art – OLIVIA COLLETTE

This blog has been around for about a year, and I’ve been trying to refresh it. First I chose another design. I like it, but so many other bloggers seem to have chosen the same one. I’m considering trying another background, but I know what I really need is a content refresh.

This isn’t exactly new. I’ve been thinking about this for a while: what is my blog about?

At first, it started as a writing exercise, since I’d found myself back in journalism after spending a few years in advertising. I wanted to get used to writing long copy again. And like many people who begin blogs, I just wrote whatever went through my head.

Thanks in part to Roger Ebert, I’ve recently discovered a few new blogs that I’ve really enjoyed reading, especially Miss Banchee’s. Her brilliant blog tackles lots of personal stuff while laying on the funny. I’ve loved getting to know her and the skillful way she fictionalizes her own life, or anamorphosizes her cats or her common sense to flesh out hilarious inner dialogues.

I think I had to read her to come to terms with what I can’t do, which is shine a light on my personal life. Not because I think it’s deplorable, but because it’s just not what I gravitate towards. Sure, it weaves its way into the blog, but the strokes are broad.

Then I read through some of my previous posts, and I noticed that I really love dissecting pop culture. Art, entertainment, advertising and everything in between. So that’s what I’m going to stick to.

Don’t worry, it’ll still be anecdotal. I mean, that’s just how I relate to things.

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve received tons of warm wishes from people who are either unemployed, or trying hard not to be. When the conversation ends, I end up comforting them, stressing that “things really are okay.” (That said, thanks for the warmth. It’s cozy when it comes from friends).

But seriously, I’m really very okay with it all.

True, there’s a bit of a grieving period at first, and this guy has great tips for dealing with the newly unemployed lifestyle. As he points out, don’t waste any time. It’s okay to be a little down, but this is when you want to get your stuff together, because your brain’s still working even though you’re feeling a little anti-social. So I updated my résumé, my portfolio, and any other online profile. Then Easter weekend arrived. I had myself a wicked party, and when it was over, so was the grieving.

In the last week, I networked the old-fashioned way: by getting in touch with people in a sincere, customized way, without the help of Twitter. The response has been good so far. And very importantly, I’ve launched a few artistic projects that are set to blossom in autumn. One is an exhibit that I’m co-producing with a friend. The other is a series of webisodes that I’m co-writing and co-directing.

Perhaps I should be more focused on finding full-time work, but I’ve always preferred freelancing anyhow. And in this financially compromised era, I guess I feel that if I don’t fulfill some of my artistic pursuits now, I certainly won’t have the time when the economy picks up.

For now, I’ve posted the above picture, an example of my growing collection of Lomography, as an appetizer. Stay tuned for more bonafide Olivia goodness.

And Deri: thanks for reading!

Tag: art

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