I hate facebook. I am just not a fan anymore. First it was the snow and everyone's comments. You're trapped in you house and can't survive without the government plowing your street, I get it. Just wait till technology fails and you have no where to complain. See how that goes for you. Second, everyone feels like it is their forum to spout out their belief, regardless of how ignorant or how much no one cares. Third, I'm just over it. I seriously ponder de-activating on a regular basis, but one thing holds me back: ART.
I can't deny it, this world is all about networking and facebook is great for that. I have received several art commissions from facebook. Like my most recent painting:
Riley, 2011
It all stemmed from the engagement painting for Brooke and John. As I do after completing a painting, I post a blog about it, showing off the painting, telling the story about it, and any thoughts I feel are relevant and worth sharing at the moment. Whether you agree is of no importance. This was no different with Brooke and John, and to ensure that people actually see that there is an update to my site, I posted it to my profile on facebook. Not sure how it got to my future client as I am not friends with her on facebook, but it did, and I couldn't be happier.
Riley, so you can agree on her cuteness.I was sitting at work on day when I got a phone call. It was the mother of my old co-worker and film co-star Kristine. She had seen the post through somewhere, which is awesome that apparently I am advertising and accessible to people other than my very carefully selected facebook friends (Not! I have no idea who several of my friends are. You could send me a request and I would assume I met you somewhere and just say yes - unless you are a creeper, then I will detect it and delete you!).
Anyway, I was asked by Kristine's mother Doreen to come over for lunch and discuss a painting for her granddaughter Riley. I went and was immediately dropped into a childhood world of Wonderpets, Yo Gabba Gabba and Elmo. It was a cool project. My artwork and style really caters to paintings for children's rooms. I also learned I can paint Guinea Pigs, really fraking well.
I had a secret spy at the party too, my friend Lisa, who knew about the painting and reported to me about Riley's reaction to the painting. She said upon opening it, Riley, the cutest little 2 year old (look to you left and nod your head in agreement), looked at it and just said "Wow". I think that says it all right now. I nailed it.
It was a fun project. Although I don't see Kris as much as I used to when we worked together every day in the good old Markel fileroom (or as much as I would like to for that matter) it was nice to be able to be involved in something that was going to be a part of her daughter's life. And it was nice to be involved in something that would mean something to her. She's a wonderful person and she has a wonderful family and it's just amazing to be able to be a part of that.
That's really what I love about art so much. Through a gift that was given to my the universe, my own determination, God, or sheer luck of my genetic makeup (thanks mom and dad!), I am able to be a part of other people's lives in a really profound way. I am able to give them something that makes them happy, and I hope, makes them smile every time they look at it. That is what I feel art does. It brightens the world we live in. I feel so blessed that this is a gift I have been given and am glad I am able to share it with my friends and their families.
In sumation: Art = Good, Facebook = a necessary evil. I will now post this to Facebook.