Switchin' shit up

Ever since I uninstalled my social media apps, I've had that old saying stuck in my head: "You can't win if you don't play."

After doing some more digging, I've come to realize that Facebook has bought out just about every messaging service and social media platform, and what they DON'T own is either owned by Google, Microsoft, Russia, or Japan. Microsoft has been mining data and expiramenting  on us since the beginning of our computer age, and I won't even get started on Google. So if someone is collecting all of my data, I guess I'd rather it be my own government than another, so it is what it is at this point. You can't even USE the apps if you don't give them permission to track, store, and use your data against you.

SO, I've come to the conclusion that if people can use the "family and friends platform" as their free pornhub, then I can use it to start a revolution, share my work, and share my voice. How does that Queen and David Bowie song go, "You can sit on the fence, but that don't work?" I've sat on the fence too long, I've sat here and "looked pretty," kept my mouth shut and avoided conflict by people pleasing, nodding my head yes when I actually disagree, and letting people use and steamroll me because I believed that's "just the way it goes." But not anymore.

There's is a difference between being a kind person and being an idiot. I've been the latter for most of my life, therefore I have nothing to show for all of my years of hard work and sacrifices, because I've given everything I have (materialistic and non materialistic) to people who only take and never give back. Leeches and narcissists have some kind of energy radar for people like me; they see the pain in your eyes, the sadness and loneliness, they see your trauma baggage then use it all to swing you around until you're dizzy, dazed, confused and don't have a fucking clue who you even are anymore. And then, while you're trying to gain your balance and composure, they use that chance to dig their fangs into you and suck you dry. That's not just a metaphor, anyone who has ever had any kind of relationship with a narcissist will know what I'm talking about- they literally make you physically ill because they suck the life energy right out of you, then leave you to clean up the mess, and apologize for not doing it well enough.

So with all of that being said, this is my announcement that I WON'T be deleting my accounts, however I will be doing what they call, "posting and ghosting." Once or twice a week, I will post only about my work, and then ghost. I won't be keeping up with comments, scrolling through memes or where you ate for dinner. All questions and inquiries should be directed through email at meganhicksartwork@gmail.com.  Keeping up with the constant comment threads and the lives of hundreds of people is mentally exhausting to me and quite honestly, making me go a little off the rails. No wonder were so riddled with anxiety and depression, because spending our lives staring at our phones isn't how it was supposed to be. Mad respect to all of the professional artists out there who keep up with the endless platforms, messages, threads, while making a editing videos and podcasts, plus so much more. I don't know how they do it, but personally, it drains me and I feel like I've spent more time on social media keeping up with everyone else, trying to get the perfect shots of my work, and trying to word things perfectly to just maybe get around the algorithms, than I do actually working.

For the time being, I will still have Facebook messenger, however if you're looking for a custom piece, I will be doing things differently with those from here on out and asking you to copy and paste a questionare to answer, then send back to me through email. Application does not guarantee approval, I will only be accepting commissions that I feel fit my style, my schedule, my skills, and my interests. It can take over a year for me to finish a work of art, so please keep this in mind when requesting an application for larger paintings or paintings that you are wanting to gift for a birthday or holiday.

I'm aware that most could care less about my art or my opinion, that's cool, it really is. But if I can ask you to do one thing for me, it would be this: to please, PLEASE, go outside today, WITHOUT your phone, computer watch, tablet or whatever, and just look up. Please, just spend five minutes outside by yourself without any technology and look at the clouds, look at the way the way the light hits the grass or leaves on a tree. Close your eyes and listen to the wind rustling through those leaves that will soon be gone. Just take five minutes to sit outside and enjoy BEING ALIVE. Enjoy a few simple, quiet moments in the sun, that's all I'm asking. Please do this for me today.

"Happy painting, and God bless my friends."

-Megan