Do you need an artist website?

Hey Glass Friends, I could use your help. 

I'm beginning a new, exciting project and would like to know if you'd like to hear about my journey in my blog? I'm going to design and build a new artist website for my glass business. 

Don’t be fooled, I’m no techie. But I am stubborn and driven. I’m fired up for a new challenge and excited about the opportunity to learn new skills. 

Photo shoot time.

Are you with me? 

Change isn’t easy. But there comes a time when you realize that doing things the same old way may be getting the job done, but there’s no spark of excitement in it anymore. That’s when you know it’s time to reevaluate your process and update your tools to improve your performance. My website is a tool like any other. 

It’s my intention to build a new website that reflects who I am now and the artistic growth I’ve enjoyed over the past years. The new site will be infused with positive energy and inspiring content that’ll help us grow as artists and be more creative, productive people. 

I’m reinventing myself. Just like Madonna. I have the power to do whatever I want and be whoever I want to be. And it’s time to create a new, website that mirrors that forward momentum and energy. I hope to build a site that makes it easier to bring you education, inspiration and the motivation you need to be your best creative self.  

Streamlining my work load. 

I’m really thrilled about having more control over the content on my new website and being able to update images and information more frequently. There’s always something new to share. Soon, I’ll be able to show and tell you about them right away. I’m also looking forward to having all of my different extensions: blog, email, classes, videos etc. all in one convenient, easily accessible place.  

Here I'm testing different settings in search of backgrounds that enhance my art. I like the textures and color contrast in this one.

Now on to the journey.

Research is key to finding the right direction to take a new website. I’ve been reading articles about the current trends for websites and online stores. So far, I’ve learned that new websites are using neutral, calming color schemes. They are also using only a few soft colors sometimes as few as one or two colors. This may be the first rule I break. 

Another trend is the use of a lot of white space and keep the pages clean and clutter free. Navigation tools, site maps and menus are prominent and easy to use. Less is more, appears to be the dominant message. 

Also, effective sites are designed for mobile-first users. They display well on smart phones and tablets. Most users visit sites and shop on portable devises while they’re on the go. The content is displayed vertically one item on top of the other so visitors can scroll up or down on small, narrow screens. 

That’s the extent of the design information I’ve collected thus far. 

I like the soft background pattern and tiny red highlights.

Nuts and Bolts

Before even thinking about uploading material to a new website I’m collecting the basic content that’ll be the backbone of the site. I designated a folder on my computer to the new website. That way when I’m ready to add content, everything I need will be in one easy to find location. 

In the folder I have my artist bio and contact information. Write a great artist bio.  I have an additional blurb that will appear in the ABOUT section. I also have my sales policy written out. There are a couple of profile pictures; one image is a nice head shot and the other one shows me working in my studio. I have cover images and descriptions of my instructional videos and design books. Plus, I have pictures of some of my favorite pieces of glass art to give my website a personal touch.

This stone landscape and filtered light add depth to the image.

Next up, I’m going to photograph new pieces of art that I’ll sell on the website. Photographing your art to sell. Then I’ll give each piece a clever name and write a brief, yet catchy description. For me, writing the descriptions is one of the hardest parts of the whole process. It’s so hard to make each piece sound special, different and unique when I love them all equally.   

Quality control had some helpful advice.

Do you need a website?

That depends on you. First, define your goals. 

For hobbyists, a website is a great place to showcase your work and take your craft to a higher level of sophistication. 

For selling artists a website is essential. It’s your business card. It’s the most efficient way for people to find and contact you. A website builds trust in potential customers. It shows you’re a legitimate business owner who’s serious about the quality and creativity of your work. 

Your site doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to work. There are plenty of really good, free hosting options out there. You can have a simple, attractive and effective website with minimal effort. 

Remember less is more. Keep it clean and simple and you’ll be successful. I believe in you. You can do it.  

If you enjoyed this post let me know and I’ll share more on this topic. Let me hear from you, like this post and leave a comment.  

Happy fusing!
Lisa

Follow my blog for more tips and tricks! 

Artist Website www.LisaVogt.net
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhOifd7wukk
Facebook www.Facebook.com/LisaJVogt

Author Website https://lisajvogtcom.wordpress.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/lisajvogt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lvogt_originalsinglass/

Welcome Life-Long Learners

Upcoming Webinar

Let’s get together and fuse glass!

Make a Fused Glass Sink Webinar

May 14, 2019

https://www.glasspatterns.com/glass-patterns-quarterly-store/product/1212-make-a-fused-glass-sink-with-lisa-vogt-may-14-2019.html

In this comprehensive webinar, I’ll guide you step-by-step through the time-tested processes I use to make large-scale, functional bowls.

You'll learn safe handling techniques for cutting oversized circles, how to fuse and slump thick pieces to retain consistent bowl height, plus trade-secrets for worry free drilling. In addition, I’ll demonstrate how to make a glittering dichroic sink. I’ll also show you how to make a cast glass sink from nipped glass pieces, dichroic bits and frit.

In addition to fabrication know-how, you'll receive a complete supply list, specifics on kiln requirements, source information for the slumping mold and drill kit, as well as helpful installation tips.

With all the professional tricks revealed, you'll gain the confidence and knowledge needed to make your own dazzling beauty.

 Wait...there's more!

You'll be guided through the various cold-working steps I use to finish the cast glass sink edge to a glamorous, professional, quality polish.

NEW Workshop Announcement - Now Registering!

Sculptural Fused Glass, 4-Day, Hands-on Workshop

October 15-18, 2019

Register here: http://www.lisavogt.net/products.aspx?id=480

Join me for this intense workshop held in my private studio in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Class size is limited to 4.

Sculptural fused glass is the creation of three-dimensional forms that rise above a flat plane. Artists create 3-D works by using multiple methods and techniques with complete freedom of materials and process.

In this class, you’ll push the boundaries glass imposes. Students will use innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original sculptural art.

You’ll enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making large scale projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.

Its hard-core fusing in a nurturing, relaxed environment.

You'll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing nonstop, for four consecutive days.

You’ll leave class with a working knowledge of kiln operation, custom project specific firing guides and the inspiration you’ve been craving to go sculptural!

Learn at home at your own pace. Instructional Videos are here!

Available here: http://www.lisavogt.net/shop.aspx?id=40

Check out my writer’s blog.

Lisa J. Vogt

6 Tiny Technique Tricks that Make a HUGE Difference in the Quality of Your Finished Artwork

Grape Tulip from Creative Shapes Video

Having made glass art for over 30 years I sometimes take for granted the tiny details, and small steps I take on a regular basis to ensure the consistent durability and beauty of my finished pieces of art. 

These time-tested routine practices may seem insignificant, but the steady use of these reliable techniques has incredible value.  

At every stage of artistic growth, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced glass fuser, it’s beneficial to review the basics on occasion to enjoy continued success. You’ll find that as you seek out more advanced projects, these simple, tried-and-true methods are often the keys to consistent, positive results. 

Plus, they increase your control of the medium which inspires future growth.   

Years-ago there were an abundance of local glass shops with open door policies. These family run stores welcomed visitors and questions from curious crafters hungry to learn and eager to improve their techniques. The one-on-one interaction was priceless. A willing student could learn and advance their understanding of the medium rapidly simply by watching a master craftsman at work. You’d see firsthand the practical short cuts no one thought worth writing down. You’d witness the artist’s slow patience and their pride in taking their time to do a good job. You’d pick up on their subtle, sometimes unconventional little tricks that made their work better, tighter and more cohesive. 

But now we’re limited to gaining knowledge through what’s shared and what’s showy. But it’s not necessarily what’s really valuable to gaining ground on your own. A lot of this information has mid-range value rather than benefits for beginner or advanced fusers. 

In my experience, we learn more from fundamental, time-tested practices that hover on the fringes, rather than sail in the mainstream. With the help of these little treasures, you can adapt your methods and confidently pursue new techniques to advance your skills and the quality of your work.    

Here are some basic glass handling techniques I use that ensure my success.

Thoroughly clean the sheet glass before cutting it. 

I use plain water, a sponge and paper towels. I use a single edge razor blade to remove labels and any residual glue that might be left behind. You tend to do a better job cleaning the glass when its whole because it’s easier to wash one piece rather than a bunch of cut pieces. 

Thoroughly wash off any dusty residue from the grinder or oil from the glass cutter. These contaminates can sometimes leave an unattractive haze on the fused glass. 

I clean the glass with plain water again after cutting it to size and before assembling the project. Then I handle the cut glass by the edges to minimize any finger prints which can burn into the fused glass leaving a dull finish. 

Remove any marking pen from the cut glass before assembling the project.

I don’t assume the pen marks will burn off during firing. I take the extra time to make sure the glass is in the best condition before I fuse or slump the glass. I use water and sponge or a single edge razor blade to remove the pen marks.

Use the smallest amount of fuser’s glue possible.

Avoid using glue if possible. But if you must, apply a pin-head size dot of glue to the glass with the tiny tip of a toothpick, or similar tool. This small amount burns off without leaving any gray haze between layers.

Get creative. When making a project with a border I only glue the outside edge pieces down to the base glass. When the glue dries, the glued border holds the interior pieces in place long enough to transport the assembled project to the kiln shelf. 

Avoid using glue on clear dichroic glass or iridized glass if the coating will be placed face down. The glue leaves a distracting, “water spot” between layers. This spoiler can be avoided simply by stacking the dichroic or iridized pieces on the project once it’s assemble inside the kiln.    

Accuracy matters. 

Use a strip cutter for borders and strips. I cut several more strips than I need and then pick the straightest, cleanest ones to use in my project. This drastically increases the cleanliness of the finished art. I use the extra strips in Free Flows, pot melts or other freeform projects. Nothing goes to waste. 

Avoid grinding your glass if possible.

The process of grinding increases the surface area of the glass. This can cause the ground glass to have a hazy edge after fusing. This dull edge is a form of devitrification. You’ll have bright shinny edges if you simply cut the glass to size and then assembly your project without grinding. 

With that said, I don’t hesitate to grind my glass to improve the shape and size if it will benefit the, “look” of the finished project. Take flower petals for example. Grinding them makes the sizes uniform and the shapes smooth. I wouldn’t hesitate to grind them to make the overall piece better. I would also be sure to grind the entire outer edge of each flower petal for a consistent appearance after fusing.  

Do your absolute best work on every step. 

This tip goes back to my early stained glass days, but it’s timeless. Do your best work on every single step. It makes the next step easier and you’ll have more professional results guaranteed.   

These simple ideas may seem trivial, and not worth mentioning. But the combined effort truly makes a huge difference in the quality and attractiveness of my work. You can benefit from my experience by following these simple practices and you’ll enjoy increased consistency. You’ll also learn to accurately predict and control the outcome of your fused glass art. And when something goes wrong, you can eliminate what worked in the past then go back, retrace your fabrication steps, materials and firing schedules to pinpoint the cause of the problem. 

Best of all, you can take that newfound knowledge and use it to create all new works of art.

Wherever you are in your artistic journey, you’re doing a great job! Keep going. Never settle. You are an amazing talent. Shine on!     

Happy fusing!
Lisa

Follow my blog for more tips and tricks! 

Artist Website www.LisaVogt.net
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhOifd7wukk
Facebook www.Facebook.com/LisaJVogt

Author Website https://lisajvogtcom.wordpress.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/lisajvogt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lvogt_originalsinglass/

Upcoming Webinar

Let’s get together and fuse glass!

Make a Fused Glass Sink

May 14, 2019

https://www.glasspatterns.com/glass-patterns-quarterly-store/product/1212-make-a-fused-glass-sink-with-lisa-vogt-may-14-2019.html

In this comprehensive Webinar, I’ll guide you step by step through the time-tested processes I use to make large-scale, functional vessels.

You'll learn safe handling techniques for cutting oversized circles, how to fuse and slump thick pieces to retain consistent bowl height, plus trade-secrets for worry free drilling.

In addition to fabrication know-how, you'll receive a complete supply list, specifics on kiln requirements, source information for the slumping mold and drill kit, as well as helpful installation tips.

With all the professional tricks revealed, you'll gain the confidence and knowledge needed to make your own dazzling beauty.

 Wait...there's more!

In addition, I’ll demonstrate how to make a glittering dichroic sink. I’ll also show you how to make a cast glass sink from nipped glass pieces, dichroic bits and frit. Plus, you'll be guided through the various cold-working steps I use to finish the cast glass sink edge to a glamorous, professional, quality polish.

Learn at home at your own pace. Instructional Videos are here!

Available here: http://www.lisavogt.net/shop.aspx?id=40

Check out my writer’s blog.

Lisa J. Vogt