Ok lovely peeps, today I would like to ask you a few simple questions and I would genuinely be filled with joy and appreciation if you would take a few moments to answer them. I know surveys can be a pain in the arse, but karmically speaking, filling them in gives you heaps of bonus points. Fact.
Please feel free to respond in the comments or privately if you prefer, via my contact page or just email me: tara@taraleaver.com. {You may like to do a quick copy and paste for speediness.}
Even if you like to pop by but prefer not to say anything {totally cool, I read several blogs without ever saying a word on them}, your input today will be very gratefully received.
Even if you have never been here before and don’t know me from Adam ~ please weigh in with any and all opinions! First impressions do count.
Even if you don’t necessarily feel that what I talk about is something you’d be interested in, you can still vocalise.
Seriously, don’t hold back. I know you’re busy and that To Do list is tugging at your sleeve, so I’ll be as brief as I can. Plus there’s a bribe.
{Really, how can you resist?!}
Quick Background For Context Purposes
I have spent the last few months HONING. Well, not just honing, but there definitely has been a lot of honing involved. As you may or may not be aware, I’m moving soon. Which is exciting really only to me, BUT part of that move will also mean a bit of a ‘career adjustment’, and for that I have been honing; ideas, dreams, plans, brainstorms, offerings, the works.
I’m so full of ideas now that it’s starting to get quite cramped in my brain, and I am at a point where I need to call on my peeps for some input to find some clarity.
Bribery Section
And because I’m not above a bit of bribery, all respondees will be put in a hat {by which I mean your names obvs, not your actual selves; that could be awkward} to win a one off original small painting featuring the quote of your choice. AND, two runners up will each receive two cards {with envelopes} of my art, to keep, frame or send.
Please get any and all opinions, compliments, curses and otherwise in by November 7th and enjoy the good karma that will surely follow. This is a heartfelt request and I really will value and use anything you tell me.
And now I will get to my Actual Point
Here are some things I would really love to know your feelings and thoughts on: {please answer any or all}
1. If you are a regular/frequent visitor here, why is that? {If it’s more than one thing, great. If it’s your first visit, same question!}
2. What is/are your favourite thing{s} that I write about? {eg: process shots of paintings, stories about things I’ve noticed/learned, other artists, techniques to try, photography, beach related things…}
3. Can you name anything you’ve found here that has inspired you to try something new, have more confidence in your desire to be creative, or otherwise prompt some kind of creative action from you?
4. Is there anything you DON’T like around here, or anything you have noticed that makes it a less than easy or interesting experience to hang out here? {Don’t be shy, I can take it. And if I don’t know, I can’t fix it.}
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And… your work here is done! Fabulous, thank you so very much indeed! Go forth and be joyful, knowing you have done at least one Very Kind and Helpful Thing today and made someone really grateful.
And don’t forget you’ll be in the running to win an original piece of mini art or some art cards…
1. I visit because you are my lovely friend from far far away and I love reading and seeing what you do.
2. I love the images of Brighton Beach… it brings back memories and I find any posts on your creative art work inspiring to do some myself, especially the new techniques you try. I have also discovered a few new artists to love from your blog.
3. Your beach posts always inspire me to take a visit to the beach.
4. Reiki healing I find a little weird, purely because I am ignorant and know nothing about it
Katherine – brilliant, thank you so much for doing this! I had to laugh at your number 4! Not everyone loves the woo. x
1. I love stopping by because your honesty and openness is refreshing and you have a wonderful quirky sense of humor.
2. I enjoy your spontaneous doodles and drawing sessions(like on the beach), and how you share all the different techniques and styles that you are trying, sometimes things work for you and sometimes they don’t, I like that you share it all. I enjoy the artists that you share and have found inspiration through them.
3. I think what inspires me the most from your blog is how your not afraid to try new techniques and styles and this inspires me to do the same. Your not afraid to share this with others. You don’t get stuck with one way of painting or drawing. You work in quite a few different mediums and styles. I’m still trying to figure out my own style and I think when I try out new styles and techniques, even when they don’t always work, this helps me grow as an artist and I love to see you doing this and it encourages me to do the same.
4. I wish I had something to write for this one. Just in general, I tend to skip over really long blog posts(short attention span I guess) and I love pictures, especially the progression of artwork. You write about quite a few different things, so naturally I’m not interested in it all, but I can’t think of anything in particular that I don’t like.
4. I really can’t pinpoint any one thing I don’t like around here.
Tammy this is WONDERFUL! Thank you so so much for taking the time to write out your thoughts so comprehensively. I can’t tell you how helpful this is. Thank you.
1. Because i love your art, i love your writing, and you’re funny. Just like me. 😉
2. i love everything you share Tara, because whether you’re posting pics of paintings, or writing about your morning at the beach, or your breakup with D… it’s all HONEST and authentically YOU.
3. Yes. Your pen doodles/drawings (from that class you took) inspired me to doodle with a pen more often. Thank you.
4. Nope. And if there WAS something i didn’t like, i’d have no problem telling you. I’m funny that way. 😉
I love coming here, precisely because you never bore me and your work is always so interesting to me. Love love. Big hugs, girl. xox
Ah, Pauline, bless you and your kind words and constant support. Funny that I could apply all of your answers right back atcha! :)xx
And ps. thanks for doing this when I know you don’t have a lot of time for blog perusal, let alone answering tedious questions on them.
I’ve been a subscriber for 6-8 months and while I usually read everything, I rarely leave a comment. So here goes….a little feedback.
1- I started visiting because I enjoy your artistic style. I love your use of color and all the experimenting you do and share.
2. I usually read the artsy posts all the way through, the meditative or thoughtful ones I usually skim unless a phrase jumps out at me that causes me to zero in a bit more. Generally I visit for the art sharing.
3 – Can’t think of a particular thing, but I always enjoy seeing the progress of a painting or art piece. Although I’m almost 60, I’ve only started exploring my artistic side in the last couple years so still soak up all this information like a sponge. I love that you’re willing to share experiments that you don’t like and then tell why you don’t like them and how you fixed it. Makes me feel less inadequate! 🙂
4 – If I had to name something, guess it would be longer posts. While I occasionally have long ones myself, I find that I rarely read them on other blogs (lesson to self!). Shorter is better – so maybe break it into a couple or turn it into a series or something.
Hope your move goes smoothly and life returns to an even keel for you.
Terrie thank you for all of this! Also interesting to learn how long you’ve been stopping by here. What a compliment! Your feedback is absolutely invaluable and I’m really grateful that you took the time. Good point about longer posts – I’m exactly the same. I do feel sometimes I’ve used too many words but it can be very hard to cut down when I have a lot to say! Definitely something to work on. LOVE the idea of breaking them up into a series or at least more than one. Super!
1. I come back because I greatly admire your artistic talents. Even when trying something new for the first time you create beautiful pieces of art. I also enjoy your writing, your voice. You sound like someone I would enjoy knowing in person.
2. I love your progress posts and seeing how your pieces come together. I also enjoy when you try a new medium and share what you’ve learned. And when you introduce us to new artists.
3. I don’t know that I’ve specifically tried something new but I do love reading about what you’ve learned and I love some of your color combinations (deep crimson reds and bright blues come to mind). I’m sure it all make some sort of impression whether conscious or not.
4. Can’t think of anything to change. Keep doing what you’re doing!! xx
Lorinda thank you so much for your thoughts! I really enjoy your ‘voice’ too, so I’m inclined to agree!
If I could just get my comments to STICK to your posts! lol. xx
1. I visit becuse I like your work and your honesty to your process and living a creative life. You don’t dress up or glamourise, which I find inspring.
2. I enjoy seeing the process of your work.
3. You share a lot of great places where you have found inspiration these can lead me to some interesting places and ideas that I haven’t considered yet.
4. Nope
Hey Hannah – bless you for stopping by and taking the time to leave your feedback! I’m definitely noticing some themes in the responses which you sum up very succinctly. I’m so glad you find something useful here; I’m hoping to raise the bar a bit soon (hence all the questions!).
1) I like to see what you’re up to! I enjoy your musings about life, the beach, and the artistic process.
2) See #2 🙂
3) You share great inspiration through your own work and words. I also enjoy that you share inspiration from other artists. I appreaciate your dedication to your craft and playful spirit in that craft. It’s truly inspiring.
4) Not so much!
Yay, thank you Teresa! Excellent and useful input, and greatly appreciated. I’m particularly touched by what you said in 3. 🙂
1. I like visiting because I always look forward to your writing which is honest and funny.
2. I always enjoy your pictures, and I particularly enjoy your posts where you document “the process”. But I also like your posts where you have been inspired by another artist and you talk about that – I like ALL your posts 🙂
3. You always post lots of things which inspire me, last Christmas I enjoyed reading your post about making simple Christmas cards from your own stamp design which was a snowflake. I decided to use the snowflake in a different way and painted snowflakes onto stones.
4. Nope.
Hi Debbi! Thank you so much for taking the time to write down your thoughts. I am so amazed that you remember a post from nearly a year ago and so pleased that it was useful to you!
1. If you are a regular/frequent visitor here, why is that?
I find your blog inspiring and I like your work 🙂
2. What is/are your favourite thing{s} that I write about?
I like in progress photos, studio photos (I love being nosey at other people’s work spaces and the materials they use!)
3. Can you name anything you’ve found here that has inspired you to try something new, have more confidence in your desire to be creative, or otherwise prompt some kind of creative action from you?
I quite often go away wanting to start some new work 🙂
4. Is there anything you DON’T like around here, or anything you have noticed that makes it a less than easy or interesting experience to hang out here? {Don’t be shy, I can take it. And if I don’t know, I can’t fix it.}
This isn’t something I don’t like but something I just thought of. I’ve added your blog to the blog list thingy in Blogger, so when I log into Blogger I see the list of blogs I follow with a summary of the latest post and next to it one of the images from the post. For some reason for your posts one of your photos from the post doesn’t show up but instead a giant pixellated version of one of the emoticons used in your posts. As I say this isn’t something I don’t like, but just something I thought it might be a good idea to mention, though I have no idea how it could be changed >.<
Hello Chloe, thank you very much indeedio for your responses! I’m so glad you find things you enjoy here. I haven’t a clue what to do about the emoticon thing unfortunately…
Hi Tara! I read your blog because I love seeing what interesting art you’ve been working on recently. I enjoy your blog for the art, your snippets of personal life, pictures and tales from the beach [mmmm, beach], your adventures in interior design. Oh, and I have to say, I really enjoy your sense of humour which shines through in nearly every thing you write. I don’t often comment – not sure why that is – but I do enjoy reading here.
Anne-Marie! I’ve been seeing you on FB but lost your blog {somehow?!} and couldn’t find a new link so I’m very glad you stopped by, and even gladder that you took the time to leave some thoughts behind. I’m happy that you’re still here and enjoying the blog. 🙂
i totally meant to come back and do this but evidently wandered off…..
1. i can’t really remember how i “found” you — probably your gorgeous art — which i adore, btw….but i stay because you rock my world. i love your honesty, your humour, your willingness to be vulnerable out loud. i also love that if i drop an f-bomb in your comment section you don’t mind. ;P i’ve been utterly crapulous about commenting this last while…it’s just me going through one of my “phases”.
2. i like everything you write about….i wouldn’t stick around otherwise. i like most that you are Real. not all buffed and polished but also not the fake-Real that some people are dishing up in an effort to seem more Flawed because that’s what readers want. oooh! snark-o-meter is rising…*grin*
3. you have inspired me to be okay with not making art every day, to not worry if i’m not painting/writing and to happily sit gazing at clouds and doodling in notebooks….in other words, you help me give myself permission to be human. 🙂
4. there is nothing i dislike. nothing. zero. i heart you.
xoxo
Ah Mel you are good for my self-esteem! I greatly appreciate your thoughts as I know you’ve been dealing with Other Things lately. {I haven’t been commenting so much either; it’s all good.} I love a good f-bomb! 😉 Also the word crapulous, which I will be adopting from now on. I’m so happy you enjoy your time here {that is, after all, rather the point}, and I appreciate especially your point about being real. I wrote one post about that, I guess mainly to get clear with myself what I’m doing and why as much as with you guys, but I agree there’s a lot of ‘authenticity’ about and I do want to sidestep that, so thank you for seeing me as Real, rather than ‘real’. 🙂 And possibly the biggest compliment of my life ‘you help me give myself permission to be human’. ! What a total honour. xx
Sorry I’ve been slow with my response–I had a crazy few days so saved it for when I could think 🙂
1. I’m not certain how I “found” you, either…was it AEDM last year? Anyway, the reason I went woo hoo that day, and the reason I’ve continued to read is because I knew immediately that I had found a kindred spirit when it came to love of Art and love of The Sea.
2. and 3. I love your photography and beach stuff and photography of beach stuff. But I also REALLY like your process shots when working on large paintings. The first posts I read were where you were sharing larger pieces built up with collage and lots of blues and greens. That inspired me to try layering more, and I love it! (thanks)
4. The only negative I can think of is when coming to your site from google reader (as opposed to coming directly to a specific post) , I have to then click through to your blog. LOL, one extra click…that’s a pitifully lazy thing to mention, isn’t it? If that’s all I can think of, you must be doing really good 🙂
No sorries needed round here! 🙂 But much gratitude for actually coming back to report on your thoughts. And for making me laugh. 😀
1. even though I’ve been on a blog hiatus I love checking in on your site. Your content is creative, clever and poignant. I almost always leave inspired and excited to embrace my day!
2. I honestly adore everything you write about! To narrow it down a bit though I’d have to say, your process shots of paintings are fascinating (and such a treat!) and stories about things you’ve learned along the way are always inspiring and often reassuring and encouraging as well! Finally I love any and all beach related shots and fun new techniques to try out.
3. There are far too many instances of things found on your site that has inspired me to start something new (or finish something old!) to name. Recently though, your candid observations about struggles faced have really resonated with me on a very deep and personal level.
4. I think this site needs more cow bell 😉
Bless you my dear, I didn’t know if you were still around… and thank you for saying such lovely things! I’m so glad you enjoy it here. I do have to ask though… cow bell??!
1. I pop in regularly to see how you are doing and what you are working on – its the next best thing to being able to catch up over a cuppa !
2.I love the work in progress posts – but I also like the “working through things” posts – well…all of them really !
3. You encourage the “keeping on ” and I am inspired by lots of your ideas – the most recent one that I thought was very cute was the masking tape bunting ! Perfect for a bit of instant cheer.
4.Nope nothing – keep going in your own sweet way ! Rh xx
Hey Rhiannon, thank you so much for your thoughts! I’m so happy you pop by and enjoy what you see, that gives me great encouragement! The washi tape bunting was certainly popular; perhaps I will see if I can think up some more quick creative things to make!