Art Blogs: A Definition
An art blog is simply a website or blog-site wherein you share your artwork with people in a journal-post style fashion. Generally the idea behind an art blog is a place where one can post about one’s own artwork and the various topics related to it. An Art Blog in not a “general” blog, in the sense wherein one posts about their normal life, rants, gripes or the like not normally associated with artwork.
You post art-related content, speak about art-related topics, share your ideas, hopes, dreams, WIPs (works in progress), ask for critiques, post about specials, sales, special commissions, ask for help from other artists and more.
The comment section of your art blog allows for conversations about the topics your share, as much as it does just general comments, so there is the chance of interaction, communication, and sharing of ideas.
Should I Get One?
It really depends on the amount of time an artist puts into it, how thick their “skin” when it comes to negative comments, and how well they interact socially. Remember that online, public sites are accessible to just about anyone. So getting into a petty argument on one’s artblog, regardless of how the artist’s feels, is a bad idea.
If you feel you have to defend your artwork, have a tendency to write inflammatory posts, or “argue” instead of having “professional debates” maybe an art blog isn’t for you. Only you know you best.
On the other hand, if you are a social butterfly and are capable of handling negative comments without “fighting” with your commentators, then an art blog may be something you want to look into. In some cases, though not as wide spread as one might think, some artists forgo the typical “gallery”-style website and only maintain an art blog.
Benefits of an Art Blog
Art blogs let users, visitors, and potential clients see the artist for the person and the professional they are in a “fresh” way.
Similar to (but not the same as) being at an art gallery opening so folks can speak with one directly, art blogs give users a chance to communicate with the artist and ask questions about the art.
Art blogs offer the artist a way of talking about their artwork even as they post samples of it. This is a much different style of posting art then it is when one uploads it to a gallery-style site. An artist leaves their comments in the description, but from what I’ve seen this is sometimes totally over looked. A an observation, I’ve noted that descriptions which flow around the artwork, or have the artwork as part of the discussion, seem to be read more often.
Blogs in general generate a lot of traffic on their own. The content is fresh, new, and constantly updated! Art blogs have a special bonus of visually appeal as they add artwork to the mix of text. Win-win.
Art Blog Posting
Just a few tips when posting to your art blog.
Focus:
Don’t loose focus and start posting non-related stuff to your art blog. Keep as much personal, non-art-related, posts out of your art blog as is humanly possible. Generally I mean posts that talk about what your cat fluffy did yesterday that you found funny. If Fluffy inspired you to draw a small cartoon of him/her then by all means add it to your blog.
The idea is to keep it as art-centric as possible, and to keep away from the “generic blog” feel.
Enhancements:
Videos are very popular right now. You may want to make a video tutorial, or show a work in progress. This can be incorporated into your art blog without loosing it’s focus. One can either upload Video (or podcasts, or both) to one’s artblog and talk about what the video is about.
Photography of inspirational sites, people, places, and things (keep in mind trademarks and copyright issues when posting photos of certain things) can be posted as well. This may be an inspiration to others. Just be sure you have a policy in regards to the photographs you take then post, and to the copyright issues for posting such on your art blog.
In fact a Photo-blog is a form of art blog in and of it’s own!
Policies:
Make sure your policies, copyright, trademark, and such information is easily accessible and openly public. In many cases mistakes are made that cause untold headaches for you and others when this isn’t made painfully obvious to your visitors!
Overview
An art blog is a way of sharing your art in a unique, non-traditional manner that requires a little bit of fore-thought. If done well it adds content to the net that is compelling, fresh, and new.
Keep in mind that art blogs are public, and may require a few stiff but professional reminders as to your rights as an artist.
Enjoy it but don’t abuse it.
Above have fun with it!
