Three Illustrators, Three Websites...

The three websites that I have chosen to investigate and compare in relation to what I want to do in the future are Micah Lidberg, Beatrice Alemagna and Israel Sanchez.

In relation to what I want to do in the future, I wanted to become either a fine artist or a freelance Illustrator that uses more of a Fine Art basis within her work.

Micah Lidberg

was first introduced to me when I was doing my Palaeontology reconstruction illustration and I have liked him ever since. His style is very detailed and arranged primarily around the indication of colours and how they compliment each other. His inspiration comes from nature itself, which one can adapt to within his work. He shows another side of a naturalistic world bent around his creativity and line.

His website shows his work in picture frames immediately on the first page. His name, on this website has been deemed ‘ML’ obviously shows he needs no introduction, completely relying on his pictures, where the audiences eyes go to first, then to the fact that there is a list of different pages of the website in small print right at the t

op.

If one scrolls down, one can get more

of a grasp of his work, that he does more in many different areas of illustrative work and practise.

After the pictures, the information presents itself. He then introduces himself, then his clients, then his exhibitions etc in small print. What I also noticed is that his initials and the bar naming different pages of this websites follows one as you scroll down. Scroll down some more and one sees an insight into his blog, which I know has not been updated. There is at least a page of white space before I am introduced to his shop and merchandise. This website, for someone of Micah’s persona actually suits him quite well; there is no need for background colour and the type is small so one can see his work and remember it rather than be swamped down with information. The menu bar shows easy access if one does not want to scroll down, and it is obvious that Micah has written all of the information himself, as it is in an informal good-humoured manner.

If I was to create my own website, this format, for me, is too formal (even

though his writing was not) and clean. I say this because there is an absence of colour and excitement. His website does not give me the impression of coldness, but simplicity in the sense that pictures dominate it. For my website, I would take the way he has presented his information in his order of things, but mine would be more colourful, more interactive and there wouldn’t be any scrolling down or any room for blank pages.

Beatrice Alemagna, with the colours that really compliment each other, introduces herself by a menu bar that looks more like a spider diagram. Compared to Micah’s, there is no need to scroll down and the menu bar is presented in a more eye-catching format. Beatrice, with her colour theme and use of one page linking all of the other pages, shows a different format of presenting her work. If I go to the page called Posters/covers, there is an immediate link to all of the other pages on the left hand side, therefore, this website is connected in every which way. Her artwork is obtainable through a ‘picture book’ layout, as in; there are 20 examples of her work and only clicking for the next page will it open.

She does not write her information since it is written in the third person; however, at least the

re is a picture showing her face, unlike Micah who hides his face behind his work. I instantly approve Beatrice doing that, as illustrators, artists, etc have to be consciously aware of copyright and theft of their work, as well as the fact that most of the time, people need to see the face behind the art in order to get a better glimpse of the reality of the situation-that this person is real and that means she is the one behind doing all of the work. If I were to scroll down on her information, it is amazing to see that she has presented it in two different languages. This shows diversity and a clearer perspective of her work. I have also noticed that on her website there is a page named ‘leave a message’. I clicked on this and found that it was constantly updated. I cannot understand it since it is in French, but all Beatrice requests for is one’s name and their message. I am guessing that is where one can appraise her and ask her for work. If comparing it to Micah’s, where there is no contact number or email address, Beatrice is much more intelligent in the fact that people can actually contact her, again giving the sen

se that she is more humanistic compared to Micah who hides behind his work.

From her website, I can get a better understanding her as a person as well as her as an illustrator/author from the impression that she gives right at the start. Her introductory page gives one a sense of her art because of the colours that she has chosen. With Micah, there was no hint, the pictures were immediately there. Therefore, from Beatrice, I have learnt that an introductory menu page is better than having it all on a scroll down menu, and it is

better to give a picture of oneself to help people understand that you are a person after all.

Israel Sanchez’s site is simpler than either of the other two artists/illustrators. Immediately, as if like a reminder, there is ‘Israel Sanchez.com’ at the top of the page. The first image of his work is one of his cartoon pieces, and under it is the menu. The website is a simple boxed format with a brown background and foreground, emphasising the picture.

If one was to click on ‘Illustration’ bar, it would take one to the ‘picture book’ menu that presents his illustrations etc. I have found a typo, where instead of ‘Illustration 2’ on the first menu, it should be called ‘Children’s’ because that is what it is called on the second menu. So, therefore, I must keep in mind about website designers and constantly ask for updates. On the ‘Contact’ page, the menu bar is presented on the bottom of the page, which I find most helpful. All of his contact details, as well as his clients and exhibitions are shown in a simple font, bigger than both Micah’s and Beatrice’s, making the reading simpler. Going on his blog, opens up another tab on ones computer, which is the same scroll down format as Micah’s. However, the difference here is that, here, one can actually see what he looks like as well as have a sense of him as a person because he writes all of the information in again, a informal way.

On his blog there is another link placing back to where one was on his website. His blog in general is like another ‘picture book’, more pictures and less writing, which always seems to be more favourable.

From Israel’s website, I can get a sense that he is trying to place his art first, and then him as a person second. The first page is very bland but simple, this in a sense, is in the middle when it comes to information and comparing it to the other two. Israel, like Micah, shows his work first, whether or not it is lots of pictures or just one, and like Beatrice, shows his personality through a picture of himself and the easiness of getting in touch with him.

Therefore, I were to create a website, a mixture of all of the aspects that I have gained from researching and exploring the process of three different illustrators/artists websites would come in useful. Such as:

- An introductory page (Beatrice) with the colours that actually show some aspect of ones creative style (Beatrice)

- More concentration of ones pictures, instead of being swamped with information (Micah)

- A picture of oneself that shows a personality behind the work (Beatrice and Israel)

- Informal introduction in words, explaining oneself (Micah and Israel)

- A link of all of ones work within the website at the bottom/side of each page (Beatrice and Israel)

- Easy Access to contact details (Beatrice and Israel)