Value of Facebook?

[Stanka Kordic]

I find Facebook to be very entertaining, and also informative.

Only about 10% of my 'friends' are actual friends. The rest are artists from all parts of the world. The neat thing for me is, they (me too) post our work in the albums, and it has been tremendously valuable for me to see what other people are doing. Because I'm researching the art market, I check out galleries, listen to conversations around that issue, and learn quite a lot. I would never have known some of these artists existed, if it not for fb.

Yes, generally speaking most people don't post for critique, but it has been done, and done well. I've asked questions, and have always gotten generous and kind responses.

Basically, I use it for work. And to check on my kids

And yes, it can be addicting.

[Natalie Hunsaker]

I see a lot of my friends advertising their businesses on FB, and I'll admit to having an album of recent paintings but I don't honestly expect to get any work from it. I also get kind of annoyed when I get invited to join a bunch of friend's groups for their products that I have never and will never buy. I mean, I love my friends and all, but . . .

I only use it for the most part because my daughter is deaf and FB is a great way to network with other deaf people. Can't call them all on the phone to invite them to a party, you know!

So in the end, Facebook is used more for my private social life, while LinkedIn is more of a career-oriented, work site. I don't see any harm in either but for painters I really don't think it's the best way to advertise. Either or both typically work better for products aimed for the masses. When your clientele are upper-middle and higher class individuals, the chances of them seeing your art while surfing FB is very low.