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| "Moving Ahead." Security envelope, ink, acrylic and oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches.© Karine Swenson 2013 |
This is the time of year when I begin to look at my goals. I write goals every year, as a way to continue to grow and improve as an artist and as a human being. I like to review what I did in the past year, and begin to think about the new year, as it rapidly approaches.
If I complete five more paintings, before the end of December, I will have painted one hundred paintings this year!!!!
I also have a nearly full sketchbook, which was another thing I had really wanted to improve on this year.
"Draw more - fill one sketchbook." was how my goal was written. Pretty amazing, when you think about it. As far as being a better human being, one of my goals was "listen more, talk less." I think I may have to have this one burned onto my forehead. There's always next year, right?
How about you? Do you write goals? Do you find it helpful?
In thinking about next year, one of the topics I have been thinking about is this blog. I don't write as much as I used to. I am worried I have lost any readers through neglect!!! I have actually been thinking I may put an end to this blog, at least in its present form. If anyone is still reading, please feel free to chime in, here. I need to make a big decision! Should I:
a) quit my blog, once and for all?
or
b) begin with renewed vigor and exciting topics next year?
I have had this blog for six years. I have written five hundred and sixty two posts! (563, counting this one) That's a lot! Almost ninety people have subscribed to this blog (thank you, whoever you are!) But I find that I am spending more time in the studio these days, and less time with this blog. I have to wonder if it is finally time to do something else. Write a book? Write articles for other publications? Just paint??? ??? I don't know. I will be interested to hear what you, my readers, have to say about this dilemma.
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| "Spring Quail." Origami paper, acrylic and oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2013 |
In other news, I am going to have a booth with my desert animal art this weekend in 29 Palms. From 10 to 4 pm on Saturday and 10 to 3 pm on Sunday (weather permitting) I will be outside on the "lawn" next to the 29 Palms Inn with many other wonderful artists. There is also an opening reception Friday night from 5 to 8 pm at the 29 Palms Art Gallery for the juried show. This is the first year for this event, and I am excited to be a part of it! For more information, click here.
8 comments:
Please don't stop your blog!!! Randomly timed posts are fine with me. I love seeing your work and reading your words!
Beautiful birds....
as far as blogging goes.....it is not how often one posts but what one posts.
I don't think it is important as to how many followers we all have but that what we post is what we like and if it happens to please someone enough to become a "follower",,,I hate that word,,,,well then fine if not that is also fine. Your artwork is too beautiful to just erase it all...take a break, don't blog at all but don't let all this work just disappear into cyberspace, poof and it is gone after all the work and time it took to do the amount of posts you have already posted,,,would be a shame and besides....Pono loves to pose for fotos for the next post too.......
HA! I just started following you! (I met you at the Studio Tour this year!)
The nice thing about blogs in comparison to Facebook and Twitter is that it's more intimate to me, you can write longer posts, show more photos, etc. It's work for sure, but it seems a shame to give it up!
Hi Kathryn, Cynthia and Kaaren, Thank you for your comments! It's nice to know there are people who haven't given up on me yet. I wouldn't delete my blog if I quit writing it. I am considering moving it over to be on the same server as my website...
I am still deciding!!! But I appreciate your thoughts about it.
Ack! I love reading about your escapades and seeing your art. I also understand how hard it is to keep writing when you're not sure if anyone notices.
I'd miss you...
I enjoy reading your posts and hope you won't give up on your blog. But its a decision only you can make. There are only so many hours in a day and lots of things competing for your attention.
Good Morning Karine -
Your blog is entertaining, informative and fun. From my perspective, I love it. I enjoy having a long-distance pal. Kinda like the old pen pal days of 6th grade. You post in your blog and someone posts a comment. We who posts comments are lucky to see photos of your desert. I LOVE the desert. Not so much in the heat, but generally it's beautiful. The critters, the flowers, the smells. I'm so glad you share all those things with me. And when you take time away from the desert, I enjoy where you go.
I'll never forget one photo you posted on your blog. You'd gone to Las Vegas, a couple years ago, and posted some good snaps. One was of a gutter. In the gutter was trash, I think a beer bottle, and a business card with a gal's photo on it. You know the ones that are handed out on street corners in LV to anyone who strolls by. That phot said so much to me. And I LOVE to go to Las Vegas.
Okay...I digress.
No matter what you do with your blog, know that you've touched the hearts and souls of people near and far.
Your time is precious. Guard it well.
Love,
Terry V.
i love these two paintings - the colors in the background, the bits of geometric designs, and the little dots on the first one, not to mention the birds, and their shadows. well done!
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