Is It Time For Me to Leave Medium?

I am reading less on Medium, are you?

I have not created as many articles here as I was doing several months ago. Why? What stopped me?

This article is my writing about this dilemma and trying to figure out do I stay or do I leave.

Why would I leave?

I am a professional / working fine artist and 72 years of age, and have been an artist for 50 years. What does that tell you?

I should tell you that I have a lot of experience in “being an artist” and, as such, I have written a good deal about it. I teach classes and workshops, and the writing thing … writing loads and coming up with lessons. I talk a lot about what I do! I give demonstrations about art, marketing, and being an artist.

I also am a mentor and teach about the many aspects of being a professional artist … like marketing, navigating the waters of competitions and art shows, painting plein air, dealing with your fellow artists, and teaching workshops locally and around the country.

And … I teach the technical side of creating art also!

What I am saying is I write a considerable amount! Much of that has become blog posts in the past and now articles here on Medium. Navigating that bit about “here on Medium” has been harder to fit the writing into a story format to appeal to readers. It is non-fiction and a niche topic. That’s good, right?

I have had fun figuring out how to make it enjoyable!

I have not made much money here, which was not really the purpose. It would have been nice to make a little. But little … like less than $1 per month. For the last year, 2021, I was paid $6.67!

As you can see, I am not really after a payout. Money is nice, so don’t get me wrong about this. I wish it could be more. But, I know what I write about only resonates with a small number of readers here on Medium.

There are times the topics and stories can be applied to anyone that has a career in a creative endeavor. Also, there are life lessons in what an artist does and does not do.

So why leave?

There have been many changes here on Medium, and I quit reading many of the articles posted on how to write …which was my primary purpose for being here… to learn to write better so the other places I do write would be better. They keep regurgitating the same stuff. Give it a break!

It has become harder to find the articles I would want to read.

And, heaven forbid, I am writing a book about “being an artist.” This was my main reason to join here and get feedback, maybe, but mostly just to write and write better!

I also write newsletters and blog posts on my website. I originally had a blog on Blogspot for many years; and stopped to create instead on FASO (Fine Art Studio Online) those thoughts when I joined to host my artist website. My opinion was, why have two places to write a blog when FASO had the blog capability for me.

I have more reasons to use my time wisely.

I tried Patreon to reach aspiring artists to help them. It was too much to do my own art and market it and keep up with creating lessons every day, or even two a week! I still have the Patreon, and I have four patrons that pay a small amount per month without being on a “tier” program. It is out of the goodness of their hearts because I am giving them about two discussions or lessons per month. I hope to do maybe four … we shall see! I think they believe in me!

I keep up with writing stuff on my Facebook page and for an art organization on a private page on Facebook. I try to use Instagram… and have failed at keeping that up to date regularly, and oh my … I tried to use Twitter! I have rarely done a post here and there.

As you can see, it can be a bit of work to keep me in front of the world to promote my artwork and to be a good teacher and mentor.

I would leave because it is just one more time-drain that I should maybe use in my blogs for a better purpose.

I can devote that time to making art!

What do you think?