| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| earthyvirgo |
What would you expect or want from an Artist's websiteAs quite a few of you know, I made a decision to go back to being a full time artist a couple of months ago. It's going really well, I've not had doubts once. 5 new paintings have been delivered to 2 galleries so far, and lots of other work in progress. Started a new print yesterday after being out in the wind and rain with sketchbook and camera - wet fun!.Now, my thoughts are turning to my new website and I wondered if I could ask a few questions here to see what people think - I don't want to create a site that is simply my idea of what my 'audience' wants to see. These are my scribbles so far; Design wise - clean, smart, non-fussy design which shows off the art. Content... - Gallery/portfolio of images - Shop. Would you buy art from a website? ... or would you use it to as a reference and find out where the artists work can be seen. - List of exhibitions (past, current, future - a bit dull or necessary to show that I'm not an overnighter?) - A bit about me? Would you be intererested in knowing about an artist's background/education etc or is that too CV'ish? ... - Techniques/Styles - how I work - Diary/blog Anything which would make you cringe? (I'm passionate about my painting/printmaking but hopefully not one for spouting incomprehensible tosh about why I paint.) Any thoughts would be really appreciated. EarthyV |
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| marigold |
Sounds about right to me - make sure the images a re quick to load even on slower connections. I prefer thumbnails and click-to-enlarge to slideshow-type displays myself, but offering a choice might please more people  .
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| sally_in_wales |
I like seeing some sample prices on an artists site, even when its clear that different paintings may vary wildly, it helps to know whether the artists work is generally within my price bracket or not. | ||||||||
| judith |
Re: What would you expect or want from an Artist's website- Gallery/portfolio of imagesDefinitely. - Shop. Would you buy art from a website? ... or would you use it to as a reference and find out where the artists work can be seen. I probably wouldn't buy from a website unless I had first seen other work by the artist in the flesh, as it were. So: - List of exhibitions (past, current, future - a bit dull or necessary to show that I'm not an overnighter?) Is essential. Certainly current and future exhibitions. Past ones would be worth a mention too, but not too much about them. - A bit about me? Would you be intererested in knowing about an artist's background/education etc or is that too CV'ish? ... I would be interested in the person, rather than the CV, but a bit of educational background might be relevant. - Techniques/Styles - how I work This is of less interest to me - I either like the work or I don't. How you got to it doesn't really matter me, although again it would probably interest other artists. - Diary/blog Not so interesting to me (nothing personal ), but it is a useful tool to build up a following.
Anything which would make you cringe? (I'm passionate about my painting/printmaking but hopefully not one for spouting incomprehensible tosh about why I paint.) Hmmm. The incomprehensible blurb seems to be expected, but is a bit of a turn-off for me. Again, I either like something or I don't. If a work doesn't 'speak' to me, then half a page of waffle won't make any difference. |
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| bagpuss |
I would by art from a website but you might want to make sure you have a very clear returns policy if you do decide to go that way
I second Sallys suggestion of sample prices |
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| gz |
trying to send you a pm!
Computer is playing up! see www.whitefire-design.co.uk (my daughter, can advise you- freelance designer) also www.meriwells.co.uk as an example of an artist's website 
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| bagpuss |
Very interesting thanks You mistyped the first url unfortunately http://www.whitefire-designs.co.uk/ works much better |
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| welsh veg grower |
Happy to help, we can do a bit of research of other sites etc.
It also depends on what you re trying to achieve from the web site. i. bring in customers, commissions, money for actual work, or interest in booking you for exhibitions etc. Why dont we have another bottle of wine one evening and map it out, I know a great web designer by the way
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| RichardW |
Dont forget not everyone has a 1 terrabite fibre optic internet pipe.
Keep it clean, lean & mean. Simple is best. Just because you can does not mean you should (use all the modern bells & whistles of web site design). Do protect your images (physically & intellectually). People do like video clips, perhaps a time lapse of you doing some work? Viral marketing works get on the tube etc. Blogging & a forum do attract punters but will detract from your working time available. Richard |
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| vegplot |
Excellent idea, while you're doing that I'll just skivvy away in the garden and shift bits of rotting wood around. 
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| vegplot |
Good idea. Video is the Internet medium of the future and social networking tools have made it easier to get noticed. |
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| arvo |
Always worth adding stuff to the shop like bags and t-shirts. It allows your 'fans' to follow your work and show their appreciation. (Usefully, its also great marketing in itself.)
Also, have you have you heard about corporate dealers who buy large lumps of work for hotels (presumably prints of stuff as well). Sorry I haven't got a name or a link. |
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| TheGrange |
Re: What would you expect or want from an Artist's website
I used to paint and draw nudes, sold a fair few over the years, but i have purchased several paintings from off the net. What i've found is they colour of certain paintings (especially oils) are done no justice in online images. Besides you don't benefit from the distance effect. Pencil drawings do not seem as crisp in an image as reality. Overall if you are purchasing a picture for the concept of a designed room and the art work is more to add to a 'look' than any content buying online is adequate But buying a 'piece' of artwork is best seen in the flesh. Although i have commissioned artwork from what i have seen online by an artist. |
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| vegplot |
It's arvo. |
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| gil |
Re: What would you expect or want from an Artist's website
I would definitely include past exhibitions - shows you have a track record. Also if there were any reviews of the exhibitions, could include or link to them.
Definitely info about you, and I think a CV [maybe main points, and anything art-related] would be good
Something I would find interesting, from the point of view of the artist's 'craft' as well as the art aspect - esp printmaking
Maybe, but takes time away from art And Whether or not you do commissions, and best way to contact/approach you for this. Timescale required [vaguely, so that folk don't phone up asking for a birthday present to be delivered in a week] |
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| mark |
Before you start creating a site or thinking what is on it (or just copying other sites) you need to think how it will be used and go get in the mind of users.
Most people would never buy an original by a lesser known artist from a website if they had not seen it first at an exhibition or in some other situation. - so in this case the main function of the website would be somewhere you could refer people to (maybe who liked you work but were not quite ready to buy) However people will buy prints online for gifts - and if you like many others offer limited edition prints etc the internet is a good way of selling - esp if you can offer online payment with delivery to another address with a message and a good gift wrapping etc. - in this case you need to think how peoel searchign for gifts wil find your website and design its content to rank high in suitable searches (eg when someone searches for "Valentines Gifts Pigs" they find your painting with a pig in it - or if they search for "art Cornwall gifts" they get you drawings of Cornish scenes etc). I have certainly bough art gifts this way myself. Thirdly your website is an online portfolio if you are seeking commissions and needs to be designed withthis in mind (this is behind a lot of the artists websites you see online). Get your aim right and then let that determine your content and layout and the look of your website. mark |
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| earthyvirgo |
Gosh, thanks everyone for all the replies, very insightful. It's so easy to make assumptions and be way off line.
Please bear with comments back en-bloc otherwise it'll take me forever; Marigold - yup, essential, I'll be using a 'lightbox' tool and have clickable thumbnails. Judith - really interesting that for you it's the work that counts and to hell with the artist (pretty much). It's how I think too but so many people purchase art as a kudos thing. I would much rather sell work because people fell in love with it. That's the biggest reward. Sally - I'm lucky in that if my paintings aren't affordable (they're not hugely expensive), usually my prints are and they're very limited editions, not reproductions. The only thing with showing prices is that diff galleries have different commission rates so that'll need explaining clearly. Cheaper if you come direct to the artist ... but I don't have my own exhibition space - yet. Bagpuss - I'm not sure how a return policy could work with art. My thought is that once a painting is sold, that's it. If the buyer 'goes off it' that's their look out? I think that would be par for the course with most artists ... I might be wrong GZ, I'll be designing the site myself ... for various reasons. My 'day job' was in web design and secondly, I'd be a customer from hell! I'm a big fan of Meri Wells work, love the creatures. WVG - brainstorming over a bottle of wine sounds like a fine idea
RichardW - some really salient points there. Marketing is a tricky one. I need to spend my time painting and I'm not mad about the public side of it, it just isn't me, but I know I need to be a bit better on the hard sell. Arvo - yeah, I've thought that some of the linocuts might work well on limited edition pottery, I wonder if Portmeirion would be interested ... or Downsizer type bags. Definately something to investigate as is the corporate market, art in public spaces TheGrange - Didn't know you were an artist! I'm a bit, no, a lot uncomfortable with the concept of art being sold as part of a designed room  "I'd like a red painting please to compliment my beige walls" No, no, it's just not right -... I know it happens though.
Gil - mmm, commissions, always a dilemma. Have done in the past and it always had me in a tizz. Reckon I agree with you about a blog. I can see the benefits but I wouldn't want to feel obliged to be updating it every day. The work has to come first. Diolch yn fawr pawb EarthyV |
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| vegplot |
Don't forget to monitor your stats regularly sweetness and light.
I think your current site already has a lot to offer but the suggestions provided could go a long away to improve it. |
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| gil |
[Sets of ] prints available as [sets of] postcards ?
Difficult maybe, as printing small runs of A6 could be expensive. Just thinking on from pottery or DS bags. Ian Hamilton Finlay [Little Sparta] - the shop there had a set of photos of his work as black and white postcards. Wouldn't want to detract from actual sales of your actual work, though. |
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| earthyvirgo |
Current site is a bit tired and old-fash, design and tech wise. Stats currently show the home page (as expected) the most visited, followed by Diary (people are quite nosey) and Life Drawing pages (people like to look at naked bods ), with The Artist following close behind.
EarthyV |
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| bagpuss |
For postcards you could get them from somewhere like http://uk.moo.com/en/ |
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| bagpuss |
This is very true. You might want to consider if you are selling online how to make sure your art is very well represented so people do have a clear idea of it before they by it then so they won't be disappointed if they do get it |
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| Pel |
This is my cousin's website she is also an artist, might give you some more ideas or ways not to do things.
http://www.clairecarpenter.co.uk/index.html |
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| resistance is fertile |
All sounds great advice in the main.
I like a gallery on websites but feel that how the work looks hung is one of the main deciding factors over buying. I personally wouldnt put too much personal stuff, press is better as it gives you an air of mystery and what someone else says about you is always better (normally!!)
A few lines of tosh about where a piece is 'coming from' are essential in my view and how well that is done says alot to me about the artist
Diary/other venues and exhibitions are also essential as are 'private view' offers that make people feel a bit special and allow you to get a lot of sold stickers up prior the the main opening. Have you thought about a suitable agent? all the aretists in my family found this changed things dramatically in economic terms and in getting across to a wider but well focused audience. All the best, oh and make sure the website is classy but serene, like all the best galleries
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| dpack |
quality |