Why Blogging Still Matters: SAQA Journal Features Me

The SAQA Journal

“Why Blogging Still Matters” is an article written by Abby Glassenberg of While She Naps. The article appears in the most recent SAQA Journal.  

The SAQA Journal is a publication about art quilts that is sent out quarterly to the entire membership of SAQA both in the USA and internationally.

 

Abby interviewed me a few months back for the article. So I knew it was in the works but it’s been quite a while since the interview so I’d forgotten all about it. I only found out when Jan from my art group announced to the group that “Clara’s blog springs up at you” when you open up the latest edition of the journal.

It’s nice to finally see the article in print. The topic “Why Blogging Still Matters” is a timely one and Abby Glassenberg did a fine job by interviewing five of us artists and producing such a fabulous article.

Why Blogging Still Matters in a World of Social Media

I often hear people question why blogging still matters especially in this world of so many social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and what have you. The general opinion is that with all of these social media avenues, blogging is dead. But that’s definitely not so. There are so many reasons why blogging still matters.

I think that all of these plethora of social media platforms are a great thing. However, they all lean more towards multimedia- photos, videos e.t.c. rather than text. For artists, these are especially great for showcasing our work but they don’t lend themselves to writing – or the deep thought that results when you’re blogging.

Writing is Pure Gold for Artists

Something magical really happens when you sit down to write. You get to meet the real you. For some reason, writing has a way of making you process your thoughts. It makes you understand why you do the things you do. Why you’re attracted to the subjects, the styles, color palettes and people you’re attracted to.

For an artist, this is pure gold. This understanding will ultimately make you articulate yourself better when you talk about your art. It also gives collectors of your work a chance to meet the real you and to identify with similar interests that they have in common with you.

One of my favorite quotes about the self-reflection and self-discovery that occurs when we write is this quote by Flannery O’Connor.

 

“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say”

 

Excellent!!! That quote just about sums it all up.

I know that there are many obstacles to the art of writing itself, maintaining consistency, setting up a blog and coming up with topics to write about.  These are all things that are addressed by the various artists who were interviewed for this article.

If you’re a SAQA member, don’t neglect to read “Why Blogging Still Matters” in volume 26 No.2 of the SAQA Journal. It’s got lots of tips on starting and/or maintaining a blog. It answers the question why blogging still matters.

Blogging Helps You Reflect on the Creative Process

As artists, no one taught us to be creative and no one really understands where all this desire to create comes from – usually not even ourselves. We ourselves, often find many of the emotions and motions of creative work novel.

So if there’s a tool out there that helps you reflect on your creative process, gets you out of your studio (which can be lonely, not to say the least) to meet with other like-minded people in cyberspace, I’ll say go for it.

Don’t worry about not knowing what to write. Just as you find your artistic voice as you keep creating, you’ll also find your writing voice as you keep writing.  The discovery does open up a new world to you. This of course, is why blogging still matters.

Questions: Do you blog? What’s your answer to why blogging still matters? Are you struggling to find what to write about? Or do you enjoy blogging? Join in on the discussion. Hope to see you in the comments section.

Warmest Regards,