Working with Dreamweaver CS5

My revised website  is updated and now I will let it rest awhile before adding any more.  I need to be sure the links are working and the pages still make me happy after a week or two.

The site includes links to articles, books I have illustrated, a bio and contact along with portfolio pages in color and line.  Using the upgrade to Dreamweaver CS5 has been a bit of a challenge for me personally but I am finding it easier to use day by day.

New Look for the New Year

I plan to redo the whole website, but in the interim, I changed the theme a bit.  To create an entirely new website I will want to use some of the newest work. That means waiting until a few books are published, so that I can share some of my favorites.  In the meantime I will still be drawing and painting every day.

Here is the thing about drawing and painting every day and having lots of work.  When my house is a bit messy and cluttered you know I have a lot of work.  When it is neat, picked up, and things are all in the right places and it looks like "House Beautiful"  then you know I NEED more work.  Right now the house is very clean, very picked up and the photographer could walk in any minute and be pleased.  You can draw your own conclusion from that ....  yep, looking for more work.

Website Upgrade

I decided to update my website to a cleaner look with some new templates that I created.  Almost finished. The next part will take time, selecting new images for the Color and B&W pages, but that will happen in the near future.   Also, I like the idea of "branding" with an image. Hence my "little me" will show up a lot here and there.

Website Update

About every month or so I try to change the opening page of my website.  I just like to keep things fresh and a bit seasonal. But my last change involved the entire site.  I tried to use what I had learned about Dreamweaver to create a more cohesive look with an original theme.  I invite your comments, or just a visit when you have a few minutes to spare.  As always if you find some glaring mistake I welcome the opportunity to know about it and get it fixed.

I Already Have a Blog... WHY should I have a website?

If  you have a blog you are able to communicate with your peers, others you may want to target and send out daily or weekly images, text or thoughts.

But those posts are replaced each day by new ones.

A website is now a must for an illustrator.  If you don't yet have one, or are just testing the waters a bit, this article may be helpful.

Do I Really Need a WEBSITE?

Website Update

From time to time it is good for an illustrator to refresh things. This goes for the studio, the bookshelves, and in today's case, the website. Have a look around if you have time. I kind of like to update from time to time and plug in some of the newer images.

Website update

As with all things new replaces the old. I have updated the opening on my website using an older image with a new twist.

Simplify ...

I decided to simplify and update my website. To make the navigation easier for a viewer and potential client, I grouped the animals and children together on one page. My feeling is that editors don't have a ton of time to sort through a number of galleries and by limiting the number of images and placing them in one group it may be beneficial.

Spring Cleaning..

It is time for some spring cleaning. Along with the huge clean up job we will have with the remains from our Dec.11 ice storm, and the chores in the house itself, there is the issue of online appearance.
Spring cleaning has migrated all the way to my website. As an illustrator it is necessary to keep things fresh and make some changes now and then. So, my WEBSITE has a newer fresher look. That includes some rather quriky work along with the more traditional. I think I would like to expand that newer, quirkier area along with the black and white over the next few months.

Take a look if you have time. Some of this may make you smile.

In addition to the refreshed website I have added one new page devoted to the professional illustrator's group of which I am a member. The Picture Bookies are a group of 8 dedicated children's book artists. While we will no longer maintain a full website for the group we do host an online blog as well as a SHOWCASE gallery for other professionals in the field. Since we are removing the website I will still feature a page on my website that can link viewers to the blog and showcase.

That page will link back to the blog and showcase, so that all the artists in our group can be represented.
They are a great group with enormous talent and all their individual blogs and websites are worth a visit.

Finally a Website Update

For the longest time I have wanted to upgrade my web-authoring software. I began with simple HTML codes when I first attempted website creation and then I found Page Mill. That program saw me through several seasons of creating stories for children on the internet, but it had drawbacks. The next update for me was GoLive. I used that program through several upgrades until it ceased to be supported.


My goal was to acquire and LEARN Dreamweaver CS3. For some reason I resisted thinking it was :One- too expensive. and :Two - not within my learning curve. I was pleasantly surprised on at least one count. Dreamweaver isn't that hard to learn. Not master, but learn. The expense is still a factor.

The result is that I can do something I have been eager to do for a long time. I can now swap an image from the center of the page with a roll over and the little icon images at the side of the page can change the center image when you roll over each one.
The technical term for this is disjointed rollover and although it may take some of you only an instant to learn...... my progress was much slower.

Hopefully all is working well and I will continue to learn the program and find new ways to improve my web presence. We all know how important it is becoming for an illustrator to have a strong but easily navigated website.
Here is your invitation to visit my newly designed site. Comment if you wish, criticize if you find it helpful, and please enjoy your visit.

TIME TO WINTERIZE ~

I decided to WINTERIZE... my My Website and the banner for this blog.