This is the truth and the truth is what it is.

Holla! 

I'm back and this time I'm here to stay! It’s been too long since I typed my thoughts onto a public domain for other people's eyes.

Why did I stop? I didn’t feel like I had much to say probably. I was too busy working. I didn’t know what to talk about first. I wasn’t sure what I was thinking never mind wanting to tell the world about my thoughts.

Guess what, all of those still apply – to a certain extent – but I have decided I want to share this journey.

The magical journey of the unknown. 

So, what have I been up to? I shall fill you in briefly so that you can catch up quickly so that we can get back to the now. 

I cut my hair, I now look like this (I'm the one wearing the umbrella hat - the other is my sister):

(Photo by Ian Marriot Smith)

I started a business called iamsociable. (read the beginnings of this journey on a previous post here) I’ve had a few clients here and there, it’s had it’s moments – good and mediocre and it’s grown slowly but surely.

So, in brief, iamsociable helps creatives in business through marketing, social media and guidance support. This can be 1-1 sessions, marketing support tailored towards each individual or business as well as workshops and walking chats. (I know there’s already a lot there right.)

I then walked the Camino de Santiago and found another direction I wanted to take in life. What was this? Walking? Not just any walking. Combining my helping creatives and guidance support I wanted to create something that would help people be inspired, come away from their comfort zones, learn and explore and grow their human potential.

So I started iamadventures (can you see the iam theme here?) – taking people on creative adventures all over the world. To explore, learn and be guided to reach their human potential. Notice I say human not personal. Because human means everyone of us, for we are all one.

iamadventures has started, evolved and been on trips....

I’ve also done various things between and after these events, such as run workshops, gone on holidays, found myself in a relationship, been on the School for Creative Startups, had various amazing mentors, become a founding member of the Escape School; but it all comes back to this really:

I promise to work on the things that make me want to cry. Not because they make me sad, or happy but because it strikes a chord in my heart and my heart cries out to be heard.

It is my passion to be of service and to help make the world a better, lighter, more truthful place.

I am the truth and the truth will set me free.

You are the truth and the truth will set you free.

The truth will set us free because the truth is the power that we all hold in our hearts. That is how we should be living - through our hearts.

Are you following your truth?

So, I guess what I’m saying is you can expect some ramblings, some words of wisdom (maybe), some helpful hints and tips, but mostly my journey on being a human in this life. Of living, working, starting more than one business, being in or out of a relationship, being an artist, an activist, a philanthropist, and generally the trials, successes and failures of every day life.

N.B. It is also wise to note that this is all my trail of thought and is not edited or re-written. It is simply what it is. And I wish to share it with you, because it is how it is and it is the truth.

Love,

Natalia x

Creatives! Time to learn how to write an engaging artist's blog...

Are you a creative person? Are you already a blogger?
Do you have a website? What is your online presence like? 

Well, it’s time to start thinking about it! 


Blogging for artists is not just about making sure you are heard and seen by the people who you want to be heard and seen by, it is also an integral part of your practice.Thinking, talking and writing about what is essentially a visual process is a lot of the time a difficult process for artists, making you feel awkward, pretentious and vulnerable.

Writing, just like making, takes practice and if the studio is the place where you practice your making, I say the blog is the place where you can practice your writing. Thinking whilst writing, or writing whilst thinking is in effect another part of your practice – what leads you to the making. You can then step back and open up a space for a critical and analytical dialogue between yourself and your work.Your inner voice, is suddenly right in front of you and is in fact very clear. Dialogue is what art is all about, it’s what life is about. You don’t have to wait until a project or residency is complete in order to highlight it or draw attention to it and in this way prospective commissioners and curators can follow your development and get to know you.

Blogging is a new wave of thought making, a simple dialogue between you and your art, but also you and other artists.  It creates another dimension for people to view your work and understand your work. So, being able to blog your ideas, your words, your thoughts, your views, becomes not just about figuring out what you want to do, but it also becomes about creating this merge between the physical and the metaphysical, the artist and the spectator, the real and the unreal. Blogging is a new art form in itself. A blog, doesn’t have to be the crème de la crème of art writing; it is simply your words and what you wish to express.

You are in control of what is read and of what you write.  

So, HOW TO?

What Platform to use?

• Blogger – Google owned, easy to use, first dibs on search engine rankings.
• Wordpress – Good Design, Easily turned into website, lots of widgets, a bit harder to use, best for designers.
• Tumblr – image based blog – not for those that want to write.
• Artist Talking – part of a-n art community, engage more with artists and have more of a presence with a-n for potential features, use it as an art form in itself.
• IdeasTap – great if want to collaborate with others on this site, or if want to write for IdeasTap – good to get noticed by them. 

What/How to Blog?

•Incorporate a blog into your art portfolio website.
- Centre your blog posts around you and your art. 

•Build a blog as a separate entity from your portfolio site
-focusing on a wider variety of art-related subjects-which may directly or indirectly help to promote your artwork.  

Some of my blogs:

nataliaarts.com – THIS BLOG - writing about arts in general – my own and other art related things that interest me. Exhibitions, my creative life, Artists that Inspire, About my business and others I’m working with.

Being an Artist  - The ins and outs of being an artist, of graduating, the advantages and disadvantages, primarily talking about my experiences as an artist. This is a blog on Artists Talking through a-n.co.uk

Natalia Komis – My art practice – a work in progress blog. Showcasing work that isn’t finished, that I would normally put in a sketchbook, ideas, thoughts, an online art diary.

How to Write a Good Blog Post

• Write a good title
• Write 300-500 words
• Place great images
• Link back to other posts, other artists, websites
• Add Labels e.g. exhibitions, work in progress, art of the week, Fun Friday 

Content is King 

BUT you’re an artist SO Your Content Is already GREAT! 

• rename your image files with descriptive titles
• append correct alt attributes
• give your art a good on-page description
• make sure your page Title tags are optimised
• share your art on image sharing sites – don’t forget about Pinterest, Tumblr or ArtStack

Provide Great Post Titles

• Your posts need to be good enough for people to be late to work - make them want to stop and read!
• Your post titles have to be engaging.
• Great content is important, yes - but titles are the one thing that get people to read your posts in the first place.
• Be inventive about the language you use and remember - people tend to scan social networks very quickly so make your titles stand out!

If you want to know more about arts marketing and how to blog professionally, I run workshops specifically targeted towards this, but I also offer 1-1 sessions to help you with your own marketing needs. To find out more about what creative marketing workshops I am running go to my website. 

Or, if you're interested in 1-1 coaching or a more practical marketing session visit my website here >> 

The next in the series of arts marketing workshops is on the 24th August at 44AD Art Space in Bath. This will be on Writing a good Press Release and Newsletter Marketing 
5-7pm £20/£15 

You can find more info on Eventbrite as well as details on how to book a space. 

Becoming a Successful Creative Entrepreneur, yes that means you, artists!

I'm a firm believer in doing what you feel passionate about and believing you can succeed doing so.

So, creatives out there, this post is aimed at you. 

Enough of the mind frame of, I'm an artist, I should accept that I'm going to be poor. It's ok, because I'm doing what I love...etc etc. This is not a necessary belief. 
IF you would like to make money from your creativity, and that includes those of you who want your creativity appreciated and recognised - because it's the same thing! - Then start doing something about it.

Being a creative does not mean you are rubbish at business. You may well think you are, at first, but as long as you have drive and determination and a passion for what you do, then you can equally be a successful artist and entrepreneur! 

Whilst I was at university, business, finances and how to be self-employed where not subjects that were covered. I believe they should be. In fact I believe it so much I've started to do workshops and seminars on this exact topic! 

Creatives are full of amazing ideas, the UK would not be where it is now if it wasn't for those ideas! Britain's creative talent is a driving force not only nationally, but internationally. 

"Forty percent of tourists to the UK cite culture and heritage as the primary reason for their visit. This generates tens of billions of pounds each year for the UK economy, not only through tickets and entrance fees, but in thousands of pounds spent in shops, hotels and restaurants. All of which is delivering real economic benefits to local businesses and local communities. Understanding the economic potential which the arts and culture offer both directly and indirectly is essential. The arts are not an add-on; they are fundamental to our success as a nation." Maria Miller, Culture Secretary.

Creatives should not think that they have to fit in with anything or anyone, we should do what we do best, think outside the box and create our own jobs. What's wrong with calling yourself a 'Creative Adventure Maiden' ? Nothing. 

The creative sector has a much higher percentage of freelance workers, around 40% compared to 12% in the economy as a whole. So we are doing it, we can do it and we will do it, more and more! 

ARE YOU A CREATIVE? THEN YOU ARE A BUSINESS! 
   

Start accepting, believing and being professional about your practice and you will be on the way to becoming a successful creative entrepreneur, sooner than you think.

Think creatively, think outside the box, think business.