Weeks 9-12: Have a Little Tantrum, then Pivot
I’m done feeding the monster, let’s make art!
How do I even write this blog? Maybe I’ll start with: I am so tired.
I’m not tired of carving - no, carving every weekday has been delightful and has confirmed for me that I love it. It’s still relaxing, it’s still sparking new ideas every day, it’s still fulfilling, and it’s still fun.
Can you guess what part of this project is not relaxing, creativity-fueling, fulfilling, or fun? 😒 If you’re an artist, I bet you can guess. But I’m ready to quit feeding that monster and pivot to something that serves me better!
Let’s review what I carved first:
Day 41: Wild Blue Iris
Day 42: Eastern White Pine Branch
Day 43: Bayberry
Day 44-46: A Pink Lady Slipper, Bunchberry & a Purple Aster Flower
Day 47-52: Scorpion, Pine Branch, Lobster Boat…
Day 53-60: Pinecone, Woodpecker, Rabbit, Sparrow, Hummingbird, Saguaro Flower…
Okay, so back to how much I hate Instagram (did I say that earlier? Well, I did now). It’s becoming more ad-filled and addictive every day and connecting me with fewer and fewer people.
So I had a little internal tantrum for a few weeks over this. I got out my “scrillow” (this is what my kids call a pillow you scream into when you’re mad. IYKYK). I pouted a bit. Now, I’m going to adjust my expectations and pivot.
How I used to see Instagram: A place to share my work and get feedback. & A place to connect and follow creative people doing fun, interesting things!
How I see it now: A space to hold my portfolio (feed) and connect with my closest friends (stories). A place to focus very little of my energy and avoid spending time on so I don’t get stuck in its mud.
So here’s my pivot! I plan to invest more time into Pinterest, and less time overall to social media for a while. Instagram requires SO much energy to post, and then it all expires very, very quickly. Pinterest has a much longer “shelf-life.” I’ll let you know how it goes!
Cheers to saying “no” to the things that don’t serve us well.
Week 9-12 on Social:
I’m going to share these Instagram numbers once more because data is always good! This data is what informed my decision to no longer invest significant time into Instagram. 😉
Here are my 30-day numbers after Wk 12:
Instagram
Accts Reached: 3.6k (-12.4k)
Followers: 4135 (+28)
Accts Engaged: 158 (-481)
Insta Weekly Growth
And here are my monthly numbers, with March not yet complete:
Pinterest
Impressions: 109k (+12.4k)
Engagement: 1840 (+380)
Clicks: 365 (+55)
Pinterest Monthly Growth
Alright! An affirmation for the road:
In the grand tapestry of the creative universe, every experience is a thread woven into my journey. It strengthens my resilience and my commitment to my craft. I am an artist and my life is art.
Yours in creative community,
Sarah K
TL;DR
Week 9-12 Highlights:
I’m tired. Social media is frustrating.
Let’s make art and take a break from worrying about how to promote it.
