Are you thinking about creating a website to showcase your artwork? Well if you are, then know that your online fine art portfolio should be designed the same as your traditional fine art portfolio. Your online portfolio has to represent you without you being there. It should have a strong presentation that's reflective of your artwork.
Below are suggestions on how to plan a website fine art portfolio.
Home Page
The home page is very important. It is the first impression of your work. The goal of the home page is to provide maximum visual impact to lead your visitors further into your website. Avoid to many pictures and text. I suggest one large image or if you are more savvy with flash, then maybe several revolving images.
Gallery
In selecting images for your gallery, use the same guidelines suggested in creating an artist brochure. Don't include every piece of artwork you have created, only show your current work. But if you have a need to show older work or work unrelated to your current body of work, Carroll Michels suggest to add a hidden link, that can be sent on your request to others.
Your artwork should be labeled with the title, size, and medium. Prices should not be posted, they can be an distraction. Include a note indicating to contact artist for prices.
About Artist
Your artist statement and biography should be included here. The biography can be used in place of your artist resume. In some cases I have seen artist include their resumes a PDF link. You can also include a head shot or a photo of yourself working in your studio.
Contact Information
This is a must. In this section provide a way for gallery owners/ visitors to contact you: email address and PO box address is good enough.
Press
A page devoted to exhibition reviews, articles and video presentations about your work should be included in this section. This is the place to "toot your own horn".
Blog
This has become the newest and hottest thing to include on your website. This allows your website visitors to seek out more insights about you as artist and it also is a good way to keep fresh content on your website. Include a link to your blog if it is hosted on another site or if your website has a blogging feature, then surely include it.
Favorite Artist Websites
I thought I would end this post with a few links to my favorite artist websites. I hope it inspires you to create your own website fine art portfolio.
I couldn't agree with you more! artists like us should have a website, websites are perfect channels for our works to be showcased which other artists from the around the world could take a good look on our works, that's why I also made up my own website too-->digital portraits
Posted by: Portrait Artist | January 22, 2010 at 09:45 PM
This is great information. I just built my own website a few weeks ago. As of now it's still in the works. After reading this information I'm thinking that perhaps I may have overkilled a bit with the techno-sci-fi theme when I haven't yet posted some of my science fiction art. Although on the other hand science fiction/fantasy is supposed to the focal point of my artwork. My options are under construction as well....
Posted by: Jonhda Starling | January 24, 2010 at 01:46 AM
I think blogs are a great thing for artists. You can let your viewers learn more about your process and inspirations--which is important for them to become interested in your work.
Posted by: New Haven Tattoos | April 14, 2011 at 04:43 PM