Earlier this week I got a new computer. Turns out the cheapest iMac is absolutely fantastic and just what I need right now. I loved my Mac Mini and it’s still going strong after two years so have passed it on to Allan. One of the reasons we got this new one is to do web design now that we both need new sites. Allan has another excellent site but the new book, Stories We Need To Know, makes a new site necessary and it will be great to have the ability to update as we go along. The iMac comes with a program called iWeb and I spent the whole of yesterday working on Allan’s new site and teaching myself the program, which is not hard. Again, thanks to Apple, it’s all so brilliantly designed and easy to use.
Two years ago when I started Artwala Road I found everything techy scarifying. I had NO idea how to do anything and without the help of my dear friend,Kelly I simply wouldn’t have done it. I wasn’t convinced I needed a blog. I’m not selling anything on the site, not yet anyway, don’t have the time to read a lot of blogs and have no ambition to be a super-blogger. But I liked the idea of recording my explorations and sharing them with anyone who happens upon the site and finds them interesting or useful.
What has happened since then is this. First, I became conversant in very basic techie things and now feel empowered to do more. I see the website as a great means of communication, of free sharing, and I think that’s cool—so open and generous. It’s been a nice way of putting some words out into the world and trusting they will reach whoever might like them. I do so much writing and not much in the way yet of putting it out into the world so the blog’s been great that way. I’ve found a few blog friends, very nice, and enjoy visiting other artist/writer blogs from time to time. It’s given me ideas about what other people are exploring. And, maybe best of all, it’s brought friends, old and new, in for visits. Most of my friends, ahem, don’t comment but it’s nice they tell me they stop in to see how the art class is progressing. A big thanks to those who do comment!! I love to hear from you.
There are times I wonder, with readership small and no time to boost it up, whether the blog is worth the while. It looks like 16,504 people have visited so far but most don’t stay. I think we always meet who we need to meet so that’s just fine. So even though I’m writing for just myself and a few wondrous regulars I know too that some soul might stop in one day and another good connection will be made. That’s what happens. I also know that I’m recording the journey of our amazing art class which is the journey to our creative selves and worth recording. BUT, now to the point, I now see that I can do this blog in an easier, more efficient way on this amazing new computer using iWeb.
Not to get techy, because I really don’t know enough to, but yesterday, doing Allan’s site, I learned so much. I see that doing a blog in iWeb will be so much easier because I can just drag and drop pictures into the site and also change typefaces and fiddle around with updating the site on a regular basis as I launch various projects. This is exciting. To me, at least! I think a live website, where new work gets shown on a regular basis, makes it fun for visitors to return and helps build that community of people who share interests. So, Artwala Road will be a whole new site. Same address though, not to worry. And Deep Dish Art will be folded into Artwala. Everything in one place, for now anyway.
The other thing about doing a website myself is that I can play with the design and get it just right—for the moment! Stay tuned. Allan’s new site should be up next week, followed by mine.
And one final marginally-related note—I watched the Democratic debate last night between Hillary and Barack. Wow—to both of them and thanks to the Heavens that we have TWO great possibilities. I was knocked out by Hillary, I have to say. She’s just a tad older than I am and I know where we all came from. That she’s kept on her path without wavering and overcome formidable obstacles makes me believe that she has the strength of character to be a brilliant President. And I have to say I feel a real tingling in the gut to think that a woman just might succeed. It’s hard to put words to the feelings—awe and gratitude and relief! The connection to the rest of this blog? Onwards!
February 1st, 2008 | Category: Dear Reader | Comments (6)
