I just read Robert's post 27 Thoughts On Blogging For The Artist and I say go right over and read it for yourself. It's so right on not just for blogging but for artists who wish to make art for a living in general.

If I made a list it would contain much of what he's said there. I would only add that in terms of blogging be more open and take the time to connect with readers. Don't just push your art (or what have you) up there and then ignore people who send comments and e-mail. Blogging is all about networking at this point. It's not a if you build it they would come sort of thing. There are so many blogs out there already that you run the risk of just becoming more white noise that is never seen by people who care. Sad but very true.

Some of the points by Robert Bruce I really liked and thought true:

1)"If you wouldn’t do it without an audience, don’t do it all." 

2)"There’s never been a worse time to be a working artist (if you’re not truly dedicated to your craft)."

3)"If you’re the real thing, you’ll be around in 30 years, still working. Most of these services and sites you now admire will not." (me: there are so many people I've known who have already given up, some because they ran out of funding and others because of #1.)

4)"You no longer need to live in New York or Los Angeles. See: Hugh." (me: Just like we don't all have to go to Paris anymore either. The Victorian's are all dead now. No one cares. I'm still at a loss as to why some people think they have to come to NYC in order to start their artistic life. This is just not true--you need to start now and where you are.)

Makes me think of the quotes by Mr. Plagens I posted here before.

Many people contact me about becoming an artist and art related things. There isn't any secret to learn or anything I can really pass on. All you have to do is work at it as hard as you can for many years (your whole life). A really great article in this area is at the  Happiness Project, What You Do Everyday is What Counts. If you're an artist or say that you're one, one would think art would be at the top of your list of things to do daily. Looking back at the greats in most cases they produced a lot of works. This makes me think about one of my favorite designers which I covered over at GaveThat.com (see Subversive Jewelry To Land at Target), Justin Giunta who posted a picture of his showroom at his website. The number of necklaces and other pieces of jewelry that he created was insane. It's hard to even imagine the amount of work that must have taken, the hours... this is what needs to be done. The painful and the unfun. Skirting by, tossing things up in shows with the hope people will be in awe never works. People always notice and in most cases show their true response with their pocketbook.

There was also a really funny comic in Pink Magazine that showed a woman looking at art with the artist standing next to her. She asks him, "so, how much do you think this will be worth after you're dead?" You really can never know so why do things with that in mind? Do it because you must or do it because you love it.

More soon. -MAM