Why Even Bother With A Blog?
Lately I’ve been pondering over the idea of giving my website a blog; not only is it a great way to connect with people who encounter my art, but writing is also something I enjoy to do in my freetime. But how do I write about my art? How do I write a blog about art when I’m not anywhere near an expert on anything? How do I find words and thoughts worth sharing?
These questions swam in my head for several days before I realized why finding something to write about was so difficult for me. Having a blog implies that you have the answers. But the longer I’ve been an art student, the less I felt I knew.
Description: A charcoal drawing of a young girl wearing a winter coat and gloves, crying.
“Lost Boot” 2019, Charcoal on Bristol Board. By Danielle Fish Illustrations
There’s this thing called the Dunning-Kreuger Effect Curve, which I’m sure many out there know about. It’s a curve that shows there’s a level of confidence found in those who are experts and those who know nothing on a specific topic. They fall about equally on the confidence scale but on opposite ends of the competence scale. The interesting thing about this curve is that people who fall into the middle are in 1 of 2 categories. If you’re just starting to learn, you’re in the Valley of Despair. The furthest down in the confidence scale you can get. Then, there’s those who are knowledgable and experienced. They are at about the halfway point between the bottom and the top, but there is a much slower learning curve to get from that point to being a ‘Guru’.
But what does any of this have to do with me writing a blog post? Well, I feel there could be many answers. I'm still a student, therefore I don't know all the answers, which could be why I feel so conflicted on what to write about.
But I think the reality of me coming to the Dunning-Kreuger Effect Curve as a segway is also the conclusion. The nature of Artists is to constantly be on this curve. We are constantly evolving, changing, improving. We are learning new techniques, new mediums, new softwares. We are a profession that is constantly in a process of flux and yet expected to come out speaking scholarly on every topic we broach.
And that's okay.
It's actually one of the things that I love about being an artist. It's equal parts frustration and reward. I've always known that, but there was some part in my head that until 2 years ago thought "Well, my professors who teach me are so smart, they must have all the answers and all of the knowledge". But man was I further from the truth. I frequently hear my professors admit to not knowing much about specific mediums, softwares or niche career fields of interest my classmates have.
I guess what I'm trying to say is: I'm glad I'm not highly confident in my art or my ability to start a blog. Being 'medium' confident doesn't take away from what I write or create. I think it's actually to my benefit. Afterall, what's the point in a blog from someone who has no growth left in them?