It has been eons I know... and even longer since I posted artwork, but I finally have something to share. So back here I am, even if just for the moment. Back to the people who first encouraged me to create, those who cheered me on, those who supported me through all the highs and lows.



This piece resulted from an invitational exhibition and below is a little information behind the work and process:


I was asked to participate in the Transformations invitational exhibition last spring. At the time I felt a little anxious about agreeing to any artistic project obligation as I've been on a break from fine art, but eager to see if this could shake something loose from my subconscious. Appealing to my background in illustration, the project involved pairing a poet and visual artist together to collaborate.

For the longest time I tried to force a process to the surface, at one time even contemplating tearing up the few paintings i still have and creating a new work from the resulting snippets. Greg and I went down a number of paths before arriving at the finished pieces. We talked about themes we used in our work, symbolism and imagery we might employ to convey a certain concept or idea. He would write works based on these themes and I would attempt a response with imagery.

The thing is, while painting was a huge part of who I was for a number of years, painting is a very personal process for me. A dialog between me, the brush and the canvas - my works were very much like visual journals. It didn't feel right to apply that method to a collaborative project.

My process, too, is a bit unusual. I don't sketch, doodle or jot, instead, I sort of percolate. Ideas come and go in the form of vague images and cloudy concepts. Before, the camera was a significant partner in my painting process. I'd know what idea I wanted to capture and I'd set out collecting the props and setting needed to develop the idea. Shooting image after image (in many cases ending up with over 200 photos to work with). I'd select the final composition and set into painting.

In early 2007, I adapted photography into a creative medium (rather than simply a documentary method). More immediate and forgiving, photography allows me to compose the world around me to fit my motivation. It frees me up to make mistakes and use poor judgment - I haven't lost hours or even days in a single image.

Near the end of the project, the pressure was setting in for me. It seemed my creativity was worn down and I'd have nothing but weakly executed work to hang. Then, tragically my best friend from years ago died suddenly. My world shifted so abruptly. Upon my request, Greg Byrd sent me single lines and snippets from his writings and each struck me like a dagger. It was like I was reading a long lost journal of memories. Details were missing, but the heart and snapshot of the moment was there. I could see how the moments could be anyone's memories, and yet they related so personally to my own life. Immediately the project clicked for me.

I headed out to capture imagery from Greg's writings and interpret them from my own perspective. Memories are delicate things. If we don't use them, they distort, fade and change over time. Share common memories and suddenly snippets of a story you never had, become your own. They grow, they shrink, they fade and they change. There's no way to "go back" and relive a moment and this is what makes what you keep with you so precious.

I collected the images over the span of two months and merged those with images I had taken throughout the year. Developed onto metallic paper, the images were then embedded into epoxy resin. The purpose was to further distort the image. In order to see it best, you need to stand directly in front and look into the resin. The casting process lent its own chaos to the process, causing the images to buckle and wrinkle under the heat and occasionally belching forth bubbles and liquid epoxy just before the cast set.

The finished piece is mounted to heavy, cradled pine which has been painted, rubbed and written on. The writings are faded and nearly impossible to read. Hash marks along the side mark the passage of time. The finished piece sparkles like jewels in the light - a bitter sweet result of such a tragic loss. The piece is so deeply personal to me and yet it is not all mine. Greg's writings and his own thoughts have intertwined with my own, creating a hybrid of memories that we now share.

More photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/suzanneclements/

1. Korean beds are HARD. They’re something akin to sleeping on plywood with minimal padding on top.
2. If you are from Australia, the USA, or New Zealand, you will notice how hard the beds are.
3. If you are from Estonia, England, or Germany… the beds will feel juuuuuust right!
4. There’s a fantastic chance that your hotel’s shower will leak like mad (both of mine did, even though they were both rather posh and newly renovated). Perhaps plumbing isn’t their passion.
5. Koreans are extremely friendly.
6. What we consider Kimchi here in the U.S. is a shameful representation of the real thing.
7. Kimchi is not nearly as spicy as I expected. Perhaps it was my Buffalo rearing that prepared me for the heat. Other conference participants found it too spicy to eat.
8. Korean architects and interior designers seem to really have a thing for Mondrian.
9. They don’t appear to have a fondness for ice in drinks.
10. They also don’t appear to be fond of cold fridges.
11. They have odd timing for their R rated movies… 5 am seems as good a time as any?
12. Their commercials often involve dancing and/or catchy tunes that get stuck in your head despite your inability to understand the language.
13. Taxi drivers… scratch that, nearly all drivers watch TV on the dashboard as they wiz through traffic.
14. “Pink is like a shaved dog.” Quote courtesy of a 10 year old Australian girl.
15. Koreans are not shy about driving their scooters onto the sidewalks.
16. If you speak even a little Korean, they seem to deeply appreciate the gesture – that or they find your pronunciation funny and entertaining.
17. The main airport in Incheon is fantastic and fully modern, putting most American airports to shame.
18. Having a Korean/English phrasebook and dictionary can be extremely helpful when
19. The term air conditioning should be used loosely, as they seem to prefer it warmer than cooler.
20. Their hotels are very green. You must slip your key into the wall after entering in order to turn on the power. When you leave, everything turns off automatically.
21. What we call Bibimbap is SOOOOO much more delicious in Korea (of course). If you like it here... you'll LOVE it there.
22. Korean food agreed with me so much better than our food back here at home. Weird.
23. They are extremely helpful and work long hours. Our hotel staff seemed to be on-the-clock around the clock.
24. Some Koreans will eagerly attempt to teach you their language and customs while you’re trying to get from point A to point B on the subway.
25. When a Korean asks your age, they are trying to determine which greeting is most appropriate for you.
26. Koreans who are following you on the subway, eagerly trying to get your hendupun number (cell number)in order to continue your impromptu language lessons have excellent muscle tone in their hands and have quite the grip! There is no escaping it!
27. They have a deep and genuine appreciation for all the countries who helped them during the Korean war.
28. Korea is full of mountains.
29. Palaces in Korea look like they’d be a lot of upkeep.
30. I feel bad for the guards outside the palaces… I imagine I’d feel the same for the English guards outside the English palace.
31. The mass transit in Korea is fantastic. Want to travel to any town anywhere? Take the bus! Always on time and clean… or hop onto the super new subway.
32. It is not safe to cross the roads without keeping an eye out for a rogue bus or car.
33. Despite our being American, we made friends with people from other countries easily.
34. Sleeping during the day is big over there. Sleeping in your shop, car or in the park is not uncommon after lunch.
35. WiFi is pronounced “wee fee” in Estonia ;)
36. Korean’s learn the names of other countries in the language of those countries.
37. Korea serves pepperoni pizza with yellow mustard all over the top.
38. The magpies are quite large… beautiful, if not noisy birds.
39. The hotel rooms have fancy pants alarm clock/whole room remotes by the bedside that control everything from the A/C to the lights.
40. Groups of older Korean’s work daily to maintain the many city gardens and parks.
41. There are only 1 million Estonian native speakers. Because of their small population, the government pays for each child born and gives women a full 1.5 years off work with full pay.
42. By law, in Estonia (near Finland), you must change your tires to snow tires each year despite the fact that it hardly snows there anymore.
43. You will get your temperature checked upon landing and entry into the airport.
44. There aren’t actually surfable waves in Melbourne, AUS.
45. There are no deer in Australia.
46. New Zealand has 40 mil. sheep.
47. The Korean population is noticeably slender.
48. Public parks are outfitted with actual exercise equipment and machines.
49. I didn’t see a single squat toilet OR menu featuring dog stew (even though my Korean lessons suggested I’d encounter these). All the warnings were for naught.
50. I am craving Korean food much more than I imagined I would.

Bad me! BAD BAD BAD! Things have been insane this year, so much so that even finding time to write a blog post has become seemingly impossible. Here's what's new and exciting:

1. I finally incorporated into an LLC
Figured it was important to make it official and so I plunked down all the dough. *whew!* It was expensive, but it felt like the right thing to do.

2. I took my first vacation in 4 years this past July
We went up to northern Wisconsin where the family has a cabin on the water and it was amazing this year. Saw some bald eagles, ate some fish, went out in the boat a bunch.

3. We're heading off to S. Korea in two days
I've never been... and never been on a flight off the continent so that's terrifying. But hey, it should be a total culture shock when we get there. Bringing my camera! :D

4. I got the wii Active
Never in my life did I ever think I'd buy a gaming console! NEVER! My brother used to frit away tons of hours when we were kids and I just always felt they were too escapist for me (weird I know). Anyhow... I got the wii active because I work for myself from home and I work crazy long hours.. I hate going to a gym (I never stick with it), and I'm not about to walk or jog around town solo. So I started the 30 day challenge a few weeks ago and wow... this system kicks my ass, but in such a good way. I don't think I've ever been in this good of shape ever. Woo! So that's my little endorsement. Oh and the tennis game that came with... super fun. I've got a standing competition with another "work from home" friend each Monday.

What's new with you??
Because I suck, I'm totally out of touch. I have to ask it... How are all of you?  Let me know what's new and exciting over there!
 

Just popping in for a quick hellooo! I hope all my live journal friends are doing well... and that those who are in rough times soon see some light at the end of the tunnel.

I just finished up a new website which has been a real labor of love. Fun project, great subject and a great group to work with. If you're in central Florida you've probably heard of them... here it is:

(clicky clicky)

www.MakotosMelbourne.com
(Japanese Steakhouse)

All the coding, layout and animation by me... some of the photography is also mine. The shots of the chef are all me.

That's one big project down.

SIDE NOTE:
I'm looking for a blogger template person. I have layouts, but don't  have the coding down. If you know of someone who codes for blogger templates please let me know. I hired someone and they haven't panned out... any help is greatly appreciated on that front.

Hope all is well :)

Ok a few things.  Those of you who are artists in Florida (Central Florida specifically) you may want to check out www.brevardartnews.com for the latest in calls for artists (some calls may reach outside of the area so it may be worth a peek for all artists), lessons, articles and more.

Next item... I'm trying to help a client of mine gather up willing participants to give their user experience with their new Facials line. I got to do the atwork for the sytem (and that's part of my excuse for not being here more).  The kit is all natura and based off organic ingredients... no chemicals or nasty fillers. If you know anyone who'd be interested in participating let me know or head on over to: http://www.facials-system.com/

Now... because I've been horribly mia (mostly been spending time over at facebook and twitter due to lack of free-time) please give me a shout and say hello! What have you been up to lately? :)  I miss you guys - I've totally dropped the ball.

Many of us are wondering how the economic downturn will affect our art sales. Prices for supplies continue to rise, while demand for the finished product appears to be growing smaller and more fickle. This is the time to consider what motivates one to purchase artwork. True collectors may be seeking an investment, or a complimentary piece to suit their current purchases. Those seeking some décor may simply be drawn to color and composition. And still others may be dipping their toes into fine art buying and may not have the experience or gusto to be investing heavily in originals.

Each of these three groups—Serious Collectors, Décor Buyers, and First-time/Beginning Collectors— approaches purchases differently. You may choose to focus on one group of buyers OR all three, but there are several things to keep in mind if you do.

Serious Collectors:
These buyers are less likely to be badly affected by the economic downturn. To them, fine art is another investment, and if purchased correctly will pay off down the road. While they do not appear to buy artwork on a whim, they know what they want and when presented with the opportunity to acquire the piece will do so swiftly. These buyers tend to buy high-end, museum quality works and if they are seriously interested in a specific artist, may even be motivated to purchase maquettes and sketches.

The artist who wishes to attract this buyer is gambling that their artwork will be desirable to the collector population within the vicinity of their artwork. If they are correct, this can pay off handsomely. Sales may be slow, but the final purchase price of the artwork easily covers the cost of materials and marketing.

Décor Buyers:
Those seeking home décor enhancements aren’t necessarily looking to make an investment into original artwork. For these buyers, high quality prints may be more attractive especially in a down market when they may be on a tighter budget than normal. The simple cost of printing, embellishing, matting and framing such prints can make their sale cumbersome and less profitable.

I have found through personal experience that décor buyers will often want to specify matting and framing for their clients or selves and would rather benefit from the value of purchasing simply the print itself. If you feel you need to provide assistance, you can note on your website or with your galleries, that you will be pleased to offer matting and framing assistance at an additional fee upon request. This way, you allow those who wish to buy prints alone, the less expensive option (and you also save yourself money in time and supplies which can add up quickly!).

Further, if you hold NO inventory, you are much better off in a down market. Consider connecting yourself with a high quality printer, such as White House Custom Color (WHCC.com) or IPrintFromHome.com, who do giclees, photographic prints, prints on metallic paper, etc. When a purchase is requested, place your order with the professional print company and either “drop ship” the order directly to the client, or ship to yourself (WHCC offers 2 day shipping to the artist for FREE) sign the prints, make embellishments, etc., and then re-pack and send the artwork to your client. I use this technique on my web venues. It makes the sale of prints more profitable, especially when compared to matted or framed prints which move much slower.

First Time Buyers/Beginning Collectors:
These buyers are extremely motivated by initial impression and emotional connection to a series of work, the artist, or a single piece. They tend to shy away from large purchases and will occasionally remain loyal to a small group of artists or a single artist. While their purchases may be infrequent, they will likely be consistent.

Often they find artwork on their own without a buyer and will be somewhat shy in negotiating price. This type of buyer is looking to purchase originals, but may not have much in the way of expendable income. For them, it is best to provide value for the price. Consider offering smaller works exhibiting the same style, color pallets and mood as your larger pieces. Should an experienced buyer see these smaller works, they may purchase multiples, while these first-time buyers will see an opportunity to make their first small investment into artwork they truly believe in.

As you did with décor buyers, you may want to offer your works framed and unframed. This allows the buyer to feel they are getting a very fair price (how many times has someone tried to negotiate the price of artwork sans frame in your experience hoping for a better price?) and can match the framing to their current tastes.

All of these tips will work well in a gallery setting or in your online blog/portfolio website. Providing the option of framing/mounting helps us to avoid reducing the price of our artwork while offering a lower cost to our buyers. If you would like to sell prints of your work in a gallery setting without investing in inventory, consider creating a simple print book. You can list all available artwork, with sizes available for each print and a simple key for pricing that can be switched out as needed. Make the book look professional and clean. You could use a simple small white binder and print the pages yourself or choose to design the book and have it printed and bound locally or by one of the many online printers such as www.lulu.com, www.whcc.com, www.blurb.com, http://www.qoop.com. Then, only order the prints you've sold and avoid holding a large inventory.

There are many venues online with which to sell your hand-made artistic goods, be they traditional or functional. The web offers a great deal of exposure. With so many options (eBay, etsy, online consignment store, custom store, template store, etc.) it can be hard to know where to start. Below is a high-level overview for those looking to dip their toes in.

eBay
(http://www.ebay.com/)
This auction site has been online for many years now and has grown to be a trusted resource for sellers and buyers.

Pros:
• There is plenty of documentation available via bookstores and online to get you started.
• eBay is a trusted website and well known.
• eBay records thousands of visitors a day, making your potential exposure quite great.

Cons:
• The site can be complicated given how robust the options are.
• You need to build up a reputation and positive feedback on your profile before you can offer larger ticket items.
• The site as a whole is a bit of a mish mash, offering everything from junk and trinkets to luxury homes.
• As an artist, it can be difficult to stand out among the competition.
• You have to reach a minimum positive feedback rating before being able to set prices for items rather than auctioning.
• Some buyers may never make payment, leaving you with the bill for commission to Ebay until you can resolve it with administrators.

Etsy
(http://www.etsy.com/)
Etsy has been around for a number of years now as an alternative to eBay for creative sellers and buyers seeking one-of-a kind artwork.

Pros:
• Membership is free and listing fees are pennies per item.
• The audience provided by the site are already tailored towards fine art, prints, hand-made jewelry, pottery, stained glass, sculpture, book binding, etc.
• The site is simple and intuitive.
• Using the message boards and chat rooms can give you a sense of community and often helps answer any questions new members may have.
• The appearance of the site is clean and attractive.
• The opportunities for additional exposure on the site are varied and can be quite effective.
• No commitment is required, you can close up shop at any time.

Cons:
• As with eBay, you are sharing your audience with every other seller on the site. Visitors to your store can, at the click of a button, zip to a competitor’s. This works for and against you.
• You cannot tailor your “store” within the site to match your own website look and feel. A simple banner and user icon is the extent of customizing.
• You will need to maintain your shop regularly in order to appear at the top of searches and keep the cobwebs away.
• Some artists claim they are not able to sell expensive items here – this has not been my experience. The most expensive item I have sold via my Etsy.com exposure was roughly $600.

Online Consignment Shop/Gallery

Pros:
• If the site is well established your work will get great exposure without the same competition as Ebay or Etsy.
• The store most often handles the shipping and sales, giving you commission on items sold.
• There is no need to have some kind of payment gateway set up (Paypal, Google Checkout, etc.).

Cons:
• Because there are many online boutiques and shops, you will need to make sure to find one that is well designed and curated.
• Often the store requires you to ship your artwork/items to them prior to inclusion on the site. While this can be good in the sense that they are responsible for the work and fulfilling orders, it does mean that you won’t have access to the work for shows or sales of your own.
• Giving over your artwork to an online store a long distance away can be risky. If they shut down you do run the risk of never seeing it again.

Custom-made Shop
A custom made shop would be something that you have a web designer build for you using paypal or another payment gateway to accept orders.

Pros:
• You have complete control over the look, feel, and functionality of your site.
• You do not share your audience with any other artists or shops.
• Payment acceptance options are unlimited.

Cons:
• Custom websites alone can be expensive, while custom stores and shopping carts would be well beyond the usual expense.
• Any glitches, errors, or down time is entirely up to you and your web designer to repair.
• As the site ages, certain coding may no longer work properly.
• If your web designer doesn’t build in proper security your site could be at risk for hackers.
• Maintaining security certificates can be complicated and pricey.
• Building a custom site will take more time than a normal site and depending on complexity you may need a lead time of anywhere from 3 months to a year.
• It is 100% up to you to provide marketing and exposure to recover the expense of building and maintaining the store.

Customizable Template Storefronts
(http://www.shopify.com/)

Pros:
• A template site like shopify.com has been built and tested by a team of back-end web developers and coders who maintain the inner workings and constantly work to improve and add new features – downtime and errors are rare.
• These are often well planned and intuitive systems that make building a storefront a snap.
• Shopify in particular offers a free store to start so you can test it out and “decide before you buy” and upgrade to a paid account.
• Because hundreds of people use the system, special functionalities are often shared among shop owners to enhance the buyer’s experience.
• Some online template stores also allow shop owners to sell their goods in their general market place giving the items greater exposure.
• Templates are relatively easy to customize and with a good web designer, the sky is the limit.
• Many template stores do not require a contract, if you decide to close up shop, you can do so at a moment’s notice.
• Adding products and maintaining the store are simple and don’t require knowledge of any coding.
• Upgrades in functionality to your shopping cart and order tracking system are automatic.
• Because all your order data is in one location, it is often easy to export contacts for mailing lists and marketing.
• The cost of maintaining a storefront using a template site like shopify.com is minimal and doesn’t require the extra expense of domain name purchase, hosting, or security certificates (all provided by the site).
• There is no chance of credit card purchases being abandoned before payment is captured (with shopify.com) as the system will not allow completion of an order without proper payment first.

Cons:
• To 100% customize the look of your store you will still need access to someone who knows how to design for the web.
• Limitations in functionality come with the territory although a vibrant template company will often take suggestions and work in improvements for future upgrades.
• If your template site doesn’t provide a general market place, much like a custom site, you will be responsible for driving traffic to your store.

I’m sure there are more options than those I’ve listed here today, but this at least gives you a general feel for what is available. Keep in mind that many artists have their work in a communal market place like eBay/Etsy and have their own custom or template storefront in addition.

Do you have your own etsy.com or other artwork storefront? If so, please share it with us now and if you like, tell us what you like about the system and what you feel could be improved.

Tags: marketing

Blogging and the Artist

A blog (a contraction of the term "Web log") is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art (artlog), photographs (photoblog), sketches (sketchblog), videos (vlog), music (MP3 blog), audio (podcasting), which are part of a wider network of social media.
(source: wikipedia.org)

Benefits of a Blog
Most traditional blogs allow readers to respond to entries and give your audience a feeling of personal connection to you and your work. When used well, your blog can keep your collectors and fans up-to-date on your latest exhibitions and events as well as your most recent works of art. Many artists choose to post progress shots of artwork, giving their readers a peek into the process behind their finished pieces. And most artists will post finished pieces as they happen, inviting feedback and often sales as a result.

All this benefits you as an artist in building a relationship with your followers, giving them a more personal connection to both you and your artwork. Additionally, a successful website almost always has content that is new and updated regularly. Maintaining a blog will assist you in this effort and keep your collectors and fans coming back for more.

Publishing Your Own Blog
Getting a blog is actually quite easy these days and often completely free of charge. There are several providers out there and each offers a slightly different set of benefits. One I like to use is blogger.com. They offer the ability to set up a basic blog that you can update with your own graphics and colors. They also provide you the web address and hosting so you don’t need to have a website in place to store your blog. Additionally, should you eventually build a website and choose to move your blog to your own domain name, it is easy to do so. All of this is free of charge.

Writing blog entries is simple and requires nothing more than a computer with a connection to the Internet. Blogger provides a simple step-by-step interface to create and edit your text much like you would in a regular word processor (Word Perfect, Clarisworks, MS Word, etc.) and adding images is as easy as clicking a button.

In order for your blog to do its best you will need to update it regularly. By this I don’t mean once a month, you should aim for 1-3 times a week, even if you post a simple update shot of a piece you’re working on. Blogging shouldn’t end up being a chore either, so keep it short, simple, and something you can easily manage. Long entries become cumbersome not only for you, but for your readers.

What to include in your blog:
• Exhibition and special event announcements
• Sketches, progress/process shots of your work
• Finished pieces complete with where and how to purchase
• Entries discussing inspiration/motivation behind the work
• Images from events and exhibitions
What not to include in your blog:
• Sensitive personal information
• Daily log of mundane goings on
• Political/religious thoughts unless they are directly related to your artwork
• Complaints or negative impressions of other artists or exhibition venues, etc.
• Unprofessional photos of yourself/others socially


Why Blog?
1. Blogging is easy
One real plus is that creating a blog requires no knowledge of HTML or web standards. The blogging system you use handles all the dirty work for you and set up is free and simple.
2. A blog makes a great temporary alternative or addition to a portfolio website
There is a simple way to enhance your collector’s experience when visiting you online.
3. Blogging creates a sense of connection between your visitors and your artwork
Knowing more about the artist, their process and inspiration provides your fans with a deeper sense of connection and can result in more sales.
4. You benefit socially
Don’t underestimate the social connections you may make along the way. Inviting feedback on your blog opens the door to future professional and social relationships worldwide.

Blogging resources:
• http://www.blogger.com/
• http://www.typepad.com/
• http://www.livejournal.com/
• http://www.wordpress.com/

If you blog, send in your comments about your experiences and the ways it has helped you in promoting your art.

Tags: marketing

Using the Internet to Your Advantage

As an artist, you will have to become visible in various venues and formats for example, newspaper articles, galleries, special events and of course online. Getting your work online and visible is not nearly as difficult as it once was. Not long ago, you would have to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a custom website to be built. Add to that the cost of paying someone to update the site for you on a regular basis. Alternatively, if you had tried to take on the task yourself, you risked creating a messy broken site, with all kinds of issues with load time and functionality. Add to that the cost of buying the software required to build your site (or taking a class to learn how to hard-code).

Today there are so many great options out there for artists to take advantage of. Templates are becoming a very common and very usable option, making the step into website ownership a much simpler and more streamlined one. This gives any artist (photographer, painter, sculptor, etc.) the ability to have the appearance of a custom site dedicated to their craft. No more do artists have to learn HTML or software to maintain control of their websites, and no longer do they have to beg friends and family to help them get set up. In the past I heard plenty of horror stories of even paid designers who created websites and later abandoned the artist or took ages to update their pages.

Many art-related templates even include storefronts that allow artists to sell prints and originals fairly easily using a simple basic PayPal account. One template site that has been recommended to me by a number of photographers and artists is bludomain.com. They have a lovely selection of templates that are fully editable and carry a number of excellent features.

You can find alternative template sites by google searching for “editable flash templates” or “editable portfolio templates.” One such site is flash4layouts.com. Always compare features and pricing (long term after initial set up fees) before making your final decision.

A Note about Domain Names (Your Web Address)

Many artists will choose to use their full names. This is a great idea if it happens to be available. Using your name makes it easy for collectors, friends, or even gallery directors to remember your website address. If your full name is unusually long, or has been taken already, it is time to start thinking of some alternatives.

You can search for unused domain names by going to almost any web hosting website. Take godaddy.com for example. On their first page you’ll see a space to type in your desired domain name to see if it’s available.

Play around with different descriptors and creative ways to say the same thing. Pull out your dictionary and thesaurus.

Ideal Domain Names:

1. Are short and easy to remember
2. Don’t use hyphens (this-name.com)
3. Use the .com extension over .net, .biz, .org, etc.
4. Read well as one single word with no spaces
5. Don’t mimic the name of another well known site
6. Shouldn’t cost more than $9 per year. If the name isn’t immediately available, don’t back order it, move on to a different option.

Online resources:

• www.bludomain.com – fully editable flash templates, hosting, shopping cart, etc.
• www.flash4layouts.com – editable flash templates
• www.godaddy.com – inexpensive domain name registration, hosting, email, and very basic non-flash website templates.

Next week we’ll talk about alternatives/additions to portfolio websites.

Tags: marketing

Not only was the plane crash dramatically close to my parent's (according to them, the crash was only a couple of miles away), but, my father almost took that very flight home from a business trip and decided against it, having found one that took him into the Buffalo Airport a half hour earlier than the doomed plane.

Chance is fickle, but worked out in our favor this time. I wanted to mark this in my journal for memory's sake.

My heart goes out to those personally impacted by the dramatic and tragic events last week.