I went to a panel discussion about media in the age of the Internet. Mark Baratelli, who founded The Daily City blog was part of the discussion, so I wanted to support him and learn a thing or two. The other panelists were Lora Daiz, a journalist from Local 6 News and Catherine Brown from Clear Channel Communications. Social Media is offering opportunities to reach an ever increasing audience if you have a message to share. New platforms keep appearing and media need to keep on top of the curve to keep track of what is trending. Yesterday I tarted using instagram for the first time and I was shocked at the response when I posted my first blurry photo of a sketch in progress. Now I need to set aside time each day to fire off some instagram image. The problem is of course that involves devoting more time to marketing rather than creating art. My iPhone always spins for a few minutes thinking about what it wants to do. I am beginning to think I am spending too much of my life waiting for software to click on. When the technology works it is magic. I need to find the right balance so that I’m not overwhelmed by the demands of having a virtual social life. When I’m sketching everything comes into focus and I feel that my life is being fully lived. Social media is my way to find sketching opportunities that get me fully involved in the world around me.