Well, it didn't take long for my newly redesigned website and blog (which I unveiled in March) to get to the point where one more thin mint would have caused the whole thing to explode.

[caption id="attachment_7911" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Fourth Design for Marilyn Fenn Studio (First Design using WordPress)"][/caption]

I started with a design with which I was quite content, but then added one more widget after another until my initial neat and clean and well-thought out design was starting to look pretty junky.  WordPress and the bazillions of developers working madly away like little hamsters creating new gadgets and what-nots to "enhance" one's blog -- not to mention all the Web 2.0 doo-dads to connect with friends and communicate across apps -- make it oh-so-easy to get out of control.  I should know better.

Since I created my first art website design about 10 years ago, my site has gone through alternating periods of expansion and contraction.  This contraction happened sooner than expected, though.  I guess I succumbed to the "ooh-shiny" syndrome.  It's great that WordPress gives you the option of having a website AND a blog, all in one, but there's a a trade-off to be made.  Most artist websites benefit from a clean and simple interface that does not compete with showing your work to best advantage.  Most blogs, on the other hand, encourage multiple opportunities for making connections with others online.  Websites, too, need to make a good first impression.

So, I have done a little remodel and some streamlining to bring the whole thing back to a slightly cleaner and simpler interface, much like my previous website design.  I have moved the Blog from the front page, replacing it with a simple random image of my work.  I removed all sidebar widgets but one, adding them progressively as you get deeper into the website.  The Blog pages contain all sidebar widgets.  I also consolidated some pages, and did a little editing.

This all started when I was going to add two new galleries of work to my site, then decided to clean up my art database that feeds those pages, and then it just snowballed from there.

I hope the new navigational structure works for my readers.  Please let me know what you think -- better, worse, or just a change to get used to?

I am thrilled to announce the launch of my completely redesigned artist portfolio website, now including my two previous Art Blogs.  On this site, you will find:

Stuff about me:

• My portfolio of paintings
• Artist information, including statement, bio, and resume
• News, event calendar, newsletter sign-up links, and news archives
• Contact information
• Blog posts about my art openings and events, such as last fall's Fused Expressions opening
• Posts of my new work, often before I add it to the gallery pages

Stuff not about me:

• Blog posts about museum and galley exhibits, such as "Duchamp Redux" at the Norton Simon Museum
• Information about other artists, both famous and not-yet famous, such as this look at Earthworks Artists and Their Descendents
• Class notes from art school and art classes, such as Start Where You Are - Move On from There from Advanced Drawing with Barbara Rossi at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• How-to's and Reviews, such as this review from a series on free online artist portfolio sites
• Interactive Color Exercises - very popular with art schools and artists - try it, it's fun!
• Quotes on art and much, much more...

Have a look around, and then I'd love to hear your reactions.  You can comment below or fill out this very brief survey.