Steemit as a New Stage for Craft
In a world curated by the resolution of your computer screen... creativity can be a hard thing to capture. Steemit is changing that. With Steemit, we have an rapidly evolving resource that helps to break down the barriers that have prevented many artists from fully embracing the digital landscape. An artistic utopia could be closer than you think! It’s still very early (if you’re counting in STEEM-years) but platforms like this one will serve as catalysts to propel creatives into the 21st century.
90% of Art is Process
Value has traditionally been assigned solely to the final product. But a real work of art is about the story and the process. Steemit gives value to the narrative hiding behind the canvas.
Endless sketchbooks, bar napkins, eraser residue, smudges, study models, late nights, early mornings, crumpled-up paper and globs of paint that dried too quickly. These preliminary stages of the creative process make up an invisible 90% that is rarely shared with the world.
The “process” in art can be where the best stories are hiding. It’s where the artist’s rigor, passion and craftsmanship are brought to a boil. The “final” piece is just a small window into a much bigger landscape. With Steemit, artists are finding a platform to share the stories beyond the frame.
Artists - this is so important. You should be rewarded for 100% of your work and not just the final 10%. Steemit gives provides you an opportunity to monetize your discovery and exploratory process!
Value & Feedback
When I first opened Steemit I was excited to see that “art” and “photography” were in the top 5 trending topics. I half expected “catmeme” and “selfie” to be there instead. (I mean honestly, it’s tough to open a social platform from scratch in 2016 and not be bombarded by cat memes… although, for the record, I do on occasion enjoy a good cat meme...)
Ahem, anyway, seeing “art” and “photography” in the trending column was one of the central reasons why I decided to join the platform. What it showed me - is that here, creativity has enormous value. This growing community of Steemians genuinely appreciate and want to see behind-the-scenes stuff just as much as the final product. In my own work, I’ve found that those moments of chaos and not-quite-yet compositions are the most honest. As an artist, those moments stand out the most to me. They are where you learn, grow and hone your craft. When the final piece is framed, published, or installed… there’s a moment where you step back... stare back at it… and admiringly see every flaw, every smudge and bruise, even as others don’t. You see your final work and think about all the stories hiding behind the pane of glass now protecting it.
Steemit isn’t a polished art gallery or a quiet museum… it’s more like a communal work desk. It’s a place where you can share raw thinking and receive constructive and honest feedback.
Share Your True Work
During my first few weeks on Steemit… I was posting single images with little to no description. I was making 10 cents here and there when a staple-Steemian by the name of @fairytalelife reached out to me and challenged me to do better by my work. She said “what is your process?… tell me everything!”... and that really woke me up. In that moment I realized that this place isn’t instagram or twitter. I can’t just post a final picture or sum up a produced image in 140 characters.
I thought... as an artist, this could be a major opportunity. Here, you can share your work in the moment, just as you are creating it. You can write about it, take a progress photo, share an idea or inspiration. In most cases honest content receives honest feedback and actual value. That’s an unprecedented thing for an artist to be able to tap into. By finding value in process the Steemit platform could revolutionize the way artists are able to work and support themselves. In this community, your work can be elevated in an unprecedented way.
For the artsy Newbies of Steemit! If you're wondering what in the world to post... Start simple. Try introducing your creative work with three basic rules in mind. Use these rules as building blocks to carry your craft even further.
Posting Art on Steemit… 3 Helpful Tips!
1. Thumbnail Image
- The first image of your blog post is important! Design it in a way that will seduce people into clicking it. Make it colorful, beautiful, contrasty. The thumbnail might look small on a feed but this little rectangle of real estate is our first glimpse into your unique and artsy world.
2. Art From Start to Finish (3-5 images)
- Select a handful of good quality images / examples of your creative and discovery process. Show us a little bit of the behind-the-scenes action. It's okay if your desk is messy! If you have a smart phone or camera, try experimenting with a time lapse. Play around with different ways of representing your work and see what sticks!
3. Write 300 words
- Writing is tough, but an important part of relaying your ideas. Take a moment to sit and write down the thought process behind your art. I promise you, this exercise will help you in describing your work better (not just through blogging, but IRL also!)
Have FUN. MAKE friends. Seek out other Steemians with likeminded interests and begin communicating with them through comments. And most importantly... STEEM on!
