Websites As Canvas
In connection with digital photography and computers, websites are ideal for Artists. Blogs compliment the traditional portfolio, where previous and ongoing work can be documented in one place and viewed informally, potentially worldwide.
Besides promoting business and sales, it’s beneficial for Artists to see their work from various points of view, since Art looks quite different on a screen than if seen in person or while creating it. A daily or almost- daily blog offers the Artist a challenge to describe their work and recount the process more mindfully in order to learn more. Seeing things from a different viewpoint may show us how a certain technique was applied, and even the awareness of mistakes can make a difference in our future work. Reviewing works in progress is helpful for self-evaluation, which we continually need to do if we want to stay on top of our game and improve. For those who are lucky to receive feedback from others in the comment section, the valuable positive and negative remarks direct us to specifics that might need some attention.
Some ideas demand an effort to be organized before they can be realized, and the website format can be used as if painting one canvas where ideas, themes and pictures merge. There are so many possibilities since you can custom-design one for your own purpose, and with so many free sample-designs and information available on the internet, the potential is exciting. Of course it helps tremendously if you have at least one patient computer geek in the family. I have three, and I’m very grateful for all the help…just thought I’d give them kudos here. I would never have sought to learn about websites, or the computer at all for that matter, if it weren’t for their encouragement.
The chapters branching from nikkiartwork.com are: themajestyoftrees.com, heartshapesinnature.com, trucolors.info, and nikkiphotography.com. All serve unique purposes:
Computers are new to my repertoire of creative expression, and it’s been both frustrating and fun to discover a whole new world that I never thought I’d be interested in. I’ve learned to never say never. Independent projects like True Colors and Heart Shapes In Nature were the perfect classroom where I first started learning the basics about digital photography and page design.
The Majesty of Trees website was developed to have a place to organize everything I’ve done and will ever do about the subject of Trees. In particular, I’m planning a travelling Solo Exhibition, the first is scheduled for June - July 2009 at the Nature Art Gallery, Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, NC. The topic of trees is so vast, and the website is a perfect, paper-free way to keep all the information documented together: photography, illustrations, paintings, writing and mixed media ideas. As the concept materializes, I’ll eliminate some of my wilder, unrealistic ideas and gradually chose which work to exhibit. Since galleries have limited space for display, as the show travels the website remains as a base for all who are interested to enjoy the body of work as a whole, and is also a venue to purchase the associated Artwork.
Although I’m hoping to highlight the paintings and upcoming exhibitions, there’s a great deal of interesting photography on that website too, and I love that there is a way for it all to be shared. Tree photos have been taken at least as far back as 1993 in Costa Rica (and Canada), 2001 in eastern Australia, and since 2002 across the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico. A few categories listed on the website are Oddities, Regeneration, Flowers, Textures, Leaves, and more. Following are examples from the Bark category.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
nikkiphotography.com was created as an album in which to document photographic series and keep the photos posted on this blog to a minimum. The goal is for viewers to see only traditional painting and works in progress posted here on nikkiartwork.com. I’m still filling in all the gaps at the photography website, which is intended to be a daily photo blog eventually. It is linked to FlickR, where many short albums are posted temporarily.
Heart Shapes In Nature is self-explanatory except for the fact that it is an ongoing form of photo-entertainment for me…and now others. I started casually taking photos of heart-shaped things a few years back with no intentions to collect. When I saw the heart-shaped canteloupe grow in my garden, then a heart-shaped cloud form, I knew it was time to share. There are now approximately 75 images in the series. 3 x 4 inch framed prints are available as with black frame and black or white mats @ $7.50 each or 3 for $20. They look great when hung in groups of three, but even better grouped in a square of nine. Please contact me at nikki_coulombe@hotmail.com if you are interested to purchase those.
The 2009 revised 12 and 18 month calendars of Heart Shapes In Nature are available for $15.00 and $20.00 through Lulupress; arrangement and links follow..
________________________________
The revised 18-month January 2009 through June 2010 calendar of Heart Shapes In Nature has many new images. There are now approximately 75 photos in the series. Concept and photography by Artist Nikki Coulombe.
______________________________
True Colors is my tribute to the landscapes and culture of southwestern Mexico. 200 out of 1000 favorite colored photos have been digitally superimposed against a black and white versions of the same image. From those 200, 20 of each; the un-doctored and manipulated versions are available as matted 11 x 14 inch quality prints. The following calendars, favorite images from 2 different photographic series are available to purchase: True Colors - Generic Imagery, 2009 12 months. True Colors - Generic Imagery, 18 months, Jan. 2009 through June 2010. True Colors - Trees of Mexico, 2009 12 months. True Colors - Flowers of Mexico, 2009 12 months.
The 2009 12 month calendar, Generic Imageryshows select shots from the True Colors Photographic Series by Artist Nikki Coulombe. The trucolors.info website is my tribute to southwestern Mexico.
____________________________________________________
The 18 month calendar, Generic Imageryshows some of the best selected digitally enhanced photos from the True Colors Photographic Series, my creative tribute to southwestern Mexico. Please visit the trucolors.info website to view the complete series.
__________________________________________________
The 2009 12 month calendar, Flowers - Mexicoshows select photos from the True Colors Photographic Series by Artist Nikki Coulombe. The website trucolors.info is a creative tribute to southwestern Mexico.
____________________________________________________
The 2009 version 12-month calendar, Trees - Mexico shows the best selected photographs of trees from the True Colors Photographic Series, a creative tribute to the colorful landscapes, culture and lifestyle in southwestern Mexico.
_______________________________