#MermaidAtali

[samarasart]

Hi. You may call me Samara or Mara. I am 33 years old and an author/illustrator from Germany. After being on instagram for more than 2 years and trying to get people to see my art and grow my account, I not even cracked the 400 follower mark despite posting weekly content and trying my best to be an engaging active user (aka "please the algorithm by becoming dumber and dumber from the overwhelming amount of content and burn out from the pressure the algorithm gives you if you DARE not post anything for 1 week"). I've just about had it with instagram. You need golden child status to grow on their platform. That's what it's all about for them: Money. You don't make them money, they don't grow you. You dare to take a break because you're burned out or you have to work fulltime and have a life offline? They punish you with low reach. I tried for more than 2 years. Wasn't enough. Maybe on tumblr I can finally be at peace and create my art in peace, without pressure. Instagram makes me feel bad. I work hard on my content and artwork, only for it to be seen by maybe 5-10% of my (organic) audience of 350-ish people and then disappear into the neverending void that's called the Algorithm. And I am not going to play this game any longer. So byyyyeee, instagram! That's just how it is, eh? Anyway on this blog you can see how my book/art project comes to life. You like norsemen (aka "vikings", but not every norseman is a viking!) and mermaids? Well today is your lucky day, because my story is about a norseman and his mermaid.... or... a mermaid and her norseman? Wait.... who fell in love with whom first? Oh whatever 🧔🏼💙🧜🏼‍♀️ Enjoy the story and enjoy the art. And don't forget to follow 😊 -mara