Website launched! Critiques welcome

ArtistErin

@Kim-Rosenlof Thank you Kim!! Yes totally agree! It is now much better! My main intention is to keep things super simple and let the work speak. Hoping to maintain this approach, adding better pieces as I get better...

Definitely planning to begin a contact strategy. I know LinkedIn is a way to do this as well as reaching out to artists with similar styles and finding out their methods. I would like to approach some pros to pay them for their time for a critique too.

ArtistErin

@Charlotte-Glaze Thank you! All you guys pretty much echoed the exact same thing LOL I love it. This process has been super crazy, I've been up since 3 am cause I couldn't sleep so I have to chill for awhile, let things ride! Hoping it all starts coming together soon though. Really want to get my LinkedIn Profile going soon.

On another sorta related note: my urgency now is felt more acutely, I suppose, because I'm back at work after taking the year off for surgeries so feeling a bit impatient. My time off is limited, and can't quit the day job until something comes in! Ugggh. The grind...

ArtistErin

@NessIllustration Interesting! I do see how it cleans up the art and looks more professional...

Jeremy Ross

Hi @kirsten-mcg, I ended up doing the same on my Kamari piece after the good advice here.

Jeremy Ross

Website looks great @ArtistErin! The improvements certainly helped!

ArtistErin

@Mimi-Simon Oh yeah you nailed that point totally. I have to make myself walk away often. I could fiddle with something forever! And I'm not a programmer either I'd rather be an artist, it's way more fun

ArtistErin

@Jeremy-Ross Thank you Jeremy!!

kirsten-mcg

@Jeremy-Ross glad I wasn't the only one!

kirsten-mcg

Your site looks great now @ArtistErin ! I think the changes you made really help, IT looks clean and professional and is easy to navigate. And you're not the only one to buy a domain name that isn't exactly right. I added "art" to my domain name after my name, and now it’s so long I'm kicking myself and wishing I had just used my name. But The address is really a Little thing I think. Most people just click on the link without thinking about it much!

Charlotte Glaze

Looks great, now! Good job!

Chantal Goetheer

@ArtistErin I only saw your new and improved site, but it looks great. Clean, simple and the works get all the attention they deserve. Great job!!

ArtistErin

@kirsten-mcg Thank you Kirsten! This means alot to me! I can tell, in fact, I know this is the stuff I was afraid of doing: making mistakes, looking like a fool or unprofessional which tends to sprout thoughts of imposter syndrome and perfectionism, which has stopped me in the past from getting out there. Risking looking amateurish, huge fear. But I tell myself now just do it anyway and I can change my mind, course correct, and don't worry so much.

My brother is a great photographer, and is helping me with my photos! Looking forward to this part. I feel good photography is important for branding...

Upward and Onward

ArtistErin

@Charlotte-Glaze Thank you Charlotte!!!

ArtistErin

@Chantal-Goetheer Thank you Chantal!!! Yeah it's been a learning curve! I can say with every ounce of myself it is so satisfying to do the thing I have been afraid of. Tackling fear head on seems to be my theme this year.

Talking to potential art directors, agents, employers... that's next

Chantal Goetheer

@ArtistErin You go girl!!

ArtistErin

@Chantal-Goetheer Thanks!!!! I'm working a full schedule along with squeezing in an hour or two before I have to go in to work. Not easy but worth it...
Slow and steady wins the race

Chantal Goetheer

@ArtistErin indeed, keep going. It's so tough sometimes. Didn't manage much since the new year, flooded with overtime and trying to make a career switch into elementary school on the side. Im cheering you on. Good for you that you are managing to find time on the side!

ArtistErin

@Chantal-Goetheer Thank you Chantal!!

Sarah VanDam

@kirsten-mcg Oh, that’s really good info to have!

Sarah VanDam

@ArtistErin Hi Erin, this is looking great, and it seems like a lot of people have given excellent website design feedback already! I did have some thoughts on the presentation of your portfolio, though, if you’re interested in that type of input. I highlighted and commented on a few things:

I hope this is somewhat helpful to you on your path to becoming an epic illustrator! Let me know if I went too far with this. Also, is that an actual lino cut in that rose/bottle illustration?? That’s such a cool effect.