I just stumbled across this article about the importance of an online presence. It is aimed at journalists, but there are several useful tips which also directly apply to artists, and a few which can be adapted.
The first tip – Make sure you can be found online – is particularly true, especially if you don’t have an unusual surname. To paraphrase it: “I reckon every (artist) needs to be found when someone types in their name and the word (artist).” Just as an experiment, I typed in “John Smith” and turned up over 21 million results in Google, whereas “john smith sculptor” produced just 4.
http://careers.guardian.co.uk/journalism-job-tips
I have been getting most of my news from Twitter and Facebook. I can’t access ordinary BBC News because I am outside of the UK. The radio speaks in repeated soundbites. The same old talking heads spout off. I found a couple of news sites, but they re-cycle the same stuff, and due to a combination of demand and internet speeds I get half a dozen words then a turning wheel. I have been struck by a few things; social media has informed me to some extent, but it has also played a huge part in gathering people together (on both sides of the fence, as it turns out, such as the clean up campaign); strongest, though, is that I have been given a small insight into how information (and misinformation) can be controlled and disseminated in certain other countries, and the role of social media.
I get a little defensive when people hear about the place in France and assume that I am rich. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Being an artist does make it possible, though. In a prime example of perverse logic, as an artist I can just as easily not earn money here as I can not earn money in the studio.
The way it works is this: I work on the building during the day, and on my practice in the evening. I don’t have quite the same distractions, so I can concentrate. Until recently I haven’t been able to create finished works (although I have made what I think are some of my best works here) – I work on ideas which I then take back to the studio in England.
The place was bought as a ruin, with no water or electricity, so it was cheap. Again, because of money, I have done most of the work single-handed. I’m lucky in that either I already know how to do a lot of the work, or I have learnt on the job. I have just been slating the roof.
This is my pension, in effect. I don’t know what else artists are supposed to do.
There’s more here if anyone is interested: http://leblogging.blogspot.com
Jus’ sayin’
If Barack Obama were an artist, as of today he would no longer be eligible for the Turner Prize. Age limits in art is a dumb idea.
This is disgusting:
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