J.B. Sommerset

You might have noticed that things are changing on the site. It's been a long while since I had the time to do any updates. I think now is that time. I am settled in the new digs, I am at one with the wild-life, and I have some time to catch up on a couple of things. Like I said, it's been a super long time since I updated anything on the site. Truth is, there's been a significant uptake in traffic and the old format is outdated and not working the way it used to. So here's the rundown of what will be happening over the next couple of months. 1) First, the site is going to get reworked. Not completely redone, just reworked for now. Google has migrated it's domains to Squarespace and we might be moving to that platform, not sure yet. I need to see how flexible it is and if it offers something that will make this process easier. 2) My gallery will be updated and old pictures will be removed, and new ones will be added. Also the stores that I sell my art through will b...

"Sun on the Tracks" (Photo Credit: J.B. Sommerset (c) 2024 ) Sometimes we need a reminder that the only thing that keeps us from being ourselves is the fear that there will be a fair amount of judgement with that endeavor. If there were no fear in the becoming than there would be no value in it's lessons and self actualization would mean nothing. So, here's a good quote in that vein... "I'll be here waiting, just the other side of your fear. So, are you going to come find me? Who am I you ask? Well, I am you, the you that is waiting for you to become." J.B. Sommerset Cheers!

"Mud and Snow" (Photo Credit: J.B. Sommerset ) Sometimes it pays to have a "down to Earth quote" one that's really note sophisticated or complex, one that is simple, but makes since in ways that the common man can understand. I have a whole section in my notebooks dedicated to this kind of quote. I call it "the simple man section". Given that this is another election year, I thought this one fit the bill, enjoy.  "If you are going to be lazy and cut corners, you probably shouldn't do it while wiping your ass." J.B. Sommerset Cheers!

I must admit, I hate words like "influencer" and "content creator", especially with regard to the interwebs . The interwebs has changed so much in the arts, least of all is the dignity of true artists. It takes away from the actual title and what it means to be an author, artist, or musician. As an example, when you are a writer, it's pretty clear what you do- you write. When you are an artist, it's also pretty clear what you do- you create art. A musician creates music and a sculpture makes... well you get the idea.  Ad nauseam!   I do not associate " influencer " or "content creator" with   any specific talent or creative outlet, other than marketing themselves as such and convincing people to believe that's what they are. That being said, I also acknowledge that whether I want it to change or not, the arts are changing; a rebranding if you will. And as much as I hate the terms used, that is the future for a while.  I read a lot of ...

I wanted to share a little piece of the next chapter of the book of Sommerset. I have mentioned that I am moving back to the woods, I have also said that I am currently trying to finish building a house- it's pretty easy to put the clues together and figure out what is going on. I am building a home in the country. No, I don't mean big pickup trucks, cattle, and 40 acres of pasture with barns and fields. No, what I mean is remote, on a mountainside, and surrounded by forest.  This will be my forest stronghold where I will work on my art, my writing, and my web presence via satellite technologies (As much as I do not like some of this world's billionaires, I must succumb to some of the products they create- this time there was no way around it). So expect me to keep posting and updating. I will have a studio there, for both videography and sound. Hopefully, the youtube channel will gain some traction and I can post more and more of my art. Also maybe so collaborations, we wi...

There's no easy way to say this... I think we should see other people and years. It's not you, it's me, 2022. I don't think we have anything in common anymore. I need room to grow, and I don't think you can offer me that. We can still be friends, it's just that I need more from a year. It's time to go, my Uber is here... yes. Yes, that is 2023. I am sorry. I didn't want it to happen, I wasn't looking for a new year but there it was. It just happened. I have to go. Look, I am sure you will be fine, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Maybe I will see you around. Goodbye, 2022. (Photo credit Jill Wellington) Cheers!

Just a quick update since I have been so sporadic about updating the "NEWS" page. It's been few and far between the updates. The last one was almost 4 months apart from the previous post, which tells me I don't need a news page and that all news and updates will be posted here on the feed to make things simpler.  So some news for the site. First off, I am still considering changing platforms and making a special gallery page for the art I post. The current one is too simplistic and outdated.  Secondly, I plan to add a new section on the site for ongoing works where I will post the before editing and the after editing for some of my current content, meaning that I might post a paragraph in rough, rewrite, and final with the mark up for anyone out there looking to see how I do it.  Lastly, I plan to find new platforms for my stores and consolidate them into one place. I like the services I have used, but I noticed that the end products were not the quality I wanted them...

I have been fighting this for a long time because I don't much care for social media, however, I am trying to broaden my marketing presence and establish a bigger online persona. So, I now have an account on the "Twitters." They tell me my handle is ( @JBSommerset ). So join me over there where I will be posting my brain droppings from time to time!  Cheers, and keep on creating!

So the new site is up and running, I have finished the social media buttons, and to the best of my knowledge, they work. I will be testing them out soon. Also, I will be dropping the FB sometime soon and will include links to that here (when it is published). Check the sidebar for more updates as it unfolds, they will be under the "Other Projects" page. I will be adding more artwork soon as well, and hopefully, I can find the time to update twice a week.  The new site is also way more mobile-friendly, so, too all you people who prefer to access it on the phone or tablet, it is much more compatible with smartphones now. In fact, the mobile version is much sleeker and user friendly, I kind of like it more. One of the things I want to add to the site is a page where my short stories (at least some of them) can be downloaded and read. Not all of them, but I have enough that I can share them for free. Some of the stories will include my science fiction works,  Stories fro...

So, if you haven't noticed, the site is completely different, updated I might add. The old one was looking a little sad, so I revamped the site and took all the old information and ported it over. I hope you all like the new look.  Updates will come more regularly, and so will content. I decided to go with something a little more contemporary- in net terms, modern, within the last two years. Everyone knows anything older is obsolete.  With that being said, there are some new things I wanted to add, and somethings I wanted to remove. I wanted to simplify the site and focus more on what I love. I want to focus on writing, design, and artwork.  I wanted to sleek looking sidebar that pops out when needed but stays hidden for the rest of the time. To check that out, click on the three lines above (upper left below the title). The sidebar should pop out. I wanted a much simpler look. I took all my complete works and put them on one page. Each can be accessed in...