The Secret (or at least FINALLY figuring it out)

Sitting on the couch watching my son chew on his red painted toenails (when did he start doing that? not the paint...he asked me for that) I am contemplating this journey so far [It could also be that during bathtime I was able to watch at least the intro to 'The Secret' on Netflix].

Since the last blog post I feel like I finally figured it out. How exactly did that realization come to me? Day by day. In the past week someone approached me willing to pay $400 for a piece ( a non-commission, my-idea type of piece), he was so excited about it actually that he liked and shared my page and even spread the word out further! (Ive gotten 15+ new followers from one person referring me). These people arent just people that know me directly, these are people that see my art, have no idea who I am, but want to see it pop up in their feeds.

Since creating an Instagram (@cbanksdream) and a Twitter (@cbanksinfo) Ive gotten an equal result. Facebook is so personal because of the initial nature of Facebook, so no matter what I post people are going to be supportive, which I love but it doesn't necessarily help me to adapt and change to find exactly what make it most successful (though if I read between the lines I can gauge their reactions). I am always going to be successful to my friends and family because they love ME. Twitter and Instagram are completely different. Different followers. More anonymous. So I have approached them different. With Instagram I am creating a consistent way I present my pieces, I'm developing my art as a style. I keep the titles really concise and use the perfect hashtags to identify my art to the right people. So far this is helping me identify what other people think of my art. Instagram makes it socially acceptable to view other peoples pictures (or snoop) so other people will have a higher chance of seeing them!

[My son just told me he wanted donuts and cookies...oh my goodness gracious I do too!! Two year olds have the best ideas. THOUGH, it doesnt chance the face that I dont have neither doughnuts or cookies :( .]

Twitter is a similar concept about the strangers and the snooping, but this is an easier way to connect to people that have a following themselves. If you follow people on twitter, you will find randoms following you too (...though they seem like fake accounts). Its almost a sense of false security. So I am approaching twitter in unique way. Insead of following and retweeting anything and everybody, I am using hashtags to get anywhere. I dont want to attract the fake followers. This has been amazing though. A piece I did of Steve Hanson from Slap Shot was favorited and retweeted by the REAL HANSON BROTHERS (the actors that played them actually.) Without Twitter I would never have known that feeling.

All these different outlets are helping me and giving me the support I need. The only thing that has changed is my dedication to the cause. I am setting goals with no timeframe. Things I need to do to move forward and I mentally cross it off when I am on to the next step. My initial goal was to create a C.Banks footprint. Then it was to use them. Truly use them. In doing those 2 things I have seen a certain degree of success! People are liking what they see, which generated Interest.

So the question I have kept asking myself is, if its still me behind the idea and my energies, why does THIS experience feel so different?

I realized because I am SHARING it. It may be my time and energy to create these pieces, but I am presenting them to the world and in doing so asking for peoples reactions. I am setting goals to present myself to the world. I am driving myself forward. Before I would always sit and wait because I wasnt comfortable sharing with the WORLD, I just needed to physically find the people who need me. I would not have feel anywhere near as positive today a year or even six months ago. I feel like my time is now.

Here I am writing a blog, to the only people that will click the links that I am positing on my pages.... could be no one...but it could be everyone :) For some reason, I think cataloging this experience is going to mean something one day. Even if it is just going to prove to my son, who his mother used to be. [Hi Cam, Youre sitting right next to me. With your beautiful blond mullethawk, pink tonails and fresh out of the bath smell. I love you sp ridiculously much :) You were/am my main inspiration - my muse].

From here on my goal is to create more pieces from my own ideas. Buy canvases and see what fills them :) Also to keep blogging on my off days. Keep Posting regularily. When the time comes to jump. Lets jump!

Thanks for reading :)


Tristen
Stencilling Extraordinaire

This is me cutting a stencil out today :)