Early Summer Daybook- Capturing the Artist’s Life
If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ll know about my Daybook, my version of a diary for artists, where I track my thoughts, ideas, and struggles. In this entry, I’m highlighting some of my early summer entries..
May
Reflection on my creative week:
Teaching. Preparing for teaching. Really a blur…. No, wait, newsletters, releasing new work on my website. Did I publish a blog? Yes, and wrote it the same day. A wedding, soccer practice, chickens, gardens, bees. Not sure if I have any words left. My inbox is overflowing with emails needing quick responses. It’s amazing that people read my blog and comment- it helps me to know I’m not only writing for myself. Let’s see if I can settle into the work this morning and then take tomorrow off. Time to reread the lesson plans for the Colorado class- any more revisions needed?
May
Interesting that I do all this writing in here and then try to figure out how to make it work for my art business- as if it’s not enough to write for the sake of writing (which it totally is). Instead, I mine the content for blog posts, social media, newsletters, class ideas.
I find, when I flip back through the pages, that it’s a blur of content. Sometimes I’ll date the pages, or give them a subject title, but mostly it’s random. I had this idea to write an entry, and then write a note on the top of the page with subject keywords. Haven’t done that yet.
Then I thought about getting a notebook tablet- one where you write with a pen on what feels like paper, giving you the ability to upload your notes into digital files. Then I could have a digital copy I could feed into Claude (AI) and ask for categories and content. But that’s overly complicated, expensive, and I love my analog notebook!
Note to self: USE THOSE KEYWORDS
June
Segmenting my list into different categories was necessary, but it left me with three audiences: artists, collectors, and those who are both! My newsletter strategy approach needs to change-
Week 1 and 3: Artist Newsletter with content for those who want to learn
Week 2 and 4: Newsletter for Collectors and Artist/Collectors where I tell the story behind a piece I have for sale (or sold)
Do I create them in batches (especially the spotlight email) or choose whatever piece catches my eye and write spontaneously? Will that collector newsletter lead to more sales or unsubscribes?
June
I’m in Colorado, looking out at the mountains where patches of snow remain. The altitude is challenging, and I think I’d need to be here for a few more weeks before I feel normal. The walk back up the mountain from class is rough; I move from shade patch to shade patch, stopping each time to catch my breath.
The Ah Haa School for the Arts is amazing! In the center of the downtown, it’s obviously a major part of the Telluride community.
Things I’m loving here: Magpies and the rooflines of closely set houses.
July
Planning my next online class-
What value can an online collage class provide?
Calm down an anxious mind
Help you pay attention to small details (in paper as in life)
Connect with the past
Create a new story for old materials
Create something beautiful with scraps that otherwise would be discarded
Experience the joy of finding a new material
Reflections on these entries:
Use keywords!
The stream of consciousness writing always results in interesting takeaways- like the idea of taking a day off
I didn’t write much in Colorado- gave myself a rest when I wasn’t teaching
My mind won’t stop thinking about business goals and plans
Suggestions for your Daybook:
The next time you’re overwhelmed with your to-do list, let it all out in a stream of consciousness Daybook entry
If you are doing a lot of writing, put it to use for your art business and promotion
Writing for the sake of writing is okay- not everything has to become something