WordPress Themes for Artists

Buckhorn Saloon: Come on in!
Mixed media on masonite, 20 x 16 inches.
©2010-2012 Mary A. Gravelle

Use this link to contact me: http://www.contactify.com/b83af.

Artists, have you been wanting to create a website or portfolio site to showcase your art? Below are some resources for finding templates for your needs when creating a WordPress site.

I have created a WordPress site that I'm still working on, Igniting Your Intentions™. I'm most likely going to set a WordPress site up for my art.

http://www.artbizblog.com/2010/08/brucewp-cms.html -- This link will guide you through the process of setting up your website to look like a website instead of a blog. I found this to be a great resource authored by Kim Bruce.

Below are sites where you can either purchase or download free templates specifically geared toward showcasing your art.

http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/wordpress/free-portfolio-photo-gallery-wordpress-themes/

http://photo.tutsplus.com/articles/round-ups/20-wordpress-portfolio-themes-for-photographers/

http://wpfolio.visitsteve.com/wiki/screenshots/wpfolio-user-showcase/

To purchase: http://www.templatemonster.com/category/art-photography-wordpress-themes/

Let me know if this resource list is helpful to you.

UPCOMING WORKSHOP: Igniting Your Intentions™focuses on infusing love through your entire life. Details are on my site, Igniting Your Intentions™. 

Mary's Fine Art Website Gets a New Look

Sep 8, 2010 -- New Look

A new header banner has been created by incorporating the "Purple Mountains Majesty southwestern landscape painting. The sidebar went away thus streamlining the look. Also, check out the About page as I have added my artist bio and resume. And don't forget to go the Workshops page and register for Wisdom Painting coming up Sep. 19.

Great Article on Art Website Tips

I just came across some good tips for designing art websites. Check it out here:
http://www.artcalendar.com/article.asp?ID=138

Writing a Business Plan

I attended a class at the Small Business Development center today in Silver City. The class was on how to write a business plan. I'm determined to make a go of it in my art career. I want to make money from selling my art and printed reproductions on the web. Please buy my stuff. Thank you. I look forward to knowing more about the business end of things. I have an appointment set up for next week to begin the process....

Busy Updating & Refining My Websites

Whew. Websites are a LOT of work! I had a really good session with some talented ladies yesterday. They gave me great advice on refining my websites to make them more user-friendly. I think this is a challenge for most webmasters, especially when it is our own website. We are too close to the situation to really see it with fresh eyes. So, I'm currently updating and simplifying my CafePress.com store. Then, I'll get to my Mary's Fine Art website. The advice is to try to keep it "two clicks" away or less, taking out the layers I have built into both of these sites. It made perfect sense to me, the artist, keeping all of my series and paintings in separate categories. Apparently on the user end, this is not such a good idea. Okay, back to work. Ta ta.

Recap of 2007 -- Quite a Successful Year for My Art

• 3 Exhibits Showing My Paintings During 7 Months in 2007
• 4 Paintings Sold
• New Fine Art Website Created, www.marysfineart.com
• Newspaper Articles Written
• Painted 19 Paintings on New Subject: Southwest Landscape

<-->THREE VENUES SHOWED MY PAINTINGS:

1. Feb. 2007 -- Show at the Barn Gallery, Rancho Linda Vista, Oracle, Arizona
-- SOLD ONE PAINTING
2. July 1 thru Sep. 30, 2007 -- Show at the Twisted Vine, Silver City, New Mexico
-- SOLD ONE PAINTING
3. Oct. 5 thru Dec. 31, 2007 -- Show at the College Avenue Collection, Silver City, New Mexico -- SOLD TWO PAINTINGS

<-->SOLD FOUR PAINTINGS -- Pictured Below:

<--> Two Paintings Became Part of the College Avenue Collection:

<-->Newspaper Articles were Written:
Visit this link: http://www.marysfineart.com/press

<--> I develped and published my first fine art e-commerce website, www.marysfineart.com

<--> I painted, painted, painted.
I have completed 19 paintings since I left Connecticut on July 1, 2006. These were new painting adventures changing my style from abstract symbolism to outside observation of the southwest landscape. I don't know if that sounds like a lot to any of you. Believe me, it is a lot considering I moved cross country from Connecticut to Tucson, Arizona and then to Silver City, New Mexico where I have moved three times! This includes packing, moving, and two storage spaces. I have been mobile and yet have remained committed to my art.

<--> In addition to the art, I have fallen in love four times and broken up four times! Talk about creating and moving on ..... Whew, what a year!