Blogging Anniversary

Well, it’s been 1 year today since I first decided to give this blogging thing a whirl.

I must say I was apprehensive at first simply because I’m not a writer. Usually I’m a person of very few words but 123 posts later I seem to be doing alright.

I started this blog with 3 goals/desires in mind:

1-I’ve always been of the opinion that art should be shared and experienced with others, yet aside from my close circle of acquaintances, I was doing nothing to get out there. I wanted this blog to be a chance for me to step outside of myself, to leap beyond my inverted-ness and open up a little more. I’ve always been a quiet person, even around my friends and family. It’s actually one of my friends’ and familys’ pet peeves about me, and also the reason why I have such a small social circle. But I am trying, and this blog has helped me to spread my artistic soul a bit more as it were.

2-I go through creative phases, by which I mean I’ll be really creative for months and then just dry up. I realized, that if I truly wanted to make a career out of my art I couldn’t go years or even months without doing something artistic. So I created this blog with the thought of it serving as a constant reminder/challenge for me to always strive to be creative. Granted there’ve been “off” months, but things have taken off and I find myself always with a project in mind or a piece on the go.

3-Simply put, I wanted unbiased feedback. I wanted to put my art out there and see what people actually thought. I’ve always been of the opinion that criticism is a good thing. I mean sure, I love hearing why people like a certain piece, but I also need to know why people don’t like something. I know I won’t always please everyone, and I never expect to. But criticism helps you to see the other side of things and ultimately helps to strengthen the work.

So those will continue to be my goals and things have been going well so far.

Obviously I can’t do an Anniversary post without looking: to the past, at the stats and at some art.

The Past at a Glance

I think one of the most interesting things to look at is where I’ve been.

Since I started this blog, I’ve been in two countries: Japan and Canada.

Follow along with me here, I’ve moved from Japan (various places) to Alberta to New Brunswick back to Alberta.

When you look at it that way, it doesn’t seem like much, but the reason I want to point it out is that I haven’t exactly been stable the last year, which, given the blogging growth, I find fairly impressive. Now just imagine how much things will pick up now that I’m settled again.

The Stats at a Glance

The Basics

I’ve posted 123 times.
I’ve created 7 pages.
I have 34 categories with a whopping 709 tags.
And you’ve commented 609 times.
As of the time writing this post, I’ve gotten a total of 24,213 views
With my highest day being 317 views on February 23, 2008

The winner of my

Highest Referrers Award

goes to Mark at asfarasthoughtcanreach

who helped refer 498 of my total views.

Personally I just think he checks my blog obsessively hehe…STALKER! 😉

Top three Search Engine terms
1-Yell 910
2-Hold Me 417
3-Self portrait 279
I was completely shocked that “sex” didn’t show up. The closest I got was 61 people looking for “sex sketch” huh.

Page stats
Home 1,503 views
Abstract Gallery 452 views
About the Artist 462 views
Digital Gallery 349 views
Black & White Gallery 135 views
Doodles & Miscellany 52 views

(A bit of housekeeping, “Doodles & Miscellany” has been changed to Sketchbook)

Top 5 posts
Another abstract doodle 824 views
Me, myself and I 814 views
Abstracted Yell 520 views
Screaming Man 500 views
More serious stuff, the “Hold Me” series 373 views

ART at a Glance

One of the good things about moving is that you come across things you haven’t seen for awhile. What I came across was one of my old portfolios filled with a plethora of artwork I’ve yet to post. Since the majority of the pieces are old sketches, I’ve decided to save space (since this post is becoming quite lengthy as is) and have added them to my “Sketchbook” page (formerly Doodles & Miscellany). So go ahead, and check them out. What I do plan to show you, however, is an old self portrait I did way back in High School, as well as the new painting I’m working on.

The self portrait is on something that resembles bristol board but is thicker ( I dunno, back then I worked on anything I could get my hands on…). It’s approximately 22.5″ x 28.5″ in size and has definitely seen better days. The sides are a bit roughed up, and it seems to have gotten slightly wet at some point in time. But here it is.

I decided I’d be ambitious and try to pull it off in pointillism style. (aka a zillion little dots) The medium I used was marker. Here are a few detail shots for you.

Needless to say, the project took quite awhile. Maybe someday when I’m feeling overly ambitious I’ll try again. Til then, this will remain locked away in my portfolio.

So that’s the old, on to the new.

I’ve been thinking that I might start a series based around apples.

Ya I know it sounds a bit strange, let me explain.

Originally I was planning on doing a series on “temptation” with seductive women and fruit, but then I did this painting. It’s not finished yet, I’ve just roughed it out and I still have to do something with that hair…

Anyway, I’m liking where it’s going but decided it doesn’t fit the original theme. So I think I’ll leave that project for now and explore this one for the time being. Who knows, nothing may come of it aside from this piece. Only time will tell.

I’m also working on a guitar commission, so I’ll post my progress on that as it comes.

Well that’s how things stand.

Now I’m off to start a whole new year of art blogging. Stick around, it should prove interesting.

Cheers,

Amanda

To commission the artist, email her at themilkeway@gmail.com