Creativity during the pandemic.
We are living in hard times, but you must keep creating.
Hello Creators
Hope you all are safe and indoors.
Let’s not sugarcoat it, we know this is a very hard time. To talk about creativity and art while there are all-time high COVID-19 cases, while the health system in the country is falling apart, while there are indifferent politicians doing political rallies, is a devastating privilege. And for better or for worse we have that luxury, we yield a kind of power, we owe some responsibilities, to ourselves and to the community.
We are living in hard times, but you must keep creating. That’s the only way you can sustain yourself, not economically but spiritually and morally. Art is the only thing that will keep you sane when you are surrounded by the numbness, the uncertainty of all. Art in times as hard as this becomes an act of self-preservation. It acts as a moral compass and a source of strength.
But you must also keep creating for others out there. For people who are navigating pain and trauma more intimately than you are.
Art has its unique way of evoking joy and empathy. Art in times as hard as this also becomes an act of social service.
It empowers the fallen and brings people together.
Pinterest announced the launch of a $500,000 Creator Fund, called the Creator Code to ensure it remains an “inclusive, positive and inspiring place.” It also launched comment moderation tools and an updated algorithm that deters negative or offensive content.
We’ve been building Pinterest for 11 years, and ever since our users routinely tell us that Pinterest is the ‘last positive corner of the internet.’ In that time, we’ve also learned that you need to design positivity into online platforms as deliberately as much as you design negativity out.
Evan Sharp, Co-founder and Chief Design and Creative Officer, Pinterest
LinkedIn has added new profile features, including video cover stories and 'Creator Mode'
“When the new 'Creator Mode' option is switched on, users will be able to add a selection of hashtags to indicate what topics they post about most on the platform, which will help LinkedIn showcase them to interested audiences. Creator Mode will also move your 'Featured' and 'Activity' sections to the top of your Profile to more prominently display the content you post, while your 'Connect' button will update to 'Follow' instead, in order to help users build an audience in the app.”
“This new release showcases WeTransfer’s focus on helping their users better organise their client workflows and deliver ideas with maximum impact. Every WeTransfer Pro product is designed for the visualisation of creative work, and built-in branding features including custom URLs, logos, fonts, and colors help freelancers show up like a pro.”
What can you learn from posting every day on LinkedIn?
“I began with very little engagement and around four "likes" per post. Over the course of the year, my following has grown to over 6,000 followers. On any other platform, this wouldn’t be much, but on LinkedIn, you can build a strong, tight-knit community that pays dividends in opportunity.”
Writing for Instagram? Here’s something that might help. Happy writing!
The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.
The War of Art
How to keep creating FRESH content every week? How does every other person have an unlimited supply of great ideas? They don’t. All the answers can be found on the internet itself.
“Most of the things that we produce and create are not 100% original. We’re taking other ideas and we’re synthesizing them, the way that you take all of those ingredients for your taco, and you synthesize it based on what you want to say, what you want to eat, or how you feel. Some people put more lettuce on, or more cheese, or more salsa. But the bottom line is it’s still the same ingredients whether you go to Taco Bell or whether you get it fresh, the difference is how you prepare it.”
If you are venturing to develop your niche, then this is the article for you.
Belonging is the secret sauce. When you feel like you’re accepted and cherished as a member of this subculture, it’s a hell of a lot easier to play and win the long game of creative business.
“Chances are, you won’t feel a profound sense of belonging right away. It takes time to develop. But you should have a sense of whether those seeds exist in this niche. Could you belong here? Could you enjoy your time creating for these people, and being internet friends with them?”
Why does every brand need a good storyteller?
“Often the challenge with owned media is getting the balance right. Because brands have complete control over owned media, it’s tempting to use the platforms as forms of advertising. However, consumers can see right through this. This is why more brands are hiring former journalists to execute their content marketing. They have the editorial mindset, a deep understanding of what makes a good story and the right approach to creating engaging content that will connect.”
We are all aware of the NFT storm that has taken over the internet, but what does it translate to for Indian Creators?
“Since NFT marketplaces and many buyers and sellers are located outside India, Indian participants in the NFT ecosystem could be seen as making cross-border transfers of NFTs. This would raise questions under FEMA, such as whether there is an export or import of an intangible asset. If so, the transaction has to have a corresponding remittance of fiat currency done through authorized banking channels. Crypto-crypto NFT transactions are hence in an ambiguous position. Indian parties may choose to transact in NFTs through fiat currencies, duly reported to their authorized dealer banks, for a more risk-averse (though restrictive) approach.”
The Indian Art Market currently has unprecedented momentum. VS Gaitonde’s work registered a total sale value of Rs 39.98 crore, breaking all the records.
“The Indian art auction market has stood its ground through the course of 2020. As a matter of fact, modern Indian art, to be specific, has also proven to be a safe asset with long-term goals and has even performed well during inflationary periods. Given the current exposure that Indian art is receiving, the projected turnover of the market will hold its ground, and further, expand over the next decade.”
Lastly, read the caption for some reality check
The pandemic is not over yet, in fact, it’s stronger and uglier than ever. Please avoid stepping out and take all precautionary measures.
Stay safe, and let us know how you plan to navigate these uncertain times through your creativity and art.
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