I’ve come out on the other side of the craziness, and have figured out a few things. Don’t you love it when that happens?
It all started with the pause several months ago, and then I followed my instincts and restructured a few things in my routine. Then came along the crazy travel period, which swept me along without much time to think. Lots of fun, all good stuff. Now I’ve landed on the other side and am putting myself back to rights. Along with the chance to push the reset button on my routine, I see where I’ve landed is a different place.
Or maybe, the same place but a different perspective.
I’ve shifted my focus, to include more local.
That’s probably a lot of cryptic nonsense if you don’t follow my blog closely, so here’s the quick backstory: I started my blog and got the idea for much of what I do as an online business while living in Italy. I was separated from most of the people I interacted with creatively by a few time zones and an ocean, so my whole focus was online. I moved back to the US, my permanent home, and started Kat Eye Studio. Again, the focus was online classes and my online community. Slowly, slowly, as I’ve settled in over the last couple of years, I’ve been finding a local creative community. I’m part of art guilds. I’ve starting teaching classes in person. I’ve been presenting my art in person, in exhibitions and fairs. I’ve brought it local. And my photography has been changing. Expanding.
Now I’m seeing that part of the shift I made a couple of months ago gives me more space for local activities. I’m the president of the PhotoArts Guild this year. I was juried in as an exhibiting member of the Corvallis Art Guild. I’m participating in more local exhibitions. I’m taking more local classes. I’m proposing an exhibition at The Arts Center next year. I’m planning to teach a couple of workshops here in town this summer. (Details to come soon.)
And I’m spending more time focusing on my own art. Looking at where I want to go, what I want to do, how I want to develop.
There is nothing wrong with online. It’s a fabulous place to be, and I’m going to stay here. I love what I do here… writing on the blog, the classes, the interactions with people from all over the world, the ability to connect from anywhere. I’m realizing though, through many strands this past year, that I can’t be 100% online with either my business or my art. I needed to get my art out in the real world, to print, exhibit and share, and I need to get myself out in the real world too – interacting, teaching and learning in person. To be a whole “me,” I need to find a balance between the online and real worlds.
It’s interesting to recognize this transition, now that I’m on the other side. I believe it’s a continuation of the “settling in” I’ve felt over the last year. And it’s a reminder that once again, following my intuition, rearranging things to make more space a couple of months ago, was the right thing to do.
Where do you fall, with your own art and your interaction with others around art? Is it mostly online or local? How do you balance the two?
Exciting stuff, Kat. Sounds like you’re busy and fulfilled. Good Luck to you!
sounds just about perfect… xx
I’m happy for you, Kat, that you have found these ways to share your art locally.
There is something very inspiring in this change you have made. I think it’s because we live such digital lives, which can be good and can be bad, and maybe we have lost touch with simply connecting face to face.
I have no doubt that you and your art will continue to brighten this world, no matter where or how you choose to share. 🙂
As it currently stands, my creative sandbox is currently 100% online. But you have me thinking about making more “in-person” connections; seeing what may be available in my local community. As always, your creative journey is an inspiration. Love the Monet-inspired water lily creation.
Thanks Brenda. Monet had no idea his influence on future generations of water lily art, did he?
I hope you do reach out into the community. If your experience is anything like mine, you will be pleasantly surprised by what is available in your local area. Also if you’re like me, it will be an uncomfortable journey to interact about art in the “real” world for a while. But you will be growing outside of your comfort zone, and that is always good.
I’m 80 percent online right now, I would say. I used to be much more local, when we had a local scrapbook/paper arts store where I taught classes and then had a studio where I taught classes. I hung my art in a few art shows and sold some pieces. Once that all closed, I retreated to online as a place where I can share my art. I’d like to be more local. Perhaps when I have more time I can branch out again here. But, for now, at least I’m keeping my art going. And that is good.
Rinda
I agree, that is good. It’s great we have both options, isn’t it? If things change in one or the other, like your experience, we still have a community to connect with!
I’m excited to hear about the Corvallis workshops. I am a tactile, face-to-face person, and feed off of the excitement in a group. I learn better this way, and I tend to feed off of the energy.
Can’t wait to see what you have coming up.
Congrats to you, Kat! Sounds like you’re finding a wonderful, balanced artistic life – “real” and online.
As for me, I’m looking forward to more of the “real” part. My husband just took an early retirement and we’re planning on moving, hopefully this summer, to a college town with a thriving artistic community. That will be a welcome change from the non-artistic, provincial community that we’ve been living in. I’m excited and can’t wait!!!!
Take care and happy creating!
I’m so excited for you Anna! I know you’ve been looking forward to this change. Enjoy! I can’t wait to see what it does for your art.