Aquaculture.ako has visitors from the far flung corners of the globe; and creating something useful to others (internationally) rather than just writing in a self-centred way feels good to me.
I tend not to leave comments – I figure rather than leave comments I should write in my own space. So commenting here is quite a rare event. I was hugely surprised to find people reading my writing in marginalia.ako, moreso when they commented, and even more when I got nagged because I hadn’t written for a few days. I never thought of getting an audience, and suddenly there was this responsibility to produce, and then consider what they might want to read. I rarely ‘blog’, I prefer to think of my work as ‘writing’.
In March 2006 I was one of the organisers behind Blog Hui (http://bloghui.org) New Zealand’s first international weblog conference. People shared their perspectives on blogging – truly, there’s a different reason and a different pay off for everyone. There was a lot of discussion about whether we need another ‘kitten’ blog (yes, we do) versus another political party pr blog disguised as a genuine person’s opinion (no, we don’t). As a result of the conference, and people I met there my life has changed (for the better) in some entirely unexpected ways.
For me the ultimate pay off is being able to write and publish (to an audience) my own work with complete control over the appearance and content; and in the case of aquaculture.ako, make an individual contribution to help other people around the world – something that’s very rare in any other medium simply because of the costs involved.

By: cate

cate — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 09:14:06 +0000

The first blog i found was Keri Smith’s Wish Jar Journal. I was suposed to be researching high museum art, and found my way there. That one click has actually changed my life. Since then i’ve found Danny Gregory, blueskystudio, True Nature… and a dozen others i look in on regulary.
There were several mentions of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, so i bought it. I hoped it would help me be less shy about creating. It has. But it, and reading and seeing the work, frustrations and joys of others though their blogs, has also helped me shift my depression! Creative Blogs are a wonder drug!
While the EDM superblog feeds my procrastination pixie, i have learnt to realise the doodles and photos i make are a valid form of expression. i’ve given my creativity space and it has grown. Not into its own blog yet, but i’m enough right now.

By: Helena

Helena — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:39:48 +0000

Creative Blogs have united people throughout the globe. It is refreshing to know that as Artists we all share the same goal…to make the world a more beautiful place, one stroke, or one stitch at a time. We are all willing to share our ideas and to help encourage others to reach their goals. I have always been so thankful to have been born with a creative spirit and reading the many blogs has enabled me to realize that the world is filled with such positive energy and beauty

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 11:55:31 +0000

oh, yes, one more thing. A place to archive links, artist, things I have done. That is an important one.

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 10:52:11 +0000

Sharing. Overwhelming generosity. Communication with like-minded creative souls that I would never meet otherwise. Inspiration. Having the feeling that I am not a freak (there are more of people out there like me than I ever knew). Fresh air. Honesty. Being able to do the creative things I once did at work but that has been phased out — a place for my imagination to work through challenges. A place to store my photographs while I learn the skill. To make wonderful friends. To learn new and wonderful things, tips, secrets, tools.
But it really all started so I could keep my family and friends who live far away updated on what I do, how my son has grown, what is going on in my life. And I don’t think any of them ever even read my blog

By: Tanaya

Tanaya — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 11:25:56 +0000

I think I’m brilliant. Really, I do. But I never have anywhere to share my brilliance.
OK, so maybe I’m not brilliant. But I blog because sometimes I feel like I have so much MORE to say. Daily interactions only allow for a certain level of communication. I miss the *intimate* conversations that I had with friends in the past. All we needed was a cup of coffee and and an afternoon.
Nothing was too off-topic, too silly, too serious, too heavy, too deep, too anything. We talked and we learned and we grew and we loved each other. We expanded our minds, our horizons, we felt more significant in those days.
Now, there doesn’t seem to be such a thing as a cup of coffee and an afternoon. Everyone is busy. There are datebooks and calendars, day care and board meetings. When you do get a chance to meet, to talk, you are so busy covering the *important* things that there isn’t room for any of the interesting, tiny details.
Blogging lets me continue to have those intimate conversations of the past, on whatever time table works for everyone. If they are available and want to drop by my blog, it is always there. They don’t need to call my office and schedule time with me. It makes me feel like I can still cherish this brilliant part of myself where nothing is too silly, too deep, too mundane.
Blogging helps me to cherish the details.

By: rosa murillo

rosa murillo — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 11:28:03 +0000

Blogging for me started as a way to explain a little about why I do the art I do, it was a companion to my work. and now it’s become more, I’m putting my ideas together, reaching inside me and putting images into words. I’m understanding myself better. Reading other’s blogs had helped me understand the artist and the person behind the face.

By: Petra

Petra — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 02:17:25 +0000

I’ve been reading blogs for a few months now (this is actually the first one i’m commenting on). To get inspired and hoping to find clue’s on ‘how to’ and ‘where to’ start on your own and how others did that. Where to find new work, how to get yourself noticed and so on…. The blogs feed me with lots of inspiration and good suggestions they make me want to jump of my seat and create, so that’s what i started doing.

By: keri Smith

keri Smith — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 07:04:07 +0000

i met you didn’t i?
nuff said.
i wonder if we would have met anyway somehow? through some connection. and interesting thought.
love k.

By: MonicaLee

MonicaLee — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 07:18:30 +0000

I agree with all these comments but one of the surprising things I have found through blogging is that is helps me discover what I think are upcoming trends and as and illustrator designer I think this adds value to my work!