Art is Life is Art: Susan Reep Photo Art

My life is a song.  Almost everything I say or think reminds me of a lyric.  Contemplating what kind of blog I have, I immediately thought of the song What Kind of Fool Am I.  I don’t expect I’m  much of a fool, at least not all of the time, but I sure wonder what kind of blog is this.  When I ventured into the blogosphere June 3, 2009, my first post was titled Waiting.  I wrote, I’m waiting for something to happen but I don’t know what it is.   Not that feeling of high expectation we get as kids – countdown to summer vacation and so on. Just as if I’m in a holding pattern even though I’m in the midst of constant activity.

Almost a year later, I’m not waiting but I don’t know if the thing I was waiting for has happened.  My life is always constant activity – that hasn’t changed. How could it be otherwise with a close family, aging parents, and nine grandchildren?  And a post-retirement attempt at an art career.  Maybe that’s what I was waiting for – to figure out where I fit in now.

So – what kind of blog is this? I know the tips and rules but I’ve just been bad at rules my whole life.  I know I should have a photography blog, or an art blog, or some sort of focus, yet I am all over the place.  Part travelogue, part photography, some art, some writing, family and children, essays about aging parents, exploring personal feelings, reporting my little news.  Can’t expect to develop a loyal and steady readership without a focus, but then comes the question, why do I want a loyal and steady readership?  I do know it all works out in the end.

I suppose one goal was to scare up some interest and sell some art and photos, but that isn’t happening.  I’ve sold a little bit on Etsy, have exhibited quite a bit in the last year, but being the person I am, I am not a money-maker.  I have opportunities for viewers to purchase photos and art on my web site, but not much activity occurs. I sell at exhibits and privately, but this online sales thing is a bust so far.  So I guess I’ll just keep on writing and see what happens next.

Meanwhile, I’ve discovered quite a few blogs that I return to over and over.  They are worth checking out.

One is unabashedly female by Julie Daley.  Her last post, Asleep in Beauty’s Lair, is a must-read.  She takes me to a higher plane, a more complex level of thinking.  She takes the “busyness” out of life and returns me to the thinking and feeling that make a life, getting down to the core.  Julie gives me the tools to savor the constant activity and value each moment.

Emma James’ Pleasure Notes always gives me something to think about and she helps me see metaphors. She asked recently, is it more important to feel safe or to feel loved?  That in a personal way is the big question of government – should we aim for security or freedom? I like to read something that makes a connection.

Jeanne Hewell-Chamber’s The Barefoot Heart is pretty amazing.  How to describe this? Jeanne writes with a distinct voice and she masters what I cannot – saying something meaningful succinctly.  Jeanne is different.  She goes in directions that make you think, wow, why didn’t I do that?  Amazing creativity. Jeanne is unique with a unique voice.  Don’t miss her.  She gave me the image of dresses that caper, and the marvelous word flapdoodle.

Katherine Thomas. I love this woman.  I think she’s me.  Or maybe I’m her.  I love the way she does things, the way she draws, the humor that leaks out all day long, and the way she teaches.  I want to teach with her – what fun we would have together.  I think I relate so strongly to her because I just know we are the same kind of teacher.  I love her honesty.  Her tweets make me happy.  Just look at her picture.  She shines from the inside out.

Julie Unplugged, Julie Jordan Scott.  I don’t understand this woman and I know her – we live in the same town.  But do I KNOW her?  Can one?  She’s a force of nature, a hurricane, she’s here and then she’s there, sometimes across the country even.  She’s acting, directing, writing, and on and on – and doing it all well.  She’s intense and honest and does everything with intention. I’m quite sure she doesn’t sleep much.  No one could and do what Julie does.

Leah Piken Kolidas of Creative Every Day is probably the main reason I’ve discovered so many of these wonderful women.  And I wouldn’t have discovered CED without Julie Jordan Scott.  Leah of Creative Every Day is a gentle and kind soul.  I know that she’s serene and easy to be around.  Her blog keeps those of us who participate alive in our creative worlds.  She’s the spark we need to keep thinking and creating.  Knowing that every day, in something, we can be creative.

Nancy Tasker writes Nanke’s Stuff. Her description of herself could be my description of myself.  Nancy affirms the artist in me.  A funny thing about artists is we think the same way as we approach a work.  We wrestle with what we do – sometimes we win, sometimes not.  Nancy helps me with my work.  It’s nice to find out we’re not crazy.

So many more wonderful blogs out there that I read as regularly as I can.  So much to learn, so many places to go inside our heads and out.  Most of these women I’ve mentioned have lists of blogs they follow, so you will find many kindred souls.  I have links to all the sites on the sidebar.

Meanwhile, keep on truckin’. I mean bloggin’. Maybe it’s the same.

Tags: blogging, blogs, Creative Every Day, creative women

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