Comments on: Deep Thought Thursday: Technology: Friend or Foe?

By: Sandra Reid

Sandra Reid — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:14:02 +0000

I would like to add an international perspective to this discussion. I’m based in New Zealand and access to the Internet has opened many doors to me which would have been otherwise inaccessible. I would have never found fractal art or met various fractal artists from around the world via a Internet help forum. I may not have found your book either Alyson if there was no Internet. On the downside, however, broadband is very expensive in this part of the world so there are many people with only dial up access to the Internet which means websites with high graphic content must be able to load quickly otherwise people move on. I am trialling the use of Twitter but have mixed feelings as to how useful it will be as it is still a fairly new phenomenon in this part of the world. I believe that people really need to see art in ‘person’ and that the Internet is just one vehicle for introducing and selling art. I certainly would not go back to pre-Internet days though.

By: Alyson B. Stanfield

Alyson B. Stanfield — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:09:04 +0000

Casey: That’s a great story! Happy to have been a small part of it.

Wendy: I love this: “I also feel like my blog has become a creative outlet in and of itself.” Too many people take their blogs for granted. You have to be just as creative with your blog as with your art in order for it to be good.

Lynne: Good point! “I imagine some of those Parisian artists 100 years ago stayed too long at the cafe when they should have been painting!” Or de Kooning in the 1950s in the book we’re reading in our Twitter group. Too much partying.

Lauren: Great story! Thanks for sharing it.

And thanks everyone else for your input. Seems like technology (at least to my blog readers) is safe for now.

By: Lauren Perkins

Lauren Perkins — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:41:14 +0000

I find it’s great but my focus on my online promotion has also made me fall by the way side of promoting myself locally which is just as important, even MORE important. My mums friend recently asked how I was and mum told her I was painting and now married and told her my married name and it turns out she has been following my paintings and loves my work! She just had no idea she knew me. You can’t beat (or neglect) that. In terms of art sales, the internet is pretty useless to be honest with you. However it’s priceless for emailing off work and being found for promotional purposes. I’ve been in magazines and newsletters that I just wouldn’t have gotten into if I wasn’t online.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:22:48 +0000

Certain aspects are absolutely wonderful–it’s like having the world’s largest library available at all hours of the day or night. Seeing Aaron Copeland’s hand-written notes on his sheet music is something I could only do via internet. However, I also relish the times without internet access–I need time to reflect. Technology is a tool that we can choose to let rule us or use as we need.

By: Cath

Cath — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:19:17 +0000

As a library manager I love the ways in which technology helps me to reach out to and help my customers. I live in a very small town and the internet and social networking provides so many opportunities for isolated people. Pre-internet days? No thanks.
As an artist, aside from being careful of my time, same response really.

By: Laura K. Aiken

Laura K. Aiken — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:18:19 +0000

I love technology! Having the internet is like having a library right in your home. It has helped me in more ways than one to make my art career what it is today. Would I like to go back pre-internet….NO but, I would like to be more in control of how long I stay on it.
Laura.

By: BookGirl

BookGirl — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:53:05 +0000

Access to the Internet has enriched my life substantially. The reasons have been mentioned by many who posted before me, so I won’t repeat them.

I agree heartily about the huge amounts of time that surfing the Internet and participating in social media can take up if we let them. I suppose “if we let them” is the key phrase in that sentence.

For artists, the Internet has done much to level the playing field. One can build a reputation and a following outside of the traditional venues now. And although I am not one of them, I see what a boon (via blogs, online shops, etc.) the Internet has been to mothers with small children who can build businesses and profiles online.

By: Becky Brocato

Becky Brocato — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:14:17 +0000

I would never go back to pre-Internet, although some days it can be a real time-waster, as others have said. I learn something new every day, can Google something if I have a question, can put a link on Twitter for my Etsy shop or my blog, etc. Discipline is the key to using it as a tool instead of letting it become a big black hole of time that you can’t get back.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:59:29 +0000

The vote is in! And most likely no surprise to anyone who is reaping the many benefits of this technology.
As an older artist, it has additional benefits for keeping my art life fully alive when getting here and there is sometimes more than I can easily manage.
I think that while there are drawbacks in regard to the ‘new’ technologies, there are drawbacks to every way that one can operate, regardless of the technology. I imagine some of those Parisian artists 100 years ago stayed too long at the cafe when they should have been painting!
It’s really always a matter of discipline and we all are challenged to meet that and do our best.

By: andrea

andrea — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:30:51 +0000

What are the benefits of technology?
i think there are so many benefits (i agree withe everything listed already) but more than anything i am so grateful for a means to share my ideas and creativity easily and get them out all around the world. without the internet it takes much more effort to put it out there.
What are the disadvantages?
can be a time waster
Would you prefer returning to the good old days of pre-Internet?
not a chance!