To blog or not to blog?
 

I am wondering about the value of having a blog, either within a website or someplace else with a link to a blog. I have noticed a lot of artists have a blog today, especially those who paint daily and sell their paintings on the web. I'm wondering if there are any applications of a blog to portrait painting?

I built a website and having a blog (a place where I posted what I was painting and related ramblings) seemed like a good way to get people to come back and visit. I also thought having a blog where I talked about what I was painting, how much I enjoyed painting, etc. (but not as sappy as I'm making it sound) would be a good way for potential clients for portraits to get comfortable with me. I do not expect anyone to purchase my art over the internet, my website's main purpose is to be a site where people can see more of my work and my prices, procedures.

Well, now I'm wondering how much value, if any, is added to my website by having a blog. There are very few people who read it regularly, and most of them are not even in the same state as me. I enjoy reading other artists' blogs, I have about TEN on my computers favorites list and check them regularly.

I am now tempted to just do away with the blogging part of my website. Also, does a blog make a site look amatuerish? If I model the high end portrait painters, I notice they don't blog. :)

I would love to hear some thoughts on blogging.

Joan

I don't think it would help you at all. Art marketing is about reaching the specific type of client who would/could buy your work. You can put a very personable "artist's statement" or "About the Artist" section on your site and that would probably be enough to help prospective clients feel comfortable about calling you, if they like the work.

Joan,

I never thought of blogging until an artist friend (Nancy Bea Miller, a forum member) pointed out that it would be a good format for the "recent news" section of my website.

Before I switched to a blog, my "news" had to be updated by my website designer. The problem was that I wanted to add news frequently, and each time I added an item, I had to pay her. I needed to add items approximately once a month. Obviously if you are computer-savvy or you don't mind doing it all yourself, you could figure out how to do it without bothering your website deigner. But in my case, I didn't want to learn how to do it myself, and I kept putting off asking her to do the updates.

I had always enjoyed Nancy Bea's blog, but since it was different from what I wanted, I didn't think of it as a solution to my problem until she suggested it. My designer hadn't thought of it either, but once she looked into it, she liked it so much she made one for herself as well as for me. Now when you click on "recent news" it goes to my blog. The tone can be anywhere from formal to informal, and you can add images. I love it. It is so easy even I have no trouble remembering how to do it.

Check out my website and see what you think. It really all depends on what kind of an image you are aiming for. Personally I don't worry about what is appropriate in the portrait world, because my art is also about landscape and figurative work. In fact, my blog gives me a way of linking the different genres and the collectors and potential clients of each genre. They get to see who I am as a whole, rather than just a piece of me.

My blog is free and it is through blogspot.com.

You read my mind!

I have been thinking about this very process. I am going to have to revamp my web-site to emphasize my paintings.

I do like the idea of the blog, because many people ask me what am I doing lately.

However I have no idea how to do a blog.

By the way that Shoosic Harbor sp.? landscape is spectacular.

Hmmmm, Alex, now you've got me thinking. Your blog is very well done. I've seen so many that were a mishmash of stream-of-consciousness drivel with a few badly done photos plopped in without much thought that I wasn't really aware of the potential. Yours is both professional and friendly -- a great combination.

My website's "In the News" section is growing quickly and this may be a perfect solution.

Joan, I retract my earlier statement!

Blog link vs. in-your-face Blog
 

I'm so glad to see these wonderful replies, it is really helping me decide whether to keep my blog or not. I'm going to keep it. And I enjoy doing it, so that was the conclusion my husband and I came to last night too.

I started my blog back in January and called it 'new work' as part of my website. I would post new paintings there and talk about them. Then a couple of months ago I got a blogspot blog but found I couldn't manipulate my photos as much as I liked, so I just put a link on my blogspot to my website and continued blogging on my website.

Last week I switched the blog part of my website from the page I called 'new work' to the homepage. Many people didn't realize I had a blog and I think people just don't take the time to navigate a website, nobody seems to have any time these days! So I figured if I put it right there in front of their faces when they opened my website, they would realize I was blogging and come back again to see what was new. I'm not sure this is the best decision, I used to have a single portrait on my homepage.

So, how best to integrate a website and a blog? There are many ways to do it, I would love to hear comments on the way I'm doing it - the 'blog in your face' method compared to 'blog as link' method, which I had a week ago and can easily go back to. :)

Alexandra, I read every entry on your blog. I have been to your website a number of times over the past 6 months and I guess I never went to the recent news section, I usually just look at your paintings.

Joan

Blogging can be a lot of work, but I totally enjoy it! I started because initially I wanted to get a place where I can collect all the information that I have come across over the years. Sort of a central archive area for reference. Having a really bad memory problem, I constantly end up rereading things and this was a way to keep the stuff that's important to me in one central, easy accesible location.

I have had a "WIP"section on my web site for the longest time, because clients really enjoy seeing the progress of a painting. But then a funny thing happened. More and more artists started to ask me how I did this or that or if I would be willing to teach them. I was surprised by the response, but find it a great way to share what I have learned. It also stops me from taking shortcuts, now I have an audience and pressure is on to push myself even further. I see a great benefit in this alone!

My hits on my blog have sky rocketed and it has a lot to do with people subscribing to the RSS feed and linking. This helps to create a web presence and increase the chances of people actually looking at your web site.

My website's function is like that of a gallery. It represents the collection of my work. There is a link from there to my Blog for those who enjoy reading. I try to add other things such as book reviews, cool links anything that might make the experience of reading enjoyable.

I am still waiting to be discovered! LOL ;)

Blogging has been a boon
 

Hi everyone! I'm in favor of blogs. Alex Tyng has already mentioned my idea of using a blog as one's "News" site. I'm glad its worked out so well for you Alex! It's quick to set up a blog, free (if you use certain providers like Blogger), and easy to use. You can put in pictures, photos, text, links to museums or organizations..whatever! If you want to see what I am talking about, take a look at my news blog, which I link to from my website: http://www.genrecookshop.com/news/blogger.html

A lot of the "painting a day" folks use a blog as an easy way to showcase their daily output. It's much less effort than constantly ftp-ing images, writing html and altering a website page.

Sometimes a personal "how I do my work and live my life" type blog can attract people to one's website. In fact, I even once made a sale through someone finding my personal blog (http://www.genrecookshop.com) and being interested enough to then check out my painting website. I've met other artists around the world, and also have been invited to participate in some shows, all due to friendly contacts made through this blog!

The only downside I can think of for the idea of using a blog for the "news" section of one's website is that really important events/awards/commissions get buried over time with more recent things, regardless of their importance. It does seem easy to create and maintain, though.

news page
 

Michele,

I think you have an excellent point.

I was calling my blog 'what's new' with a link on my homepage to it and I'm not sure that really explained what I was doing - which was blogging. I have another webpage on my site I call "Charity and Events" where I post upcoming charity events where I'm donating a painting/portrait and shows. I have no need for a place to post awards. :D Not yet anyway.

I decided, for me, that I either need to use the word BLOG to let people know what I'm doing or put my blogging on my homepage. I have put my blog on my homepage, along with photos of my new work. Now we'll see if that gets me more traffic. My theory is that people might like to read a blog, but don't take the time to find it. So now visitors can't miss it.

It does get difficult, doesn't it, to keep everything somewhat streamlined, clear, and easy to navigate.

Joan

Michele, the News Blog does not cancel out your resume. Like most folks you probably have a resume or c.v. page on your websites. On this, you list (in resume format) all the major shows, events and honors. This is a static page that I personally only bother to update three or four times a year. Because it's a bit of a pain!

On the News Blog you put everything ....like small charity events that may not make it onto the formal resume. Maybe you met an art hero of yours and want to post the photo of the two of you shaking hands. You can also post about any classes or workshops you are teaching. Think of your "News Blog" as what you might reply if an interested friend asked "So, what's happening with your art these days?"People may not bother to read your formal resume, but seem to enjoy reading the News Blog. It's more conversational!

I agree with Nancy that you end up making a lot of new contacts. Having looked at all three blogger sites and I found them very interesting. They each give a new insight into the artists we all know, but on a much more personal level.

Nancy I like that you have seemless website blog thing going. Mine is a link although I have tried to stay within a similar style of web design. Isn't it funny though as artists how many things we manage to juggle all at once?

It is so interesting to see that more and more people have a blog. Since a week or two I have totally replaced my website with a blog (did it through blogger.com). I can now update my content myself and I get feedback from people that they really like the active content, news items. Now I post a message when I have seen a great exhibition for example, something I didn't do on my old website. All the content that was on my website is still on my blog, including my portfolio. I must admit, I have a husband who is a webdeveloper and showed my some tricks to do al this in a blog. It is also possible that your get a higher listing in Google (you have to uses labels though!) and use a lot of keywords in your text (portrait, portrait painter ect. especially in your headers).

Bianca, I love your layout. It clearly communicates that you are a portrait artist. You and your hubby did a great job.

How about us bloggers do a little blog review and point out to each other things that could be better via Email. Anyone who is interested to participate Email me at [email protected] and I will give you my honest opinion in return for yours.

Blog review
 

Hi Enzie,

What a great idea, I will definitely participate in your review exchange. I welcome any other comments/critique of my blog too. It's the homepage on my website.

Joan

Joan, I just sent you an Email. Thanks for your review!

I am starting to wonder if maybe my blog design is too crowded with visual information. My daughter seems to think so, she has been nice enough to create a new blog, recommending I go with a layout that is more with the times.

Nice blog
 

Hi Bianca,
I took a look at your blog, it's very nice. You have managed to get a lot of information and photos on your blog very nicely.
Joan

Thanks Joan! I still have to find time to translate to English. It is strange because before I was so happy with my website and now when I look back it was a bit boring, I like that I can easily ad news and post, I don't need my husband for that anymore!

My blog is my teaching tool
 

I did indeed start a blog. It satisfies that left brain itch after exercising the right brain all day as I paint.

I used to post more on this forum but found that mostly I wanted to say some things that won't be interrupted, take longer and gets more detailed in a technical kind of way. (But I do still enjoy the format of a large dynamic forum like this one).

My blogging satisfies my need to teach, do demos and reach out to other artists...in my "spare" (ha!) time. I've accumulated a little knowledge over the years and really want to share it.

I'd looked into making demo videos but I have been fortunate to make a good living from just painting portraits (and still life and landscapes). I jcannot see myself charging for workshops, etc. - I don't have the time or inclination.

My blog has brought me neither business nor fame...my website with Cynthia on Stroke of Genius is supposed to do all that.

But it is fun to put something out there and hope it helps another artist. Art is, after all, a very lonely profession and I've gotten a lot of interesting letters from old friends and readers who stumbled into it.

If you feel that you have something to say - start a blog. It sure is easy! I use blogger.com but there are are many others out there.

Here is the link to my blog. Please drop by and tell me what you think of it. Suggestions welcomed:

http://karinwells.blogspot.com/

Nice blog, Karin!

I've started a blog of sorts on Facebook. The downside is that it's only viewable by other Facebook users, but the upside is that it's a more interactive conversation than a somewhat one-way blog. Most of the artists I know (and lots of my family members, friends, and clients) are already on Facebook so it's a huge community.

Got a link for that Michelle? I'm on facebook too but don't really use it much (if at all)....but gosh, maybe I should take a second look.

Perhaps because I have an internet connection via Satellite I've found that facebook takes a long time to load.

I do miss the opportunity for interaction and "talkin' technical" with other artists - but in the past a tiny faction got out of hand, and gosh, life is just too short for that nonsense.

The replies on my art blog are pretty much limited to comments that I approve. And considering the fact that I did mention politics (you can do that on your own blog) I got some replies that I did NOT approve for publication. ;)

I don't think you can get to anyone's Facebook page via a link. You have to go to www.Facebook.com, sign up, and then type in the person's name. Facebook will ask if you want to send them a Friend request, and if they say yes, you can see their profile and post notes on their wall, comment on their photos, etc.

I've found it very helpful for staying in touch with a lot of artists that I don't get to see very often -- and for "meeting" lots of new ones, too. It's more informal than sending a direct email to someone. Once you get a bunch of Facebook Friends it feels like being at a very large, rather slow moving (and silent!) party. There are lot of people there, some you know and some you don't know, but you usually have a friend or two in common.

You can set very detailed privacy settings so you don't have to share everything you're doing with all your Friends. And no one can see what you're posting if you haven't agreed to "Friend" them.