Although this blog is intended primarily as a transcript of my creative process, I wanted to spend a post writing about the use of social media in an artistic context. While I traditionally felt this was very much a separate thing from artwork– a kind of afterthought and possibly even an unpleasantly self-promotional activity – I’ve increasingly realized its benefits as part of artistic practice itself.
Possibly the most important thing about keeping a blog, Facebook business page, and Twitter feed from an artistic perspective, is the fact that you need to keep populating it with content. Until this becomes a positive thing, it often feels like an unnecessary burden; for this reason I didn’t really tweet or blog for the first few years of my practice, and have only recently launched a Facebook page. I’ve just entered my fifth year as a practicing artist, and finally the time feels right to begin using social media in a more productive way.
For me, the difference is a result of feeling comfortable with my practice, and being willing to share it and produce work in a visible way for others to see. Once you feel comfortable sharing your work (including unfinished work) then suddenly the burden of social media eases a little – since you have something relevant to post about. Assuming you’re making work regularly, you have regular things to present to the world. And for me, the most important aspect of this process is that it has encouraged me to create work more frequently. The responsibility to use social media (i.e. my responsibility to promote my own practice) motivates me and reminds me that remaining visible is essential to success as an artist.
There is another aspect to social media that shouldn’t be forgotten, however. Often, it depends on the goodwill of friends and colleagues, and mutually supportive relationships. I’ve been very fortunate in the month and a half since starting my Facebook page, largely due to the support of friends and colleagues. For example, a well known Dutch archaeological illustrator and long-time colleague of my wife, Kelvin Wilson, recently looked at my work – and subsequently shared it with his artist friends on Facebook. This in turn resulted in me being invited to participate in a show in Rotterdam with the House of ABABA Gallery. This exhibition, ‘Hard Candy’, just opened last weekend and includes four of my recent sculptures (please see attached images).
Similarly, a good friend of mine and successful York-based artist Dean Hopkins, has been incredibly supportive of my work and posted about it several times through his own highly trafficked Facebook page; this was seen by Vicky Parry, the editor of the amazing One&Other magazine, who contacted me about an interview (to be published in their next edition).
These are not random events, and can’t be attributed merely to online ‘presence’; they are the result of personal connections and of people willing to support you. I am incredibly grateful to Kelvin and Dean, and the many other friends and family members who have ‘liked’ or ‘retweeted’ my posts – and to my wife Sara Perry, who has always supported me and encouraged me to become a full-time artist. Being an artist is a difficult, long and exhausting process – with no clear direction to take. This is likely more true than ever now, when opportunities are so scarce but possibilities are so open. It is amazing to know there are others helping you chart your way.
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‘Hard Candy’ at the House of ABABA Gallery in Rotterdam will be on exhibit until May 24. The exhibition features the work of 6 international and Dutch artists including myself, Early Mast, El Cumbone, JAWGEM, Pet Van de Luijtgaarden, and ROTGANZEN. Please click here for more details.
