Pia shares Her Dark Half - XXIV

WHY ART? Does it make a difference? Is it important?

That’s a resounding YES. Let me remind you why art is not “just” entertainment.

Art can make us feel, think, learn, and grow. It can be a form of therapy by helping us express our emotions and work through difficult experiences. Art can be a powerful tool for communication and understanding. It can bring people together from different cultures and backgrounds.

Art challenges us to think critically and to question the status quo. It can be a source of inspiration and be used to raise awareness about important issues. I’ve dedicated my own art to women’s causes and mental health awareness. (That reminds me - May is/was Mental Health Awareness Month!)

In short, art matters and enriches our lives. It is a vital part of our culture and it is something we should all cherish and support.

Why do I bring this up?

Because all you artists out there need to hear this: Your art is unique and irreplaceable! Your art has value! Remember this when you have your moments of doubt and question yourself as an artist. With all the current happenings, from the writer’s strike to AI developing by leaps and bounds, it is no wonder why there’s more anxiety and worry amongst artists of all types. As if artists need any more angst and self-doubt!

I face this ‘value’ question every time I have to put a price on my own art pieces. How much is too much? Am I asking too little? I often need these reminders myself:

• An artist’s time is valuable. It’s the most precious resource they have.

• Art is valuable. It is a reflection of an artist’s unique skills and perspective that is worth paying for.

• Artists should not devalue their work by giving it away for free. It can lead to burnout and exploitation. Not to mention the emotional toll and loss of inspiration.

If you want to be a successful artist, you need to send the message that your art is valuable. There’s only one YOU creating YOUR art. You're also helping to create a more sustainable market for other artists.

Truly scary thoughts

Self-doubt sucks. When it strikes, these quick pointers might help:

• Remember that everyone feels self-doubt. Even the most successful artists have moments when they question their work. It’s part of the creative process for many artists.

• Focus on your strengths. Instead of letting yourself be tormented by your weaknesses and perceived flaws, highlight what you do well and evolve from there.

• Don't compare yourself to others! This is a big one for me and hard not to do when perusing social media, especially Instagram. Everyone's background and path forward is different. So, stahp it!

• Take a break. If you're feeling overwhelmed or burnt out, take a breather from creativity. I’ve talked about this before.

• Celebrate your successes. When you DO make that sale or achieve a set goal, friggin’ live it up! You rock! Let that moment help you build your confidence and get even more inspired.

• Seek/find support. If you're struggling with self-doubt, talk to a trusted friend, family member, therapist, or other artist. Don’t suffer in silence.

It’s important to not let self-doubt stop you from creating. Don’t give up, keep learning; and keep growing as an artist.

In the end…it came to this

After I realized how much time and effort it has taken me to write new issues of Pia shares Her Dark Half on a regular schedule, I came to a conclusion: I need to practice what I preach. My free newsletter just passed the one year anniversary - and it’s time to make a change. I enjoy writing it and I have fun learning new things while researching subjects and going through fact checks. You guys seem to dig it, too, and according to my newsletter analytics, it averages a 65.7% open rate! From what I’ve been told, that’s pretty impressive. It encourages me to keep going - however - I decided this will be my last free Pia shares Her Dark Half newsletter and I’ll be releasing all future editions only on my Patreon. This will also give more value and exclusivity to my future and existing Patreon members, who have been so awesome and supportive!

No need for bitter tears…

This doesn’t have to mean good-bye! For just $3 a month (the price of what… a Starbuck coffee?) you can still read my monthly editions and get much more than ‘just’ my newsletter! You’ll also have access to my ongoing Diary of an Indoor Cat and other writing shenanigans! But wait, that’s not all! (do I sound like Billy Mays yet, heh?) Once you join, you’ll unlock access to my other art projects, past and present. You’ll get sneak peeks of new art, sales heads-up, coupon codes, free digital downloads, behind the scenes posts & photos and videos, fun polls and even ‘giveaways’. My Patreon is an ever evolving page and I’m constantly conjuring up new fun stuff. It’ll also be easy to continue communicating with me through my Patreon account. You’ll have a voice and valued opinion!

So, come to the dark side! We have Pia sharing Her Dark Half! 🖤

Share-worthy stuff I saw or found out about:

Of course, I can’t leave you without some of my dark entertainment recommendations!

TV:

I’ve only watched the first four episodes, but it caught my attention because of the trippy production design. It doesn’t hurt that Tim Robbins is in it and I love the lead actress Rebecca Ferguson - what a badass! Great cast all around and interesting premise. Nothing groundbreaking, but you get a good feel for the characters right away. It’s a dystopian drama about a community that knows life only inside a giant underground silo. Rules are broken…truth is threatening to come out. People die. Silo is dark sci-fi for sure - just like I like it. Streaming on Apple TV+. It’s a little early to rate it, but so far I give it 3 ½ out of 5 Pez dispensers.

Huzzah! Season 3 of The Great just came out and I’ll binge-watch it as soon as I’m done writing here! If you haven’t watched this brilliant dark comedy/historical satire that is very loosely based on Catherine the Great, Empress of all Russia, you need to catch up! Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult are irresistible and their comedic timing is divine. Streaming on Hulu. I give the first two seasons 4 ½ out of 5 broken glasses.

Movies:

My favorite find this month is Huesera: The Bone Woman. Being married and child-free, this body/psychological horror movie is right up my alley. The story is about a married young woman, who seems excited to find out she’s finally pregnant. As her pregnancy progresses, a disturbing entity comes into play. Even though the movie uses dark and supernatural elements, it is a clear allegory for what can happen when you go against your own nature, by force or voluntarily. Without getting preachy, the film does scratch at societal expectations and the pressure women feel in a patriarchy, or in general, to become mothers - ready or not. It’s a creepy slow burn that builds to a gripping conclusion, with captive performances by the cast and an unnerving (in the best way) use of sound design. It is director Michelle Garza Cervera’s first feature film and I can’t wait to see what she does next. I give it 5 out of 5 cracked knuckles. Streaming on Shudder.

Music:

My friends from President Frankenstein just released a new album “Fun Time”! These are the same guys who did the rad soundtrack for my latest short film ‘The Test’. If you like punk with a demented sense of humor, this is the album for you… go check them out!

I made this!

I’ve been getting more prints made of my original art - like this ↑ one, just added to my Her Dark Half Etsy store. Keep checking because I’ll be adding more prints of different originals soon! The colors came out beautifully on quality paper and there are different sizes to choose from. They’re perfect for decorating your place, or as a gift for your fellow fan of the dark side.

Also, if anybody is interested in my upcoming B/W photography book “Light and Dark”, send me a message and I’ll add you to the pre-order list!

Ok then, this is it! Have a great weekend and hope to see you soon on my Patreon! If not, make it a great summer!

Dark greetings,

Pia

This is the last free edition of Pia shares Her Dark Half.

If you’d like to continue reading future editions, unlock them for a small fee via my Patreon page, where you can also gain access to my ongoing Diary of an Indoor Cat and support my other art projects.

You can still read all my previous editions for free and subscribe for quarterly future updates about my projects.

You can also communicate with me via the usual methods on social media. Or find ALL the links and go down the rabbit hole here!

I welcome your support @piathrasher on Venmo or Paypal.

Thank you from the bottom of my black little heart!

Pia