If you want to write a better blog, deconstruct one that you like. That’s what today’s Art Marketing Action newsletter is about. I give you a list to help you figure out what makes a blog successful. (Incidentally, it will also be posted here in Wednesday’s podcast.)
For those who haven’t yet found an artist’s blog to fall in love with, here are some worthy of your attention.
David Castle
Tammy Vitale
Daniel Sroka
Deb Trotter
Sherrie York
Carla Sanders
Cynthia Guajardo
Lisa Call
Deanna Wood
Casey Klahn
Kesha Bruce
Paula McCullough
There are many, many more. I’d love for you to leave your favorite artists’ blogs in the comments below. (If you use http:// in front of the URLs, they’ll be clickable in your comment and we sure would appreciate that.)
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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
Aw shucks, Alsyon, thank you for mentioning my blog – I’m blushing!
I didn’t see the link to Lisa Call’s blog — it’s http://blog.lisacall.com One of my favorites!
[Alyson says: "Oops! Fixed above!"]
nice to check out all these blogs this morning. many are already on my regular check in list but found some new ones as well. it’s good for artists to consider what they want from a blog and who they are in dialogue with, i think. because my own blog includes my writing, nature and teaching stuff it’s different from being an “art” blog though i do blog about my studio work and thoughts on being an artist, too. some artist blogs are very personal, others seem more devoted to certain points of view or art subjects that are more objective (though often they are presented subjectively). all in all i find art blogs a lot of fun and i’ve met all sorts of interesting artists through them in this last year. i have even sent people looking for certain kinds of work to other people’s blogs, which is pretty cool. it’s a very interesting way of interacting and sharing our work and our thoughts.
Thanks, too, for the link. I have posted a welcome post for the readers at @ 9:30, which is an introduction and overview of TheColorist blog.
Thank you Alyson for the mention! Ah, now the pressure to live up to it!
Having just started my own blog a few weeks ago and having spent time with the technical garble (still a little foreign to me), now I’m ready to fine tune. It’s nice to have the “deconstruction questions” from the newsletter to help me assess, and a list of others (some I know, others are new!) that do a terrific job. Thank you Alyson!
http://jeanevogel.blogspot.com Jeane comments on the art business and her wonderfully unique hand-altered Polaroid photographs.
Hi Alyson, Im personally fond of my blog! http://sacred-circle-mandalas.blogspot.com Other favorites are : http://dianeclancy.com/blog http://marayagalleries.blogspot.com http://papierscolles.blogspot.com Tammy Vitale’s blog is wonderful ~Sue O’Kieffe
Alyson, Today sitemeter showed way more visitors than ever before in one day and now I see why…thank you! I’m honored to be listed among these other artists as well as on your blog. Thank you! Paula
I have found so much useful information here on your site Alyson. I also have found a wealth of information by visiting blogs and web sites of those who post comments here. Still fine tuning and optimizing my own blog which takes time and effort, but is worth it in the long run. http://www.originaloilpaintings.typepad.com
Judy Wise has a great blog with a large variety of interesting posts concerning the life of an artist. http://www.judywise.blogspot.com
Thank you for posting this article … it certainly has made me take a second look at my blogging habits! One of my own favorite blogs is that of C Robin Janning at: http://gramercydigitaldiary.blogspot.com – beautiful abstract paintings + poetic words. For those interested in finding more art blogs there are links (and more) to over 120 blogs at: http://artblogs4u.blogspot.com Artist Lisa Call is the current featured artist there. Why not join us?
WHOOPS … made a mistake typing in my own blog address …. http://leslyfinnsart.blogspot.com
My favorite artist blogger of all time is Luann Udell: http://luannudell.wordpress.com
I would like to share a couple of amazing colored pencil artists: Nicole Caulfield Wendy Prior And, as a colored pencil artist myself, I would like to share a link to my own blog: ~The Art of Life~ Thanks!
I’m not sure why that didn’t work! I’ll try again. Nicole Caulfield: http://nicolecaulfieldfineart.blogspot.com/ Wendy Prior: http://wilderhearted.blogspot.com/ And my own blog: Kasie Sallee ~The Art of Life~ http://kasiesallee.blogspot.com Thanks!
I offer my blog for your viewing pleasure. I began it almost immediately after taking Alyson’s motivating, art marketing workshop here in Michigan last April. I made my blog using one of my web hosting company’s templates and was able to tailor the colors and add my logo to make the blog resemble my website, newsletter, and stationary. Patrice Erickson http://blog.patriceerickson.com http://www.patriceerickson.com
Alyson! Thank you for the “love” – much appreciated! As are all your great tips and information. That one little 10 minute chat has spawned an industry – ok, not quite. But it has spawned taking care of my customers, and I have found someone to help me do that through barter. And all because of you!
Lesly Finn, thank you for recommending my blog! I’ve been writing it for FIVE YEARS now. I started at Radio Userland in 2002, but recently moved it to Wordpress because it’s easier to search and tag. http://luannudell.wordpress.com/ And Kasie, I second your vote for Nicole Caulfield. Nicole is my friend, and she is not only an amazing artist, she’s an awesome person!
Hi Alyson. I have been very inspired by your blog and started mine a couple of months ago. I am a “daily painter”, altho not yet on that blog, (you have to have a blog up for 3 months)http://www.dailypainters.com. That has wonderful artists.Thankyou for all of your wonderful insight. My blog is http://susanjenkinsmorningpaintings.blogspot.com
Great list, Alyson! I have several of these already on my Bloglines page, and added a few of the ones that were new to me. Thank you! Jean My blog is: http://www.jeansartblog.com
Great recommendations, Alyson. Tammy Vitale is a favorite, as we both create masks. I’m also a blogger, and love to feature the work of artists I admire. http://artventuring.blogspot.com Another favorite blog is Sonji Says: http://sonjisays.blogspot.com. She is an outstanding quilt artist, teacher and resource.
Alyson! Thanks so much for mentioning my ever-evolving blog! Mine, too, is a result of Alysonspiration, and it’s been a great way to drive traffic to my website AND to meet other artists doing similar things.
Thanks for mentioning my blog, Alyson! (My stats certainly went up today. It’s amazing how “networking” works on the internet).I began blogging in the summer of 2004, so I’ve been a blogger for quite while. I urge anyone who is tentative about starting your own blog to just DO it. I convinced an artist friend to start one over a year ago, and the success she has received is phenomenal … she sells her jewelry so quickly that she doesn’t even need a website! (I wouldn’t recommend that every artist shouldn’t have a website, but WOW! What blogging achieved for her!)Blogging has led me to participate in art shows and publications, and has afforded me great support and close friendships. As usual, Alyson is right: Having an artist blog is almost essential these days! I say, go for it! Deb http://cowboyssweetheart.typepad.com
Here are a few of my faves that haven’t yet been listed. . . http://visualchronicles.typepad.com/ http://kajac2000.blogspot.com/ I *love* the internet and the ability to share with others I would never have met any other way!
Alyson, thanks for the list of blogs. I will be checking them all out. I will also be thinking about your “deconstruction questions for my own blog http://stopanddrawtheroses.blogspot.com/ One of my favorite blogs is Maggie Steifvater’s blog http://greywarenart.blogspot.com/ I love her art and her sense of humor. Plus she has been known to give other artists a friendly kick in the pants.
I’m recommending: Art and Life by Sheree Rensel. http://shereerensel.blogspot.com/
Alyson, thank you for the listing. I am thrilled to be included. Thanks also for other blogs all in one place. I too am a fan of Maggie Stiefvater’s blog, and I have recently run across others I like, but can I find them now? Cruising the blogosphere, sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.
Hi again, Alyson & fellow artists (& bloggers). It was pointed out to me that I mentioned the huge success my artist friend has had after beginning her blog, and I failed to give a link. Her work is fantastic. Here it is… http://somethingsublime.typepad.com Thanks. Deb
This is a great list! Deb & Tammy have been links on my blog ( http://www.artfuladventures.typepad.com ) for a long time already, they’re both wonderful people, with wonderful blogs! I agree with Deb-just do it & start blogging. Doors have opened for me, and opportunities have presented themselves, that wouldn’t have happened had it not been for my little blog.
Thanks Kasie for mentioning me!! Wow, forgive me for the Romper Room reference, but I see many of my friends on here which is great! I see Luann Udell, Casey Klahn, Wendy Prior, Maggie Stiefvater! Wow! Another favorite art blogger is Katherine Tyrrell – (http://makingamark.blogspot.com/ & Paula Pertile (fun blog!) http://drawingafineline.blogspot.com/ I have more but I don’t want to make too long of a list!
I enjoyed reading these lovely blogs! You have a wonderful site. Best wishes to you. Here is my little blog http://lisalorenzstudio.blogspot.com/
I haven’t commented on any of these because I’m simply overwhelmed by these responses. Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do. Thanks to everyone who posted comments here.
I’ve sort of burried my blog because I’m using Blogspot until I design my own website. But I have a section called the Artist’s studio. http://rebeccafinch-studio.blogspot.com/ I’ve found with art buyers, and non-artists, that they are fascinated with the process of creating art. Here I usually detail the process of one of my paintings, and take pictures from start to finish, explaining along the way. I’ve sort of fallen off the face of the earth as we have moved, are getting into a new line of work, and I am not able to paint as we are living with a family and all of are things have been in storage since July. But I am getting back into it, back into the artist’s mindset, and Alyson has been a great help!!
I made a comment here on Sept. 10th and ironically 2 days ago I had a blog catastrophe! Apparently my web host is not up on archiving entries well. All of my images on my blog’s homepage disappeared and they could not offer a working solution. I created a new blog at http://patriceerickson.blogspot.com. Live and learn.
The best way to share my list is to direct you to my own blog where I have a blog role: http://rebeccacrowellart.blogspot.com And please read through some of my entries while you’re there. Thanks for this, Alyson– I’m always looking for interesting art bloggers–so many to check out now!
Some of my favorite artist blogs are by writers. Wil Wheaton’s blog is one of my favorite. His ongoing conversation about life as an actor, writer, and father is fascinating, touching, and always a good read: http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/
I love the blog of the artist Brian Sylvester: http://inkpunk.blogspot.com/
Another absolute great blog is of Caio Fernandes; a very gifted and talented painter and writer: http://meinwelt-22.blogspot.com/
And i would love it if you pay me a visit as well and leave a comment:
http://momolunasignals.blogspot.com/
Thank you!
Very informative blog this is and i’m thinking of moving from blogspot to wordpress as well.