After years of hard work, some doubt about the algorithm, and posting consistently (posting up to a few videos a week), one of my YouTube shorts finally got over ten thousand views. It didn’t happen overnight. It took a few days, but it reached twentyfour thousand views altogether. It’s my most viewed video to date. It’s not exactly a viralvideo, but it is to me!
You can watch the video here and please feel free to subscribe. It helps with my dream to be able to support my family with my art. Thank you.
“Inner Strength” is a abstract mixed media art piece created by award winning artist, Misty Lemons of Designs By Misty Blue Art. It’s made from watercolor paper and paint and polymer clay.
The video is ten seconds long and starts with me putting watercolor paint onto the rim of a disposable cup and finishes with a photo of me holding the completed art piece. I used a popular sound that would be familiar to many. I used text overlay on the video and made sure to have a detailed description and hashtags.
The beginning of the video was just a small snippet I took from my previous YouTube livestream that I sped up for time. The quick movements capture the eye and holds attention.
In my description I detailed the name of the piece (“Inner Strength”), the art materials used, and some of the process it took to create it. I also connected the livestream video where I worked on the piece as a related video.
All of this combined with consistency and a little bit of luck are what I believe helped the video get the views it has. I also recently reached over 1,000 subscribers and have heard this helps open up the algorithm more as well.
The algorithm on social media platforms can be incredibly daunting to overcome for so many, myself included. It seems fickle at best. Some people get lucky and strike gold immediately. Others can work for years with little or no returns. I always said if I can figure it out, I wouldn’t gatekeep, so I’m sharing what I learn and hope it helps others. I by no means of any stretch of the imagination have it figured out and can offer absolutely no guarantees, but this is what I’ve learned and believe it has helped me.
Above everything, stay consistent, but remember to add a description and several tags. I hope your hard work pays off for you. I’m wishing you the best and I’m rooting for you!
*UPDATE: A few days after having two shorts hit over 20,000 views in the same week, my views tanked. This happened immediately after YouTube wanted me to promote my channel. I’m thinking this is no coincidence. They seemingly opened my views to only shut it off to entice me to promote my channel. I believe this is what happened. The timing of it makes sense, unfortunately and I’ve heard of other social media platforms doing the same sort of thing to people. But I will do what I always do. Carry on. It’s a let down, but not surprising. My advice, remains the same, though. Stay consistent, but not for an algorithm. Do it for yourself. Do it for the love of your art and content. Do it because you wanna make a positive difference. Do it because it matters and means something to you, whether you have a large audience or not.*
To Learn More About Me, Shop My Art & Commissions, Please Visit My Link Tree. Thank You.
*For Educational Purposes Only
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What if art, artists, and self-expression were to disappear tomorrow? What do you think the world would look like? Would it be drab, joyless, passionless, boring? Would the clothes you wear be bland and basic? Would packaging on products be unremarkable? Would movies, music, and art be created from AI that corruptly procured from the human artists that came before it? Would said “art” be wonky, weird, disjointed, and have multiple digits and appendages? Would art fairs disappear and be a thing of the past? Would art galleries shutter for good? How would it affect critical thinking and problem solving or empathy and emotional regulation? What if books no longer had pictures? Would concerts cease to exist? Would you miss art and artists then? Would you miss the human element and nuance?
Artist Misty Lemons poses with her watercolor painting “Hopeful Romantic”
This isn’t hyperbole. This is happening right before our eyes. Social media platforms are effectively misappropriating artist’s work and are essentially telling them it’s not good enough to pay them for, but it’s good enough to train their AI with and use for ads and marketing for the benefit of their company and its shareholders. They’re exploiting artists.
These platforms are not giving creators a means to opt out and are implementing these cruel, unfair policies into their terms of use. Artists are losing communities they worked incredibly hard to create, due to the artists having to flee these hostile platforms. They’re losing precious income that helps them and their families survive (especially if they’re disabled and this is their only means of work and income). The world is fundamentally telling them art isn’t essential and that they are unnecessary. Even though the art and content the artists have created entertain, educate, and inspire people and their work inherently helped these platforms grow. Not to mention, the taxes they pay helps the economy.
Art even has practical healing properties. Art is therapy. Art stirs the soul and creates connection. It kindles a fire in people’s minds, hearts, and spirits. It creates community. It helps patients with alzheimers and dementia. Studies show it prolongs and improves elderly lives. It helps people with anxietydisorders, PTSD, autism, and ADHD. There’s even been countless studies on how the arts improveexecutive function and motor skills in students that participate in artistic activities.
Artist Misty Lemons (Designs By Misty Blue Art) using art to cope with and heal through the grief of her mother’s passing and her childhood trauma (painting a pumpkin in watercolor outdoors)
I believe that art is a necessity. It is sustenance for the soul. It calms, relieves stress, creates connections in the brain and in communities, and is even a great historical record. Just look at cave paintings! Please, don’t take the power of art or artists for granted just because it’s seemingly everywhere. It doesn’t cheapen its worth. Art makes the world a better place by improving the lives of those who create it and those who appreciate it. Art is invaluable!
Supporting artists can be as simple as sharing their artwork and information with your friends and family, by attending your artist friends events, by purchasing their work, and by expressing to others the benefits and importance art has on society.
Thank You For Supporting Me (Misty Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue Art) Through Art Commissions, Tutorials, Shop Link: Link Tree
*For Educational Purposes Only! Statements made here within the blog are the opinion of the blog’s writer/owner, but we encourage you to do your own research into the benefits of art, the role society and social media platforms play in (allegedly) harming artists, and what you can do to help. No specific platform was named and any similarities are coincidental. Blog owner/writer not liable for any opinion stated therein.*
Copyrights & Reproduction Rights Belong Solely To Misty Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue Art Do Not Copy Or Reproduce
Some days, you really wanna give up pursuing art. It’s so tough on social media to get eyes on your work and intice interested collectors. The algorithms are absolutely brutal and demoralizing.
Liking my own work validates it, me, and what I do. I love my work and what I do, so I just keep plugging away and holding onto hope.
If you enjoy my posts and my art, please like, share, and follow. Better yet, buy something cool for your home! It’s a good investment for the soul! It pays you back with good juju!
Social media dictates that you should have a niche to grow your platform. To be honest, I have struggled with this. It feels oppressive. Why put myself in a box? Why should I niche down who and what I am and what I do? I’m a multipassionate, multidimensional human being. I have railed against a niche until I realized I don’t have to.
Pictured: Misty Lemons, a multipassionate multidimensional artist & human being
I can be me and keep doing all I do. Through healing my childhood trauma and all the work I’ve put into it, and how I’ve always used art to cope, I now know I am my niche. My niche is me. It fits me, and there’s peace in that.
My niche is Inspiring Emotional Well-Being Through Art. It’s always been that. I just wasn’t able to put it into words until recently. It helps give my platform direction and meaning. I look forward to continuing to grow and creating more! It’s exciting to better connect with others through my niche!
In any case, thank you for supporting me while I’m on this journey of healing and self-discovery. I appreciate you.
To Shop & Learn More About Me & My Artwork, Please Visit: My LinkTree
*This blog is for educational purposes only. I’m not a therapist or doctor.*
Copyrights & Reproduction Rights Belong Solely To: Misty R. Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue Do Not Copy Or Reproduce
I’ve got a fantastic opportunity on the horizon: a chance to exhibit my artwork at the prestigious Grove Gallery in London and collaborate with the incredible team at Wraptious to develop a commercial range of products.
Your support can make a huge difference. Here’s how you can help:
1.) Vote & Share. Head over to the link above, give my entry a like & share it with your friends from there.
2.) Buy My Design: To further bolster my journey in this competition, consider purchasing “Rainbow Llama” on a luxuriously soft vegan suede pillow. Your choice to invest in this design brings me a step closer to securing a spot in the winner’s circle. Thank you!
Your Vote & Shares Count!
To Learn More About Me And My Artwork, Please Visit My LinkTree.
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I am celebrating my life and all the hard work it took to get to where I am now.
For the past two years, I’ve been working on healing my childhood trauma and ptsd.
Highlights From My Life In The Past Year
Looking back now, I see just how far I’ve come. Loud unexpected noises don’t cause my body to go into an adrenaline filled tailspin. It would make me feel sick for a day or two. I recover almost instantly now. And when I’m triggered, which is less often, I’m able to analyze why it happened and how to move through it.
Along the way, I received some therapy. I journalled, sat with my feelings and let them pass through (I don’t ignore or resist them now), I got outside and painted, took up sculpting, and researched quite a bit on Pinterest.
Here I Am Sporting A New Hairdo And Wearing Polymer Clay Earrings & Pin That I Made
Journalling helped me process my thoughts and emotions. I had several breakthroughs that way. And Pinterest gave me new information I didn’t have before.
I didn’t think I’d live past the age of 17. Yet here I am now at 43. At home in my body. Loved and accepted by myself. At peace.
I don’t know what’s next, but whatever it is, I’m hopeful and grateful.
If you’ve ever experienced anything similar, please feel free to share in the comments.
To Learn More About Me And My Artwork, Please Visit: My LinkTree
Three years ago, I went to get an eye exam, so I could get new glasses. I went to a local optometrist. He was a nice enough doctor. Friendly and easy to talk to. Everything seemed to be going well and the exam wasn’t out of the ordinary. Until, at the end of the visit, when he told me I have Macular Degeneration. Whoa! What?!
The definition of Macular Degeneration is – a degenerative condition affecting the central part of the retina (the macula) and resulting in distortion or loss of central vision. It occurs especially in older adults, in which case it is called age-related macular degeneration. (I was 39/40. Not technically old. It’s not unheard of that younger individuals develop the disease, but it is uncommon. I guess, I won the eye disease lotto! Goodie! Not!)
At the time, I didn’t know what it was or what it meant for me. The only information I got from him was that it’s not a big deal and all I needed to do was take specialized vitamins for the condition and that I’d be okay. But this didn’t set right with me. My gut was telling me this was much more serious than he let on, so I scheduled an appointment with an ophthalmologist, hoping to get more answers and a better diagnosis or treatment.
This visit had more of a sense of urgency to it. I could tell the doctor and staff were deeply concerned. I had several in depth tests that confirmed I do indeed have Macular Degeneration. And when I spoke with the doctor he was astonished the other doctor took it so lightly.
The ophthalmologist confirmed the vitamins would help, but that if/when the condition goes from dry to wet, that’s where it can get bad extremely quickly and could result in me losing my vision.
Dry macular degeneration is a type of the disease in which blood vessels in the eye do not leak. Wet AMD is a more advanced form of the disease and causes vision loss when abnormal blood vessels grow in the eye. Wet AMD occurs when the blood vessels leak below the center part of the retina, the macular.
Wet AMD requires shots of medication that are inserted directly into the eyeballs to prevent vision loss and it’s not a one time deal either. Shots need to given regularly, as in monthly, for the rest of your life.
Subsequent visits and further testing at the ophthalmologist confirmed that I’d lose my sight in ten years (so possibly seven years left). A specialized genetic test confirmed this and gave us the timeline. To anyone being given this news, it’s a tough blow. But being given this information as a visual artist… Devastating!
My ophthalmologist sees me every six months now to make sure my condition isn’t advancing and I take the daily vitamins religiously.
A few months ago, I had a scare with my eyesight. I remember it was a Friday night and I was getting ready for bed. I had opened the bottom drawer of my dresser and when I went to close it and stood up after, I couldn’t see out of my left eye. It was shocking and extremely frightening. I was afraid my Macular Degeneration was to blame.
I had to wait the entire weekend before I could see my eye doctor. It was frustrating and terrifying. The next day, in my left eye, I could see a big blood red dot. My eye looked fine outwardly and you couldn’t tell anything was wrong, so this made it even more puzzling and fearsome. It made seeing extremely difficult. I couldn’t drive and I couldn’t watch TV. There wasn’t much I could do!
Picture: Here I am waiting to be seen at the second eye specialist, while wearing sunglasses and a mask (Covid). My prescription sunglasses helped me to see better and made my eyes more comfortable during my eye emergency.
Turns out I had an eye hemorrhage. A blood vessel in my eye burst. It’s actually not uncommon and can happen with strain. Though, to be fair, I don’t think I was straining that hard to shut the dresser drawer, but I digress! My ophthalmologist didn’t think it was Macular Degeneration related, but sent me to an even more specialized eye doctor and since it was considered an eye emergency, I got in to see that doctor the very same day (which was Monday). He confirmed it wasn’t related, but was concerned that if it kept bleeding, it could damage my sight.
Thankfully, the blood red dot and blurred vision went away after a few weeks and it hasn’t recurred. Knock on wood! I’m back to painting, driving, and watching TV!
Picture: Here’s some of my most recent creations! They are whimsically and colorfully painted giraffes. It’s acrylic on canvas.
There’s an artist who is visually impaired (and he lives in Texas! I’m in Texas too!) that truly inspires me and gives me hope that I’ll be able to continue creating. His name is John Bramblitt. He creates the most beautiful, colorful pieces. And it’s my understanding that he feels with his fingers what he paints and can feel what colors the paint he uses are just by feeling their viscosity. He also teaches others how to paint like he does.
Having Macular Degeneration is always at the back of my mind. How much time do I have left, before I start to lose my sight? In seven years, I’ll only be 49! What if it happens on a Friday night and I can’t see the doctor til Monday? Will I lose my sight having to wait? Will I be able to keep my eyes still enough to get the shot? How much will it hurt or be uncomfortable? How expensive is it going to be to save my eye sight? Will we even be able to afford it? What if I can’t create my art anymore? What if I can no longer see my loved ones beautiful smiling faces? What if I’ll never see the Northern Lights, the Oregon coast, or Zion National Park?
I don’t have a lot of money to travel. I don’t have any disposable income really, so it’s a distinct possibility that I’ll never get to see these things anyway, but the thought of absolutely not being able to at all breaks my heart. I want so much to see the Auroras in person! I want to experience these things with my family.
I’ve come to terms that this is my reality now. I will just keep doing the best I can and take things as they come. But when I first got my diagnosis, I practiced walking with my eyes closed and taking a shower with my eyes closed. Having my independence is important to me. I suffer from other debilitating chronic illnesses that could eventually make me totally dependent on others support. I will fight to stay as self reliant as I can for as long as I can and I hope and pray that no matter what, I’ll be able to continue to make art.
Dear reader, I hope you won’t misunderstand where I’m coming from. I know that being visually impaired doesn’t always mean you lose your independence and so many who are visually impaired lead full, rich lives. In my case, coupled with my other health conditions, I could very well lose my independence. That’s my reality, the very real and distinct possibility that I personally face.
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Do you ever just feel like you’re spinning your tires? I don’t know if it’s ADHD or passion, maybe a little bit of both, but I hyperfocus, work, and push so hard to succeed. It can get exhausting and be a bit defeating when all that work seems to be for naught. It can be so disheartening to put all your love and energy into your dreams and goals and nothing ever seems to change or you see little returns.
You internalize and wonder what you could do differently. Am I too much or not enough? It’s not easy being a person who overthinks and feels deeply. Add social media and content creation and you wonder if you’re reaching and touching the people who need to see you and your artwork the most.
Am I just embarrassing myself, giving too much, or too little? Being an artist working to accomplish something with your art is difficult as it is, without the added pressures of social media. I could put on a happy face every day, but the reality is I’ve been doing this for so long, some days I feel like giving up and I want to be authentic.
It’s been a rough couple of years for me with my health and the state of the world. Am I making a difference? Does my art matter? I believe so, even if I can’t see the results/effects. At least, I hope so. I know my art helps me. It helps me cope and it helps me express myself.
I’ll keep working towards my dream of being a licensed artist. But today is hard. Not all days are easy or good, but that’s alright. That’s the nature of it, I suppose, and I’m still learning and growing. I’m doing my best and I’ll just have to be patient with myself. And if you ever feel this way, as an artist, just know you aren’t alone. Many artists feel this way, from time to time.
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As an artist and small entrepreneur, the cost of having someone manufacture stickers for you is expensive. So, it can be appealing to print and cut stickers for yourself.
Awhile back, I purchased a Cricut Maker. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a fancy piece of machinery that’s capable of cutting all sorts of materials. It can also engrave, draw/write, and so much more.
I’ve got this machine and I’d like to cut stickers with it. Cricut sells all sorts of materials to use with their machines. Including, printable sticker paper. I purchased some, when it went on sale.
The issue I’ve come across and I’ve seen loads of comments online lamenting the same thing, is the sheets jam up in printers. I ruined a few sheets before I figured out why it was happening and I’ve come up with a simple solution. That way, no more ink or paper go to waste.
Seeing that I’m not the only one with this problem, I want to share my hack. I made a short how to video, detailing what you’ll need and how to avoid jamming your printer.
Not a flattering photo, but it cracks me up!
The beginning of the video is pretty funny and if you’ve experienced these jams, you’ll definitely be able to relate! Check the video out here on my YouTubechannel for the step by step instructions. Please, be sure to like, comment, and subscribe. Thank you so much for your support and for reading my blog! I hope you’ll subscribe!
*I’m not affiliated with Cricut. Nor do they sponsor me. This article and video are for educational purposes only.*
Copyrights: Misty R. Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue Do Not Copy
I’ve been busy reorganizing my office, trying to make it more conducive for filling orders. My husband and I put in a new closet system, so now I have better storage for my canvases and other art supplies. We also put in a dresser to hold my printer and Cricut Maker. And lastly, we put in a cubby with cloth bins to hold more art supplies and shipping materials.
This is how I first set up the space years ago, after we had moved in
When we bought our home, the room was baby pink. We all called it “The Pink Room” for a long time, even after I repainted it. Lol! To make it my own, I painted it in my favorite color.
I didn’t have furniture to fit the small space, so I temporarily set up a folding table. It certainly wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done.
An upgraded desk, a roll around, and some drawers helped with some of my storage issues
I wound up getting a desk from a friend of a friend for cheap and it fit the space so much better and it looked nice too! I also added roll around carts from Michael’s and some drawers.
Eventually, the room became an overflow for storing things, though. And so I moved into our dining room to create my art. There was much better light there anyway.
After a year of not being able to use my office, I’d gotten pretty frustrated with the situation, so we went to Ikea to get an idea of what we could do with the small space. There we found the cubby and I was able to figure out a dresser and a closet system would also help. Those had to be ordered and I had to wait over a month for delivery! Which was a bummer, but it gave me something to look forward to!
It’s getting there!
It took me awhile, but I’ve got the room mostly sorted out now. The dresser has plenty of storage for my printer and Cricut supplies, so I’m really happy with that!
The closet system is larger than I expected. I even measured it three times before purchasing and thought it would be a good fit. But once we started installing it, we saw the space on the sides of it are almost unusable, which is disappointing. Now, I have to figure out where to store my sewing machine and other things I’d planned on putting back in the closet. Other than that, I’m pleased with how the room has turned out. I have a place for almost everything now, so it’s way better than what I had before! Despite the closet situation!
I added better lighting in there also and have already been using the space to create livestreams and videos for my YouTube channel and my socials! I hope you’ll check them out and subscribe! My son and I have been working together to create videos for my YouTube. It’s a lot of hard work, but we’re silly and are having fun with it as we learn! I’m embarrassing myself for the sake of art and entertainment! Lol! So, please, enjoy!
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Misty Blue Arts 