3 Reasons Why Every (Serious) Artist Needs a Good Website
An artist's website is often the first and right now - only - introduction to their work. Every serious artist should have a website, now more than ever.
Whether your art is your livelihood or a passion you fit in part-time with work and/or family, you probably take your art very seriously - you spend a lot of time dedicated to creating your art, you use quality tools and materials, and you prepare and display your work with great care and diligence as you send it off to galleries and shows.
The same care and respect for your artwork should be applied to your artist website, which is often the first —and perhaps only — introduction to your work. First impressions count!
Add value to your work
Having a good website shows that you value your work, and you are giving it the respect it deserves with attention and time. And it shows you care - not just for you and your art, but for any potential client that wants to know more about you and your art. There is a tremendous psychological benefit to this; when you show respect and value your work deserves, in all outlets, it enhances how you feel about your work - pride, in the creativity and effort you used to produce it.
Grow Your Career As An Artist
Your artist website is your own personal online solo show! Even if you are “not an online person” and avoid computers, consider the rest of the world - gallery owners and art collectors and potential clients — all use the Internet, websites and social media to discover, look at, and buy art. Make it easy to view and peruse your art - and buy it, if you are interested in direct selling.
Organize and Describe Your Work
Creating or updating your website gives you an opportunity to organize your work and explain it in words. This can be tremendously helpful to understanding your work, seeing trends, and getting more in touch with your inspirations and where you might want to focus your next efforts. When I created my new site, I found it difficult to explain it much of my work, which is mostly abstract. It’s hard enough coming up with a title! But after I sat with each series and painting for awhile, I wrote down some thoughts about my work that helped me understand it better, my feelings and inspirations, and it helped me analyze my work going forward.
Having a good website allows you to display your work in its best digital way, showing the colors, textures and energy of the original work to the world, 24 X 7.
Yes, creating a new website is a good amount of work, but the benefits provide immeasurable value, and leave no doubt that you are an artist who takes their work seriously.
Learn More
If you are comfortable with computers and have the time, you can create your own simple website in about 20-30 hours, or you can hire a professional web designer for about $1000 or more, depending on your location. Contact me for a free consultation.
Here are some additional resources:
Podcasts
Messy Studio Podcast - Rebecca Crowell - Working On Your Website Part 1
Messy Studio Podcast - Rebecca Crowell - Working on Your Website Part 2