Friendship, Social Media, Good Friends daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Good Friends
7" x 5" (17.8cm x 12.7cm)

Acrylic on Canvas

Sold

Today's daily Everglades painting, Good Friends, makes me think about how we single out some people to be close to in our lives. Friends. We're choosy about our friends from a very young age, and some of them will remain close to us throughout our lifetime.

Sometimes we have to change friends because they do something we perceive as hurtful, because of a new understanding of their core values, or because of a fundamental decision about who we want to spend time with in life. We might lose friends when we move away or get a new time consuming job, just get too busy, or just because we're not so good at keeping up. Regrettably, I've lost a few friends this way.

Friendship through the ages has meant a closeness to someone with similar interests and someone who has your best interests at heart. Yet on Facebook, because of similar inters ts people want to be your friend who have never met you. Will they become reliable friends? And what do they want in return?

Through social media, you can "meet" people, spend time, sometimes a lot of time, with people, who you will never, ever see in person. There's no eye to eye and no requirements for you to reciprocate. You can get a feel for their personality by comments on Facebook or tweets on Twitter. Hey, give it a try, I'll be your friend......

Internet image, Water's Edge daily painting by JoAnn Sanborn

As an artist it's important to have an Internet image. You're not taken at all seriously if you don't. Gallery owners, decorators, and clients can easily find you and to view your latest work. It's 's especially important for people who can't easily pop into your studio for a visit. So some web presence is helpful.I've been trying to upgrade my Internet image for a couple of weeks now. First, this blog had some problems in the validation that made it hard for the search engines to see it properly. Some 629 problems! Heart stopping, since I had no idea how to fix them. Still, it's good for us to learn new things, and sometimes there's no choice but to jump right in. I've welcomed the help of artist Manuela Valenti. I don't know Manuela, but know she's a fine artist and a fine person from meeting her in a daily painting discussion group online. She's knowledgeable about the web, and kind enough to share willingly. How nice to have some hand-holding from afar.

Second, I've joined Twitter. I'm not sure what its all about, since even my children tell me they're not interested in "following" my day. I'm not sure anyone is, but I'll "follow" a couple of people to try and learn the value. Right now it's hot, and if you'd like to twitter you can find it here, and me, here.

Today it's Facebook. A friend asked me to be her friend, prompting me to take action. Joining Facebook is something that I've been going to do for a while, but had been putting off, since it seems like a young person's thing. But the Internet art world says it's necessary, so here goes. You can find me by putting in my name if you want to be friends!

Water's Edge

Sold

Tulips

We lose friends this time of year. They"ll be back, but people we become very close to in the fall cast us aside and go back "North" for the summer. North can be anywhere north of the Florida line, but if you're from New England, it means anything above the Mason-Dixon line. Some go because they can't stand the hot, humid summer weather, some dread the potential hurricane drill, and some go to reconnect with family and friends in a place that will always be "home." Those of us left here will enjoy less traffic and the less frantic pace of social life.

One couple, good friends and lovers of my art, left this morning and took with them a painting for their new condo in Maine and a painting of tulips for a loved daughter-in-law. I did two of the tulip paintings, quite different. They picked one, and there's one left for you!

Tulips
7" x 5"