ArtSites Updates
This week, I received an email from one of our artists about TinEye.
TinEye is an online image search engine that helps you find online pages where your images may be used - with or without your permission! ;-)
I thought I'd written an article about this, but couldn't find one and think I may have only linked to TinEye in the resource section with our free online Social Media for Visual Artists Workshop.
(If you'd like to learn more about social media, I'd definitely recommend you take a peek! ;-)
In any case, if you want to see if any of your images are being used online, please do try TinEye.
Alternatively, you can also do a Google Image search, which will give you similar results.
Here's a great article using Google Images on How to Find Out If Someone Is Using Images of Your Art Online.
Here's to tracking down any copyright infringers!
Unfortunately, I haven't come across any similar tools for copies of your artwork offline! ;-)
You may not have seen this, but this week, Pinterest introduced a new way for you to discover art!
This latest update allows you to follow Pinterest topics like “Art” on your iPhone, iPad, Android, and the Web.
While this may not seem all that new, this update now allows you to just follow a topic (or category) and not have to find specific people or individual boards to follow.
This update makes it far easier for you to discover new content for the things you care about, while completely ignoring whatever bores you to tears! ;-)
For example, you can now subscribe to a feed only covering Ceramics or even more specifically, Ceramic Bowls, and avoid all those pesky Street Artists or Illustrators. (Please note I'm just kidding! ;-)
In any case, you might want to check out Pinterest's Art categories - both for inspiration and to see what else is out there! :-)
Happy Pinning! :-D
A few weeks ago, I wrote up a short article discussing Why and When It Makes Sense to Buy Extra Domain Names (Part 1).
Since then, we've gotten some more questions and I wanted to add some additional reasons you may want to consider getting a second domain.
Here are a few more ideas to consider:
- You just want the domain name.
Maybe you don't have a specific use for it right now but you might want it in the future so you secure it now.
- The second domain name is a variation on the first
Maybe there is a common misspelling, plural/singular, etc. that you'd like to own.
- You want another website with that domain name.
You may be thinking about creating another website at some point in the future and simply want to make sure you have the domain name now.
- You want an email address using that domain name.
As mentioned in our earlier article - What Your Email Address Says About Your Brand, you may simply want to have an email address with a specific domain name.
- You want to publish the domain name in some kind of way (business card, etc)
But, you want to have visitors to that domain name to be sent to your main website.
- You want to send people to a particular page on your website.
And, you'd prefer to have a very specific domain name for that page (or subsection) of your main website.
When I send people a link to my website, is it enough to just put cherylbailey.ca or do I need the http? Also, what is the difference between the http:// and www.?The short answer is: It depends a bit on what you are using to send people to your website.
If you are typing your website address into an email message, we would suggest having the http:// part on the front.
In most cases, email programs will turn your domain name without the http:// into a link.
But, there are some older ones that need the http:// to recognize that it is a link.
So, to be safe, it's a good idea to add the http:// part.
Both www.cherylbailey.ca or just cherylbailey.ca will work fine.
It's really a personal preference as both will display the same.
Personally, we prefer to leave out the "www" as it's redundant and people will recognize cherylbailey.ca just as well as www.cherylbailey.ca.
It's also fewer characters to type and your name shows up much more clearly, especially if you are printing it on a card, etc.
We also strongly recommend using mixed case domain names to make them easier to read.
In this case, it would be CherylBailey.ca.
Domain names are case insensitive so you can use any combination of lower and upper case letters.
So, just to be clear, we would suggest using http://CherylBailey.ca in email messages and CherylBailey.ca on printed material.
Please feel free to add the "www", if you like that better.
We hope this clears things up a bit!
If you have any more questions about domain names, please let us know!
According to a new study out of Germany, making art can help keep your mental faculties strong as you age!
In this ten-week study, half of a group (made up of 28 individuals aged 62 to 70) was given art-making classes in which they were introduced to various painting and drawing techniques.
They then created their own artworks!
The other half took art appreciation classes, learning how to analyze paintings and participate in group discussions.
Through brain scans, researchers found that individuals who had actually made art showed a greater increase in brain function than those who merely learned how to appreciate it better.
"The second set of brain scans found increased levels of functional connectivity among those who participated in the hands-on art class—but, again, not among members of the art appreciation class. The improvement was specifically found within the brain’s default mode network, which is associated with cognitive processes such as introspection, self-monitoring, and memory."
What a really interesting study!
(Although I'm sure for many of you, this is NOT that surprising! ;-)
Here's a link to more details about this German study.
So, keep up your artwork!
Your art is definitely helping you maintain your mental faculties! :-)
Yup, Geoff's been at it again! ;-)
A few months ago, we announced a feature that disables the ability for visitors to right-click on your images.
However, this week, ArtSites artist, Elle Shay, told us that it was still possible to drag and drop the image. Oh no!!
So, Geoff did some sleuthing and his usual technical wizardry! ;-)
And, we're now thrilled to announce that, if you have disabled the right-clicking option on your website, visitors also CANNOT drag and drop your images!
But, wait! ... there's MORE! ;-)
While Geoff was making these changes, he also revisited the code that allows you to offer enlarged images to your viewers.
Until now, we weren't able to protect these images, but Geoff figured out a solution and now...
ALL your images, even the enlarged versions, are protected from right-clicking and dragging & dropping!
(Provided you've enabled these features on your website ;-)
If you want to know how to do this, check out our previous articles:
- How to Offer the "Click to Enlarge" Option for Your Visitors
- How to Disable "Right-Clicking" and "Drag & Drop" on Your Images
(FYI - by default, both of these features are NOT enabled.)
As always, we're doing everything we can to protect your online images and artwork.
That said, and as with any new updates we make, if you have any issues with this latest update or have any other questions, simply let us know!
Thanks again for continuing to identify ways we can make ArtSites better!
We really appreciate your feedback! :-D
Many of you have probably been receiving emails asking for your consent to continue sending you commercial newsletters, etc.
As of July 1, 2014, a new Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation will be in place for ANYONE (including US-based individuals & companies) sending electronic messages (including social media) to anyone in Canada!
I am currently in the throes of trying to figure out what this exactly means - for YOU, all our artists and for us.
And, as with all government legislation, it's not exactly straight-forward! :-)
Before you panic, there is something you should know about timing ...
While the legislation does go into place on July 1, 2014,
From what I've read so far, three of the core issues are:
- Whether you have implicit or explicit consent from your subscribers.
And,
- Whether your implied consent was within the last 24 months.
(I've read a few articles that say explicit consent never expires, but I need to confirm.) - Do your messages outline how subscribers can unsubscribe at any time in the future.
That said, there are still many, many nuances!
Over the next week, I WILL be writing a detailed article on what you need to know and what I have learned.
However, if you're anxious, nervous, or would just like to read up on it yourself, here are a few links that I found initially helpful:
- Mailchimp's Canada Anti-Spam Law (CASL)
- The Canadian Government's Fight Spam CASL Pages
- Globe and Mail CASL Article(s)
- CASL: Examples of Express & Implied Consent
- CRTC CASL Pages
- CAPACOA Online Webinar and Q&A for a Stress-Free Transition to the Anti-Spam Law (June 30 or July 7)
I do promise to have more to report in probably a Special Alert Email next week!
However, since I'm not a lawyer and I don't want to misguide you, I'm being extra careful!
So, to be continued ... :-)
Recently, Geoff and I have been getting quite a few questions about domain names.
So, today, I wanted to write up a short article discussing Why and When It Makes Sense to Buy Extra Domain Names.
Generally speaking, you can register any number of domain names (provided, of course, they're still available.)
It's not unusual for artists to purchase domain names that are the artist's name with a .com AND a .ca or another ending, if those variations are available.
With our system, we generally set things up so that there is a primary domain name and the extra "secondary domain names" will redirect to the primary one.
For instance, we have an artist that has the domain name KyleArts.ca as her primary domain name AND KyleArts.com as a secondary domain name.
If you click on KyleArts.com, the address in your web browser automatically changes to KyleArts.ca because you'll be redirected to her primary domain name.
The costs for a domain name vary depending on the ending.
Generally, .com costs $10/year and .ca cost $15/year.
There are a whole bunch of new endings that are just being released that are considerably more expensive.
There is even a .art that is in the planning stages and might be available next year sometime.
We'll be sure to announce this in the newsletter when we know more! ;-)
So, is it worth it to buy more?!
They are not that expensive so it may make sense to buy the ones you want before someone else picks them up.
However, from a branding point of view, it really is best to focus on a single domain name.
In the KyleArts.ca case above, having the secondary KyleArts.com makes sure that if someone accidentally types in KyleArts.com, they land on the correct website.
And, sometimes artists will buy an additional domain name just because they want control of it.
For instance in the KyleArts.ca case, she also bought her name, MargaretKyle.ca.
Owning your own name as a domain name is a really good idea, even if you don't use it for your art website.
If you think you might be interested in buying an additional domain name, simply let us know and we'll work with you to get everything setup!
Here's to people easily finding you and your art! ;-)
And, as usual, we had a blast!
(In fact, I took an electric bike for a test ride and think I may have finally found a way to keep up eith Geoff on his LONG bike rides! :-)
As we were walking down street, we noticed a "Live Mural-Fest" happening (see above photo) and it was sponsored by Vancouver-based Street Art App company, Curb.
Here's a nice video about Curb:
Simply stated, curb is:
- A way to discover amazing public art just around the corner or across the globe
- A platform to upload your favourite pieces
- A way to show love to artists whose creativity transforms our streets
Please do check out the Curb App (iOS only) and let's help build a wonderful database of street art and talented street artists!
Enjoy!
Goggle has launched an ongoing online series titled "#StreetArtProject",
This project has been created by Paris-based Google Cultural Institute.
Not surprisingly, all of these street art images were found and curated from snapshots using “Google's Street View camera”, as well as contributions from “museums and other cultural organizations”.
Over “5,000 images and 100 online exhibitions” from around the world are documented in this online gallery.
The online gallery includes graffiti art and installations from a wide variety of countries such as “Kibera, Kenya and South Bank, Australia”.
Murals that no longer exist can also be found in the gallery, creating an online “retrospective” database of graffiti art.
What a wonderful way to discover art being shared with the public across the world!
Enjoy!
It's always nice to be able to grab a quick, really tasty(and often quite interesting ;-) street bite at reasonable prices!
Vancouver's done a great job introducing these "Food Trucks" over the past few years!
But, how about applying that same model to discovering art?!
Well, the New York Times just published an interesting article about the "emerging" trend of "Art Trucks".
Here's an interesting quote from the article:
In interviews, mobile owners say they are trying to avoid the confines — and politics — of the gallery system; to help people think about art in different ways; or to reach more communities, especially those with young and old people who tend not to visit art districts.What do you think?! Would you be interested inhaving your artwork sold via these mobile galleries? And, do you think this is an interesting twist on the gallery model?
Well, here are a few more photos of some art trucks (just click on the images for more details ...) And, while we always like to think that this is a new idea, clearly it's been done before ;-)
We'd love to hear your thoughts! ;-)