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Art Magazine
Artful Blogging

Review
Although Somerset Studio® began publishing their quarterly magazine, Artful Blogging, in the spring of 2008, it wasn’t until the summer of 2008 that I discovered the magazine. Like many, I wondered if the magazine would be able to hold my interest beyond the first year—after all, the Internet is full of free and amazing blogs to explore, and I couldn’t see paying $14.99 per issue, or $59.99 per year. But here we are in year two and I can honestly say that each issue continues to hold my interest.

In 144 pages, we are introduced to 9 or so bloggers—some of whom we've already had the honor of running into online and others, we've yet to discover. Some of whom are famous in the blogosphere, and others who—after a year or so online—are finally coming into their own. We discover artists of all genre: painters, mixed media, sculpters, jewelers, bakers, quilters, collagists, writers, photographers, and even crafters. Some blog for the pure pleasure of sharing their little worlds with the universe, others blog as a way to build an audience for their e-stores—to show a personal side to their handcrafted goods, and others blog to find purpose, but all blog because they believe blogging makes the world a better place.

While the magazine has a cohesive look and feel, each blogger is allowed the freedom to write their stories in their own words—in their natural voices. And through these stories we learn how they discovered blogging, why they began their own blogs, what lessons they’ve learned through blogging, and why they take the time each day (or week or month) to continue blogging and conversing with other bloggers through post comments and social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook.

Each feature story is followed up with a partial post from the blogger’s personal blog and plenty of eye candy—photos of their creations, their lives, their personas. And sprinkled within those features are one or two Q&A sections dealing with some aspect of blogging, like why an artist chose to hold a certain challenge or contest and how that affected both the blogger and her readers.

Finally, there’s a two-page spread on banners the editors like, a form letter-like segment on blogging etiquette and taking great blog photos, and a two to three page spread on blogging tools.

And while there is no outside advertising, there are approximately eight to ten pages of Somerset Studio® advertisements—which mostly go unnoticed because they blend so well with the rest of the magazine.

If there is one thing this magazine is lacking, however, it would be “how-to” articles on blogging; because of as of right now, the magazine is all fluff and no meat. And for $15 per issue, I’d like a little meat.

Look, I love the title and I really like the features on the bloggers; especially all the eye candy! But what is so wrong with expanding on the title’s concept and adding four to six pages of real meat—even if it means eliminating just one blogger’s feature in each issue?

I’m not suggesting turning this beautiful, heartfelt magazine into a hyped-out “how you can make money selling your art online” piece of crap. But I am suggesting that each issue contain one or two well-thought articles on how to create “visually inspiring online journals”—and written by everyday bloggers, not experts who tend to write dry and without personal experience.

Articles like how to find your authentic voice; how to use proper grammar without going back to English class; how to select photos that match your post’s content; how to tell a story from the heart; why it’s important to seek permission when using other people’s likeness, artwork, or writing on a blog; when is sharing too much (i.e. jeopardizes your family’s safety); what to do when a reader’s comment is hurtful; how to take better photographs at night, in the house, outside, of people, of items, etc.

That one flaw aside, I have to say that I really enjoy the magazine. With each issue I find myself inspired to continue to search for my own “true” and “authentic” artistic voice. And I enjoy getting to know the reasons behind why people blog, how an open and free forum has changed lives, and essentially, what makes them tick as artists, as mothers, as wives, as women.

If you’re ready to get to know the real people behind their blogs, if you love being visually stimulated, and if can’t wait to discover new blogs to add to your blogroll, then I encourage you to pick up a copy of the Artful Blogging today.

Order Artful Blogging Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer purchased this magazine at the time of the review. (11-09)