Back to Blogging

The beginning of the year, always feels like the perfect time to start something new or, in my case, perhaps to renew something. Taking some time off over the holiday season always gives me a chance to slow down, to stop and think about which direction I want to head next. This time of thought and reflection and conversation with loved ones has put me on a path back to my blog. I also found this book by Pia Jane Bijkerk (pictured above) while I was sorting a section of my bookshelf and it connected me back to an earlier time when I used to read her blog and those of other creatives regularly. While I was never a regular blogger, I did begin writing one way back when I lived in Japan over 10 years ago and have re-visited it on and off over the years. Mostly I loved to read other people’s blogs as a way to have a deeper understanding of their creative work or to learn more about their ideas or processes or sometimes as a way of connecting with others. When I became a mum. there was no longer large blocks of time to myself to pick up a book, but there were small pockets of time to read short blog posts. When people talk about binge watching different series on Netflix, I can only relate by thinking of times when I have discovered a blog new to me and then proceeded to read every post in their archive.

A good while back when I realized I was no longer updating my blog at all, I deleted the page off my website - it was stagnant, practically dead and wasn’t serving any purpose for me or anyone else. When I came to add my ‘Journal’ page back on the other day, I saw that my last post was from almost 4 years ago. What had happened in those four years I wondered? The answer is probably Instagram . I became a regular on the social media platform around the beginning of 2014 and have always shared content there way more regularly than I ever did on my blog. I love Instagram: for me it has always been a really positive and encouraging space and a place that has felt safe to share new work and also discover many wonderful artists from all over the world. I have had many a conversation in Instaland as I like to call it and when you work from home and don’t meet a lot of people every day, it still feels like you are catching up with ‘co-workers’ on a regular basis. I have purposely chosen to post mostly good-news stories on my Instagram feed and it is generally my happy place where I will go to unwind, visit my favourite artists or shop pages and be inspired by the endless supply of blooms of flowers from florists and photographers.

But I guess there is always a negative side to anything. Instagram can be a time vacuum, a distraction and definitely addictive. And sometimes the endless scroll at the end of the day can leave you feeling a bit empty or in the opposite case, overwhelmed. I liken it to taking a tour of Europe where you only stay one or two nights in each city before moving to the next - everything is beautiful but it’s so rushed and you don’t really get to know anything very well or make any real connections. I always think it’s better to see a bit less but stay a bit longer in each place to understand and learn more about the people who live there. Perhaps instead of scrolling past another beautiful photo, I will click the ‘link in bio’ to read more about the people and their thoughts, ideas and the way they are contributing to this world.

And so I will still be on Instagram, but I would also like to be here in my journal more often this year. I want to slow things down and spend more time sharing some of the things happening in my world. Perhaps I will think of it as my extended Instagram and perhaps I will share the ups as well as the downs of running a small creative business. Sometimes I get asked if I teach art classes and the answer to that at the moment is no, but I am always happy to share what I have learned along the way so feel free to ask me any questions and I will try to answer them here in my journal. I will also likely share some of my favourite artists and their work, upcoming events or exhibitions and photos from works in progress.

Welcome to my renewed blog. I plan for it to be a space for authentic communication and connection, and a place to share my thoughts and reflections on all that surrounds me.

Claire