I boost art (as long as it has image descriptions)!

[artemis@dice.camp]

This is why I'm sharing my art, even though I'm tempted to put quotation marks around the word (I'm fighting that impulse).

I'm proud of the skills I'm building, but I think *focusing* on skill has really hurt my ability to create freely & intuitively (or at all really). I'm not "practicing" so I can make art. I'm making art because it's a sign that I am alive & aware & experiencing the world.

[artemis@dice.camp]

I'm inviting you—if you want—into courageous & self-compassionate artistic expression.

I've been using the hashtag #MakingArt on my stuff, so if you want to share what you're making alongside me, you could do that (or don't, up to you).

You can create things AND you can take joy in sharing your expression with others. You do NOT need to achieve some arbitrary level of "skill" or use any particular medium in any particular way. Just be & do & share.

[artemis@dice.camp]

You can make paintings with mud on concrete for all I care. It's all valid. Just make things & try to be attentive & aware of yourself, your creative work, & the world (in whatever way that manifests for you).

That's it. Congrats. You're an artist.

[liliedubh@medievalist.masto.host]

@artemis

We aren't great at picture art. We sometimes do wordstuff if we are feeling it. That okay?

[artemis@dice.camp]

@liliedubh
It's fucking wonderful, is what it is! Yes, it's very welcome 💜

[artemis@dice.camp]

Someone else asked about sharing art with words instead of visual art, & yes, please! Poetry, fiction, whatever you make, I want to see it & share that with you. Not to mention, there is music too! And other things I am forgetting.

If you are creating things, please share with us. It's wonderful that you are doing that. It's wonderful to get to see/hear/read unique expressions of you & your experiences.

#MakingArt

[artemis@dice.camp]

Image descriptions of art don't need to capture every detail, but you can mention the medium, the colors, the focal point (if there is one), the shapes, figures, words, or symbols, & even something a little subjective about how you perceive & experience it.

You're not trying to describe to someone every single detail of an image. That's too much for both you & those reading the description. You can tell people WHAT it is though & give them a little context.

[artemis@dice.camp]

If you want to share pictures or videos of your art & can't or don't know how to do an image description, I suggest posting with the Alt4Me hashtag, and then you can update the post once someone offers a description.

I don't recommend trying to use a bot to describe art works. It helps to have a human who can give a sense of what they see.

[artemis@dice.camp]

It IS okay to ask for help with image descriptions! That's what the Alt4Me hashtag is for! There are people out there who are happy to help make Fedi accessible for all people, so if this is hard for you, please ask for help.

[artemis@dice.camp]

And please remember, if you didn't provide an image description & someone replies to your post with one of their own, they are not attacking you & they are not trying to show you up or make you look bad (or at least they shouldn't be).

When someone offers you an image description for something you post, they are saying that they see value in what you posted & want more people to be able to interact with it.

So don't take offense—it's a good thing!

[humanadverb@dice.camp]

@artemis You did free labor to help what I said reach more people?

How very dare you.

[staringatclouds@mstdn.social]

@artemis I post alt text a lot, I really hope I haven't upset any people doing it

[artemis@dice.camp]

@staringatclouds
Fortunately most people don't take offense, & it is really helpful for an accessible Fedi!

[staringatclouds@mstdn.social]

@artemis Well no one's ever shouted at me for it but mutes & blocks are invisible

[melioristicmarie@tech.lgbt]

@staringatclouds
i also toot alt text if it's something i want to boost. 💜 sometimes people add it or something of their own, and then i boost.
@artemis

[diondokter@fosstodon.org]

@artemis Social media should show counters for how many times the alt text was looked at.

I try to add it to all/most of the images I post. But it has 0 visible payoff for me.

Am I writing it for it to disappear into the aether with no mortal eye ever having seen it? Or is it actually useful?

I know the answers are no and yes respectively, but it doesn't feel like it.

[silvermoon82@wandering.shop]

@diondokter @artemis
There are more blind/low vision people on fedi than corporate social media, in my experience, not to mention all the other people who use alt text for whatever reason.
If you're posting it, there's a really good shot it's being seen and appreciated by someone. I know I always appreciate it when I see it.

[cstamp@mastodon.social]

@artemis So far, folk have been great when I reply with alt text. They usually thank me and add it in. :)

[ulan_ka@social.tchncs.de]

@CStamp @artemis Also my experience, with *very * rare exceptions. (Where I generally decided to mute. I see no reason to get huffy at anyone who is of a differing opinion about alt texts.)

[rantingcanuck@mstdn.ca]

@staringatclouds @artemis

As someone with ADHD I sometimes start something online, get distracted, and then when I comeback to it forget to add the alt text... so I would never take offence when someone adds an alt text, in fact I appreciate it