So, I’ve been using the Mail app on my phone to write/draft, edit and save my blog posts as Drafts before posting them on the website. (I don’t often write and publish my blog posts in the one sitting/on the day – I often write/draft and edit/plan/fine-tune them beforehand first.) I find this very useful and more convenient/easier than having to log into the website each time to do so. And when I’m ready to finally publish the blog post on the website, I simply copy and paste from the Drafts in the Mail app.
I also use the Notes app to keep daily notes/diary entries. These daily notes are basically random thoughts/art ideas, reminders/to do lists etc. that I add to throughout the day. (And I create a new note everyday.) Unlike the blog posts shared on this website (which is public), the daily notes/diary entries are private. I sometimes revisit them to review my thoughts and days, and to spark ideas etc. I’m not really sure how best to store/save these daily diary entries properly. (Actually, while writing/editing this post today, I think I will use the Google Calendar app instead.)
When I write/draft/edit the blog posts drafts in my Mail app on the phone, I use the Marker Felt Thin font to write with. (Or Comic Sans MS when using the laptop.) For some reason, I really enjoy the look of this/these fonts and it’s fascinating and remarkable how much it changes and helps my writing (and reading) process. With some graphic design background and experience, I do enjoy the art and power of fonts and typefaces. Words, written words, texts, signs/symbols and other modes of (visual) communication interest me and I plan/hope to explore this further in my work.
Writing/blogging/journaling about my art practice (and research) and keeping daily diary entries/notes is an excellent way to record my work and help keep myself focused and motivated about my art practice and career on a continuing/regular basis. It’s an important and valuable habit to practice especially if/when I have other things going on eg. other work commitments, extra home/family duties etc. I recommend it. Make art blogging/journaling and note taking a regular daily habit to keep your mind focused and help build/sustain enthusiasm, energy and momentum with your work. I believe it also helps create/establish good work ethics.
I submitted an entry for the biennial (69th) Blake Prize last year. And last week, I found out my entry was unsuccessful. Honestly, I didn’t feel too confident about it. It’s a good idea and was fun to paint, but I didn’t execute it too well. It’s challenging/difficult to create/paint something figurative/semi-realistic after having been working on free-flowing/intuitive abstract works. There were 400 entries and 33 finalists were accepted in the exhibition. Oh well, I will try again next time. That’s the spirit.
Entering art prizes and not being accepted as a finalist or proceeding to the next stage can be disheartening and discouraging, but we have to move onwards and upwards. There’s a plethora of art prizes out there to enter and we have to stay hopeful. An issue with these art prizes is that most of them costs to enter and these costs/expenses can add up with every art prize entry. So its wise to be selective and create our best works I guess. But not too much pressure.
In regards to my mention of a manual typewriter in my previous post, I found an app that types and takes notes in the manner of an old school manual typewriter (same fonts etc.) It saves the document in PDF though and it’s another process/cost to change it into photo/pic format. Again, it’s scary how many/everything these days costs and can be so expensive to use and maintain. That’s life I guess. Anyhow, all the best for now. Love.
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