Since I updated my web site. And, truthfully, it's a bit of a mess right now because I just switched to new host. BUT, I could really use some fresh eyes to weed out the weaker pieces and offer comments on how to make improvements. (Aside from the pages which are missing right now and the blog who's skin didn't make the move intact.)
So what say you?
http://www.wendymartinillustration.com
Don't hold your punches, I want to have a wow site like the rest of you and it's not there yet.
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6 comments:
The illustration you already have on your index page is a really strong one and speaks well to the genre. I think your website design in general is nice and clean, easy to navigate and doesn't detract from the viewing of you artwork -- kudos for that!
Going through your portfolio, I notice you have a few different styles going on in there. It might be helpful to break it up into separate areas for each style -- such as your black and white linework, digital, soft watercolors and watercolors with ink. I would have put the two watercolors together but the style seems so different between the two; the inked ones are more whimsical and the soft ones are more realistic. Maybe you could do "Whimsical" and "Realistic" galleries, eh? It would be good to focus on just a couple of main styles I think, so that you'll have a unified look to your portfolio and publishers will know what to expect if they hire you.
I would take out any pieces that aren't directly related to children's art, such as some of those floral fine art pieces you've got and the digital "Follow Your Bliss" with the dove in it. I would also take out any pieces that are in mediums you don't really use anymore or don't like to use that much (for example I noticed you have only one colored pencil piece in there). Pretty much you'll want to stick to your most current and preferred style and medium since that is what you'll be most comfortable with for an assignment (and again, the Art Director will know what to expect).
Oh yes -- I did want to mention that you might want to make the porfolio pieces bigger, right now many are too small to see much detail.
Hope that helps some! You have a great framework in place already, just some tweaking needed is all!
From looking at webpages - I always have the preference of when the first page comes up, the entire page is contained - where you don't have to scroll down. I don't think you should necessarily reformat your front page as all the most important info IS at the top, but that's something I remember from when I was researching website design.
Also - if what you said about the pages not being there - if by that you mean your thumbs take you to a completely new page and that's something you're already aware of, then you just skip this paragraph. otherwise listen in (you know, or not) - I would like to see the thumbnails open a picture in that big white space next to the thumbs - now that I've said it, you probably are going to do that and that's what you meant by the pages not being there...hmmm, so I'll move on...
There was 1 thing i noticed when I looked at your portfolio. The "best buds" picture - I don't follow everything in it. I understand it's a horse and his rider with their arms around each other, but the horse's right arm seems to be detached, or coming from a spot higher than it should. Maybe it's just that I can't see where's it's attached...? Also the horse's face doesn't seem to line up (the nose, eyes and mouth are going to different vanishing points). You have incredibly strong horses with "mother and child' and "painted ponies" - so I don't know if you need to have the best buds pic in your port...
Great watercolors, and great pics overall!
Okie dokie Wendy, I'm going to go through your site and just list what I see could use some work. But first...I want to agree with everything that has been said. So without further ado...
- The check marks for the navigation bother me. They seem random in comparison to your site. Maybe use the girl's pencil from the index image.
- Your gallery pages (the individual pages with illustrations) are not consistent. One page the info and image are on the left, next in the center, third the image goes off the central white. Make sure they are...which...I'm sure you know this, just a friendly reminder.
- A friend told me that she read "online portfolios should have 15-20 pieces in a portfolio and no more than 2-3 portfolios on your website". So divide, like Carmen said, but then limit the number. Since you don't have enough to fill 15-20 per gallery, make sure whatever number it comes to it's consistent.
I had to do exactly what you're doing, even after redesigning and giving my site an overhaul. I had to let go of some work, rearrange, make a gallery for my Whimsical, Elegant, Digital, and Black/White. It's clean, crisp, and to the point. Yet...don't get mad Isaac, but my index image requires you to scroll too. :P hehe
Hmmm...
Thanks for the comments. A lot of the older images (such as the florals are going to go bye-bye.)
I don't know what Isaac means by big white space on the thumbnails page. I don't see it on my screen.
I am going to make the images bigger because, like you all said they are hard to see.
FYI I have at least 4 color pencil paintings in there off the top of my head.
Thanks again everybody. You comments pretty much mirror what I was thinking, I just needed a fresh perspective.
Hi, I tried to view the site a couple of times, but images aren't coming up...I think the problem is on my end so I shall try again later.
It should be okay now Tiddly Inks. I installed hot links protection yesterday and it wasn't working properly. Sorry. I am an artist first and a web programmer dead last! LOL.
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