Last night I met up with my best friend, Arlia, to catch up, have some yummy dinner, and talk about our business adventures.
We began doing this in January on a regular schedule and it has really helped me focus because we each set goals for what we want to accomplish in the two weeks or so before our next meeting.
I've been doing what can only be described as "studying" on how to increase my following on Instagram (@amyeverettart, if you wanna follow me). (I have been scouring this blog for tips and tricks and I love it because it is specific to artists, not just small businesses.) And so, in working through what Arlia wants to do with her website and her own business Instagram feed, I realized that even though I've honed in on techniques and things that I love to do in my art journal, my style isn't as consistent as it could be on that platform. The more consistent you are on Instagram, the more followers you get and the more people you can reach who may buy your art or your classes.
I feel like my stuff is pretty inconsistent. I am close to a style, but I don't think I'm quite there, yet. For example, these 3 paintings are all different. They could have come from 3 different artists. But they are all mine.
Another example:
Curating my instagram means I have to create more of the same kind of painting. Here are some examples of artists with more than 10K followers on Instagram:
Even though they probably could do other things, they are doing very similar paintings to their others, and thus giving their paintings a similar look.
I love how Connie Solera (dirtyfootprints) uses the same techniques to make faces and figures, whether she is using color or black ink. You know her work when you see it.
The same goes for Messy Ever After — while she may use fluid techniques as backgrounds and different colors, her white line work makes her work stand out. You know it when you see it.
And Tam LaPorte (Willowing) is more loose than her previous work, but the whimsy bits she adds makes her work recognizable.
And THAT is a style, in my estimation.
So, I have a decision to make: what do I want to do moving forward?
I don't think a person sees my work and knows it is mine. I think art journaling is fantastic for getting feelings out and for an art practice, but it also allows me to jump around in styles and I'm less narrow. I'm sort of a butterfly flitting from one shiny thing to the next. Trying new things. And it's fun.
But if the point is to grow my following, and get people to become my customers or students, I've got some work to do!
I have 10 'muses' like this one that I created in 2017 as a series. I could use those for instagram and create more in the current techniques that I love.
And I have heart alchemy paintings that I have been working on, and they tie-in to the classes I'm eventually going to release (seriously, y'all, this is taking forever.), so it feels logical to go this way.
But the colors vary with each painting and they are very intuitive. The only similarity is the circle, and I'm not sure that's enough.
This gorgeous piece I did for Ostara really speaks to me and feels magical and interesting. I'm totally pumped about coming up with other versions. Like seriously excited.
BUT, it looks so different from what I've previously done. More illustration, less 'landscape-y'. Like still life, but not. It doesn't really 'go' with my other stuff.
That's ok, but it's something to think about.
Another idea is these lovely women I create with the cycle of the moon. I add the elements that correspond to the astrology and month in the paintings. I feel like these are unique and fun to do.
That's a lot.
I've got thinking to do. And I'm hoping this realization doesn't create a roadblock to my creative time.
So that's where I'm at currently. I'll let you know where I land!
x
Amy
PS: I'm blogging along with Effy Wild in April. If you'd like to join the facebook group to read the rules, go here:
