Tag Archives: Instagram

The Wider World

I’ve been using Instagram for about four months now and I guess the self-imposed trial period is over. The results? …I’m glad I took the plunge. It’s become a quick daily dose of fresh images from artists all over the world that not only emphasizes the immensity of creativity out there, but also the tenacity and commitment that people devote to their individual practices. From that perspective alone, it’s very inspirational.

Inma Serrano Trumpeta 2

Inma Serrano     Trumpeta 2

Community, even a virtual one, is key when one spends large chunks of each day working in solitude, relying mostly on a pooch, books on tape, podcasts, and NPR for company. No question, Instagram is not a substitute for my in-person critique group and my art friends who live both near and far; it doesn’t come close to the reciprocity those personal relationships afford. But I am learning to appreciate it as a passport to the global creative community, a platform that demands very little while offering a lot if it is approached mindfully.

Lisa Smirnova Joseph Brodsky

Lisa Smirnova           Joseph Brodsky/Embroidery

On the whole, I have been fearful of social media because of the perceived time drain (I sit pretty firmly in Cal Newport’s camp). And while I’m sure you could spend hours on Instagram if you wanted, my concern that it would become an overwhelming time commitment hasn’t materialized. Instead, it’s a very compact opportunity to find a sense of connection by seeing what’s going on in all sorts of studios and galleries, while offering a taste of process, materials and inspiration.

Veronica Cay Out on a Limb

Veronica Cay      Out on a Limb

And, as I become more familiar with the work of the people I follow, it’s been fun to watch as individual works progress toward completion, to vicariously celebrate openings of people I will likely never meet, and to be able to appreciate the beauty in our world as others see it.  It’s a pretty cool thing to be able to tap into the wide world of folks out there who also find meaning and fulfillment in getting into their studio each day, trying again and again, because it’s just what we do.

Tangled Bank 2.10, 2017 Miguel Rodriguez

Miguel Rodriguez      “Big Shield” / Tangled Bank 2.10, 2017 Acrylic, collage on paper, 22×35 in

The above images are a tiny handful of my favorite artists to follow. Explore their work further on Instagram and on their websites.
Inma Serrano of Spain: Instagram,  Website
Lisa Smirnova of Russia: Instagram, Website
Veronica Cay of Australia: Instagram, Website
Miguel Rodriguez of Washington, DC: Instagram, Website

Art-full Storytelling

It wouldn’t be right to post this week without first extending a warm thank you to all of you who have taken a moment over these past two years, many of you faithfully each week, to read Eye of the Needle. I hope that by the time you get to this week’s entry your cooking chores will be well behind you and you are heading back to your studio — or perhaps taking a moment to put your feet up and just digest. And in that case, perhaps the following suggestion might be of interest.

whitecup5

White Cup 5      ©2016 Elizabeth Fram                                                               These cup and saucer sketches are becoming more and more about an abstracted composition of shape and value, and less about portraying an object

I recently came across The Memory Palace, a storytelling podcast by Nate DiMeo. He has created almost 100 episodes, and as the current MetLiveArts Artist in Residence at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC, DiMeo is producing 10 more episodes “interrogating the collection to draw out the revealing secrets and stories of the art”. He dives into details, fleshing out the stories behind the artists, their works and the times in which they were created. I’m envious of anyone who will be visiting the Met and can listen in the presence of the works as he describes them. Follow this link to learn more and to hear the 3 episodes that have been completed so far. In DiMeo’s words:

“I come across something from the past — in a novel, during a museum visit, in a documentary, in some listicle on some website…that moves me, that makes me want to know more, and I go off and research it. The writing and production process, in a very real way, is all about me figuring out how to move the listener in the same way that I was moved”.

❖

And finally, to switch gears entirely, those of you who know me well know that I am the definition of social-media-phobic. Always late to any trend, I have taken the leap and opened an Instagram account (elizabeth_fram) this week. I invite you to follow me for a behind-the-scenes look at my day-to-day in the studio.

Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving weekend…