Reflection:
Throughout this entire module, I shared select pieces online through my professional art instagram with friends, professionals, and other people who found the work through the available clickable location and the hashtags I'd used. I curated the pieces I shared, comprising of both experimental monoprints and paintings, and more "complete" canvases.
It is important to note that none of the feedback I received in Instagram comments influenced my project or my canvas paintings in any way, or pushed my project forward in the same way a crit or tutor feedback would. However, value still exists in publishing the work into the world on an open forum, allowing me to process that the canvas or experimentation piece is done, shelve it, collect feedback, and move onto the next piece. This cycle was necessary at times to keep me moving through the project, keeping me on track with my goal of producing at least 2 canvas paintings per week as per my project proposal. Knowing an audience was waiting in the online sphere allowed me to produce more paintings than the necessary two. Sometimes I was painting one a day because of the lockdown from January to March and I craved something to do, the rush of endorphins of sharing my work with an audience, and interacting with people outside of my four walls. I have no friends or family here in Leeds and struggled immensely without my Guide Dog for 7 months. This became my social life. A connection when I was lonely during the pandemic while also allowing me to work through my degree and through my trauma and daily feeling that arose - also giving me feelings of calm and worthiness. Connecting with people is very valuable in itself.
It was an interesting journey over the months to observe which paintings people found visual value in through navigating which paintings had more overall interaction. I could analyse which paintings had more "dwell time" through my instagram analytics and insights. It made me consider and reflect on what makes an audience interact - is it the caption? The content itself? Longer captions of retrospective thoughts invited the audience to leave comments and share their perspectives. A vulnerable caption paired with a vulnerable painting... Certain quotes and poems resonated with the audience, too.
I was able to sell some of these paintings along the way because of sharing on instagram, increasing my professional skills in that aspect.
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