In the age of \u201cAI art,\u201d people are searching for creators with intention. They want something that goes beyond an image in a frame; they want art in context. Your own artist website is the perfect way to deliver that. But creating an online art portfolio that highlights your personality is no easy task, even for highly creative people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As an artist, you already know you need a website. It\u2019s vital to helping you secure commissions as well as admission to institutions, retreats, and other opportunities. But if you want to make a name for yourself, creating a standard online art portfolio is not enough. You need a platform that will showcase not just your work, but who you are as a creator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, we\u2019ll explain how to structure your artist website for a successful user experience. We\u2019ll also go over how to infuse every part of its design with your personality (or persona).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s start with the framework. Every website with multiple pages should have a home page and a contact page. But what should you put in between them? Here are the pages we recommend you build, in order of importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the most essential part, so let\u2019s start here. Your online art portfolio should, clearly, be a place to showcase your artistic style, range, and accomplishments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While your artwork is a deeply personal representation of you, it\u2019s also the product you\u2019re trying to sell. This is not the time to be humble. When structuring your portfolio, be sure to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You aren\u2019t using the portfolio section of your artist website as a shop, but you should still give each piece it\u2019s own page where you can extol your vision, creativity, and technical skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A note on protecting your work: The question of how much artwork you should share for free has gotten more complicated in the last few years. AI scraping is a real concern for artists, so we recommend using a tool like Glaze to protect your creative work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This should be separate from your art gallery. You want prospective employers, residency admissions directors, and academic admissions counselors to see a professional, online art portfolio, not a shop. And while we reiterate that you should specify which pieces are for sale and provide a link, it shouldn\u2019t be a products page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, you ought to have a products page for people who are solely interested in what they can buy. Browsing through piece after piece that\u2019s no longer available, or is available only as a print or original, is going to frustrate buyers quickly. The solution? A separate shop page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Building an online store for your artist website may feel daunting, but affordable, easy-to-use options abound. We personally recommend WooCommerce, if you know your way around WordPress. You can also use services like Shopfiy, Wix, or Squarespace. Alternatively, you could start an Etsy store and embed it on your website using WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discussing the various methods of dropshipping prints is beyond the scope of this particular blog, but it is something we\u2019ll go over in the future. Sign up for our mailing list to learn about our experiences and recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n