A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande JatteGeorges-Pierre Seurat
1884
When I first saw this painting by Seurat, I thought it was rather strange-looking -- wooden, in fact. It seemed so very simple, I wondered why it would have taken him two years to paint it. But the more I look at it, the more I am drawn to its sense of movement. Even though the figures appear still, there is a hum of energy to the painting. The people in the park are there in small groups of two and three, and although they appear not to be interacting with each other, they are all connected by the same idea. They have gone to the island in the middle of the River Seine in order to enjoy the park on a Sunday afternoon, and in that they have something in common.
Blogging reminds me a bit of that painting -- we're all blogging basically for the same reason. I have been blogging for almost four years now, and I have seen blogs come and go. Some of the most interesting, well-written blogs on Blogger have more or less died on the vine, while others have gained momentum and thrived. There is no rhyme nor reason to it. I think it may be partly due to timing and luck, it may partly depend on how much time the blogger has to visit other blogs, or it may depend on the particular theme of any one blog. In my travels, I have discovered some extremely well-written, well thought out, fun, informative and entertaining blogs that have almost no commenters or followers at all. Some wonderful little gems get overlooked, and yet those particular blogs may be amongst the best I have ever read. And yes, you know who you are. I'm talking about you -- all of you...
Vase of FlowersGeorges-Pierre Seurat
One of our blogging friends said in an e-mail to me yesterday, "I would love to read and promote new blogs. Let's do something together. Any ideas?" I agree with her, and I have an idea -- a suggestion -- that I think might work. I thought, perhaps, rather than directing people to blogs we like, which can at times feel sort of exclusive and someone may be left out, why don't we do something inclusive and exchange blogrolls. That is to say, one day a week, instead of going to our regular blogs that we visit, why don't we click on someone else's blogroll instead. I have 155 blogs on my blog roll, they are all well worth a visit, and I invite you to visit them. Some of them truly are undiscovered gems. Some of them are astonishing in their honesty and candour. Others will amaze you with their beautiful writing, painting and photography, and some are just plain fun. All they need is for you to find them.
29 comments:
This is a spectacular idea. Let's start. How about you do mine and I'll do yours, and you get to pick the day!
Nancy, yes....!!! Yes, yes, yes. I love it. :-)
That's how I have found other people's blogs to begin with--through YOU, Jo. And through a few others' as well. It's a wonderful idea, Jo. I did that just yesterday, in fact. But I think that formalizing it that way is a great idea, Jo.
Fabulous idea! Here's a little, very special MUSICAL TREAT just for YOU! (Click on "Musical Treat" and the fun begins!)
This is how I found all my blogs to begin with (except the first few I found through Blogs of Note). It's a great way to skip around the blogosphere!
P.S. I have to warn everyone that I have a VERY eclectic blog roll!
Great idea, Jo. It's so true that I often find blogs that no one visits and yet, they are tremendously well-written and just plain enjoyable to visit.
The more followers you get the harder it is to keep up! It's frustrating to me. Everyone that I follow, I truly love to visit them and there simply aren't enough hours in the day!
It is interesting how people just disappear in Blogland...I have known quite a few. I've only been blogging a year and I'm glad I do it. It is interesting and so rewarding. I've made friends from all over the world and that's so neat!
Great post, Jo!
Hugs :)
Kelly
That is a good idea. I put very little effort in making my blog interesting. But I plan on trying harder someday..
I know what you mean about blogs not staying up to date. I think they may take up a more active roll at another time though, maybe.
I only visit when I have time and have something to say. I usually discover blogs based on the comments that are left at other blogs. I click on a person that seems to have thoughts and feelings similar to mine, and, or an interesting contrast to mine...if that makes sense...ha.
If I am not mistaken the Sunday Afternoon painting was done with pointillism, which would take me forever and a few years to accomplish. I love that painting and the technique used to create it!
It is amazing to me what a network/web blogs can be.
When i first "discovered" blogging back in January i knew that it was something that could quickly get out of control for me. And it is amazing that i find this blog from that one & that one & that one.
For instance, i have no idea how i found your blog, Jo, but i'm so glad i have.
These days my blog roll on my profile is quite long. But i usually put myself down as an "anonymous" follower for i have found that some that drew me to begin with do not continue to attract. I hate dropping those blogs if i'm a public follower (especially) as they may already have a small readership.
Now i follow for quite a while before going "public."
I'm always finding new blogs from the lists that others have. It is such an exciting world!
Yours is at the top of my list when i see you've written something. :)
P.S. - when i read the title of your previous post i was so afraid you were going to promote Splenda or something sugarless! I should have known better. It looks like a delightful recipe.
Although familiar with la Grande Jatte, I hadn't seen the second still life with flowers before, it's lovely.
And yes, I agree completely in that we are all seeking to build a sense of community here in blogland, and many excellent blogs do seem to be little known. I started out by clicking away on the "Next Blog" link a the top of the blogger pages, hoping to stumble on some good blogs by chance, but very quickly realized that does not work, got tired of seeing blogs about football (soccer for Americans), so then I started clicking on comments left elsewhere, and in peoples blog lists, and very quickly found a large number of wonderful blogs that way.
I think the biggest challenge in blogging is dealing with time. I have a family life, I have a job, and some active hobbies other than blogging, like taking photographs and playing guitar, so after all of that, the time left for posting on my own blog, commenting on other blogs, and answering the lovely comments that come in is limited... and leaves little time now for going out and finding still more fabulous blogs... although I know there must still be a multitude of absolutely excellent blogs that I'd love to see but haven't yet.
And one must sleep and eat as well... sigh ...
:-D
PS btw, yours is consistently one of the best, love coming here to read your wisdom on a wide variety of subjects...
Has it ever occurred to you that the foreground figure in the Sunday Afternoon painting looks out of place in his wife-beater t-shirt, jean-like trousers and ball cap?
In your sidebar you claim that you are not a writer, but your posts are always interesting, creative, and yes, very well-written. You get better all the time. I just wanted to mention that because it always comes to mind when I visit here.
That's a marvelous idea, Jo. I'd be happy to participate, and I tend to leave lengthy comments which is either good, or bad (possibly indifferent, who knows?).
I'll happily tour some new blogs tomorrow. I'm always amazed at how very interesting people truly are. How thoughtful, and diverse.
I found your blog when you were listed on "Blogs of Note" and I just liked the title so much that I stopped by. I'd never really toured blogs before, at all. Just on a whim, I looked...and you had a post up about a beautiful painting, and lovely picture of Vancouver.
But I've always had a habit of falling in love with titles, phrases, sentences and something about "A Majority of Two" immediately drew me in.
I have always loved the painting you feature today for much the same reasons. If you glance at it, you can think "How simplistic..." and leave it at that...but if you keep looking, it develops so much complexity.
Perfect choice when talking about bloggers.
This is a really good idea. It's great to promote interesting blogs.
Dear Jo,
it is always like a 'small escape' of the everyday/-night life, entering this world.
As it has been years since last I was able to join a picknick, this idea of yours sounds great.
Will bring some Greek red wine and feta with me.
A wonderful week for you.
WWOHOOOOO!! my one is in the list too...!!! XDDDDDDDDDDD......!!!!
I'm in! When do we start? How do we start?
Just it, exactly I agree with you..nice post and special guiding,about how to doing our well, better blogging...thanks....From not so special a man so poor a blogger...
I am adding back my blogroll widget for this post. :)
You follow 155 blogs? *sitting here with big eyes* Eish!
I love blogging and some days it gets a bit hard making time, but blogging has become such an important part of my life that I make time fir it every day.
I think his pointillist style took as much time as the composition of it. I love pointillist paintings.
sounds like a good idea about exchanging blog rolls for a day...how would you wish to work it out...say pick one by Tuesday contact that blog owner and switch on Saturday? or something like that?
You are right - so many good reads out there and one of the best ways to them is through someone else's blog roll. (I've discovered some gems through comments, too. That's how I found yours!)
Jeanette, you will meet lots of wonderful people through blogging. People love getting visits from other bloggers. And you will make some wonderful friends too. :-)
Sparkle, you have one of the most entertaining blogs in the bloggosphere. Your mind is a whole other universe! It's wonderful. :-)
The Bug, your blog is always entertaining, and I love to visit you and so will other folks.
Kelly, I know -- as my blog list grows, I can only visit people a few days at a time. But I don't want to pare it down, because they are all so interesting -- like you!!! :-)
Brenda, yes, blogging is like the little Russian nesting dolls, where there is one inside another, and so on... It's fun to find new people, sin't it?
Kathryn, yes, blogging can become addictive, and one can spend all day visiting people, and people, and more people. Sometimes I just don't have the time either, sadly...
Owen, I am pleased that you enjoy my blog. Yours is definitely one of the best out there! And yes, so many blogs, so little time. *heh*
Hearts, omygoodness, thank you for the compliment. ::blush:: And yes, T-shirt man does look out of place, and I never noticed it until you pointed it out!
Alane, your blog is one that the whole world should find. You are one of the best (!!!) writers. It's marvelous. I hope more people find you.
Kate, yes, and there are so many out there!
Robert, Greek wine and Feta. Yes!!! Two of my favorite things. What a great idea!
White Crow, of course you're on the list...!!! *heh*
Alicia, we can start any time. Just jump right in and visit people, and they will visit you back.
Nomore, you too ... just jump in, and I know people will visit you back. People are always interested in folks from other countries. :-)
Noteither ... Yes!!! And visit the people on my blog roll too. :-)
Firefly, that's the thing, isn't it? It's the time it takes. *sigh*
Mark, I think we should just, one day a week, click on someone else's blog and visit their blog roll. It doesn't have to be anything formal. It would be fun.
Pauline, your blog is always wonderful...!!! You are one of the best writers out there. I wish I had more time to visit all of you folks.
Oh dear...my blog is on life support and I'm on Facebook. :-)
But you're so right. Long before I started my blog, I used to read a few blogs every day and it was always interesting to check out the blog lists.
Carla, I think the trick is to visit lots of blogs, and they will find you. :-)
When I have the time, I choose a blog I read frequently and visit as many on their blogrolls as I can in one sitting. And sometimes I just click on "next blog" until I find one that interests me, then I tell about it on my blog.
Jo, of course you're right. I just meant that I can't get motivated to post very often any more. So my blog would be a very dull one for anyone to visit. I'm thinking about shooting it to put it out of it's misery. And in the past...I think I've gotten more visitors than I deserve. But I'll always enjoy reading & commenting on other people's sites.
I think it is a great idea too, but I've been having trouble keeping up with my favorites -- like yours. And trying to post myself. Worth it for sure, but so time consuming. Although today, I will check out one of yours...Nancy. She responded first and is right here for a click.
that is exactly how I found you and many other fantastic blogs. Spread the word.
A very thoughtful idea Jo! That's actually how I found your wonderful blog - through another wonderful blogger!
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