I have a wonderful pen pal named Mo. She is an artist & a photographer based in Australia. I posted photos of a large chess set found in the front of the city center in Crestline village a few days ago. This is her comment:
“There’s a huge public chessboard in Fremantle, the port south of Perth, Western Australia. And it reminds me of the time I played chess with someone who was very logical and versed in the game. I just plunked pieces where I felt they belonged, totally ad hoc, and WON. And he went right off his rocker because he couldn’t logically predict where I was going to move pieces to. Great fun” Her blog is called, “The crazy crone’s arty-farty studio”
When people ask me why I blog, my answer surprises people. I am an artist & photographer. Blogging allows me to find & connect to other people who share the same interests. I have about 25 people who write almost daily to images I post. I comment on others who’s work inspires me. I want to learn from other people, on a personal level. I want to see my world through different eyes. I want to travel around the world & meet the people who inspire me. No one ever makes me feel envy, only admiration. We can learn much about each other & the world we share through blogging. I know people can take any photograph I post. At first this bothered me. Then I thought it something that I wanted to do. Share. I chose the peace symbol instead of copyrighting my images. I wish anyone peace & even though I don’t know who takes my work, I am honored they liked it enough.
But…
Writing & reading about the life others live & then sharing it with me, on a personal level, is the reason I blog. it is a way to have a modern pen pal.
~amy
2me4art 
Yes! Your posts constantly inspire me to be creative and look at the ordinary in a magic way. I’ve also loved connecting with other artists around the world – a painter in Greece, a photographer in Ireland, a writer in England, a poet from I’m not sure where since he posts from all over the world. What a luxury of our modern world to call these people I’ve never met mentors and friends.
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I’m so glad to have found you. Someone who appreciates the gifts of blogging. A way of connecting with someone like you, but lives a different life. We can learn so much from each other. I thank you also for your amazing compliment. I am very flattered. ~amy
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I used to wonder why I wasn’t born 100 years ago, because I’m just not great with technology. But now I know! Blogging! 🙂 I’m very glad to have connected with you. Your images bless me daily.
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I’m terrible with technology, but love to meet people by writing to them. Without having to post a letter. I am so glad to have met you too. Thank you so very much for you amazing compliments. ~amy
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I love list post! I started blogging over five years ago to keep in touch with my friends I left back in California. To date, only one ever comments, and she does this rarely. On the other hand, I have ‘met’ so many through their visits to me on my blog. And was excited to have actually shared meaningful face to face visits with two of them.
Blogging is part open diary, and part virtual pen pal relationships. I never imagined when I started, that so many people would find what I had to say even remotely relevant, and yet my ‘followers’ are growing bit by bit. For a shy person like me this is a great ice breaker. 🙂
Amy, thank you for sharing your photographs, I truly enjoy them, and also for sharing a bit about yourself along the way. I enjoy that too!
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Love to read your comments, Amy, and thanks for your lovely comments about our contact. I started out blogging for interest and to express my thoughts, but last November suddenly fell into digital art through a couple of courses I following on-line. For some reason it opened the floodgates and the more I posted photos of my art and photography, the more I came into contact with lovely people around the world like you. Blogging means I can travel around the world, see different countries I’d never be able to visit through other people’s eyes and generosity in sharing their work, and talking to people you’d otherwise never be in touch with. People criticise the internet but I’ve lived in later years in rural, rather isolated areas and the internet has allowed me to feel as if I’m a world traveller. One little thing, Gorgeous, I’m no longer in Australia, spent 40-odd years there after going there for a holiday from the UK in 1972, then moved to North Cyprus in 2012. I nearly died of heatstroke in 2010 which concentrated our minds a bit on what we wanted to do with our lives, as Bryan’s family lives in the UK and the long-haul travel was getting beyond us, health-wise and finance-wise. As Bryan lived here as a kid and served here in the British Army, we plumped for North Cyprus, out of the European Union, much cheaper than the south, the people are really generous and friendly, and I feel I’ve come home, very, very happy here.
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I’ve been thinking the same thing! I do feel like I have pen pals all over the world now!
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Handwritten letters is a lost art form and really appreciate the people who do keep it up and finding a crisp, fat letter in the mail<3.
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A beautiful post, Amy. And one that comes at a very opportune time (if that is the right word) for me. Last night I read a blog from a photographer I follow who said it is important not to post the best quality images in case someone steals them and uses them. I was thinking how I always post the highest, largest image I can so that the impact is there- rather than someone trying to see it as a thumbnail. And I was seriously considering going smaller even though I didn’t want to. But your thinking has turned me around. Let some stranger use my image if they like it that much. If they make money from it that only endorses what I do. I do not take photos for money. I have a well enough paying job and our wants are few. I take photos for the joy it brings me. And if it brings someone else joy, so much better. Thank you again, Amy, for posting this!
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So perfectly expressed Amy. I can not describe the joy that I feel when I see a new image or post which resonates with my creativity and soul. When that happens, that in itself is a form of communication. Often, photographs which you take Amy, help me to express something inside myself which I did not know was there. I really enjoy writing comments and love that giving side of things. But I have found that I get overwhelmed when people write nice things about my posts. I am learning to receive as well as give. I did not know that it could be possible to make such interesting connections with people around the world. And I LOVE IT! -Karen.
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Blogging is a great way for artists and art lovers to connect. I love being able to see what people all over the world are producing. It is amazing how we are all so similar when it comes down to it. Love your art!
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It is amazing how similar we are. I guess creative people will grab hold of a tool that can be used to their advantage. Just validation for our work being real & good is worth every minute of blogging. Thank you, rmudge. ~amy
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Well written, Amy, and I think it’s really interesting to find out why other people blog. For me, it was just that one day, I thought:” Hey, I should start a blog!” So, as I really love films, I started blogging reviews, but then I thought I’d prefer to be a bit more creative and do more different stuff, so I started a second blog. I love blogging because I think it’s a great way of showing other people what you do and also, what you think about stuff where you just want to “get rid” of your opinion on something.
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Blogging can be our diary, our soap box, our art gallery, a classroom. Blogging is a giving of ones self, usually only the best of ourselves. Thank you for your comment & compliment, Grace. Cheers, amy
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Yes! An amazing way to make real connections in a disconnected world.
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Yes! I totally agree, as I said. But to hear other’s feeling the same way is wonderful. Thank you for commenting! ~amy
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I love this post, Amy. The same inspiration drives me to continue blogging too – to share my images and words with like-minded people around the world, to learn from each other, to be inspired by each other’s vision, to bounce ideas back and forth.
I used to have many penpals in my younger days, and although it took much time and effort to hand-write all those letters to friends I had never met, and most of whom I probably never would meet in real life, it was so rewarding. Now, email and blogs have taken over that role of connecting with others who share similar interests.
And yet, there is such magic and delight in receiving a handwritten postcard, letter or parcel in the mail – I think that thrill of excitement, as you touch something that has travelled halfway around the world, can never be replaced or replicated by electronic media. What do you think, Amy? 🙂
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I do love mail too! There is nothing like finding that letter in my mailbox. And the joy it brings me to write them is pretty nice too! I have a couple of friends that I write letters to and they email back. We get to stay connected in the way that works best for us.
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Hi Nectaryne – I agree. It’s lovely that you still handwrite letters – or do you type them on a typewriter or PC? I wonder how many people still write by hand?
I now find it much faster (and neater) to type! I remember learning a bit of calligraphy when I was little, and in those days, school teachers were really strict about how we formed our letters by hand… I don’t think they teach penmanship anymore, do they?
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They do not teach penmanship at our schools anymore. I was upset about it for ten minutes before I remembered that they also don’t teach quill and ink writing or make my girls learn different/less things than the boys either. They have more time to teach math and art. I’m happy to be responsible for the penmanship at home. Typing is good too! We have some great communication tools at our fingertips. It is good to see people using them with kindness and quiet observation instead of anger and bitterness. Amy’s pictures, your pictures – I am so glad to have found them!
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Paper in hand is much more personal. I think we save those for the very dearest to us. I love modern pen pals though. I love meeting so many interesting people all over the world. ~amy
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It is amazing how quickly connections can be made over such distance. It is lovely!
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I agree a hand written letter is a treasure these days. I feel like a child opening presents if I ever get a personal note. I will settle for emails b/c without them knocking on my blog, i’d be a bit lonely. Thank you for your lovely comment, Reggie. ~amy
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