It’s tough maintaining the currency of any website. But for artists, many of whom are too busy making art to worry about their websites, maintaining an accurate record of available vs sold work, or displaying work that is actually at this gallery or that, the predicament of an outdated site can be a serious matter.
I know. My site has been out of date for about 4 years. And I apologize for that about as often as I apologize to collectors and galleries who come across a piece, inquire about it, and receive from me an email, the content of which can be copied and pasted, that reads, in part: “Sorry, that piece is sold. My site is, I’m afraid, not up to date.”
What has, however, been pretty much up to date is the spreadsheet I maintain that tracks what work is where, and what work is sold and what is available.
If only I could connect my spreadsheet (and the images I posted on my website), to each other, and make them both the images and data that actually displayed on my website. No affordable tool out there actually did that, so (using my past web development experience and some talented developers) I built one.
The new peterbatchelder.com site now pulls images from GallerySprout, the artist inventory tool that makes it easy (and, I would argue, almost fun) to manage studio records (artwork images, dimensions, medium, gallery placement, sold vs available status, etc). Now, when a piece sells, I mark it as sold in my inventory account, and because that account is now connected to my website (via a custom WordPress plugin that pulls an artist’s or gallery’s artwork from their accounts, onto their custom WordPress sites), the status of that work is accurately shown on the site.
So far, this tool is working great, and has cut my time exponentially in adding new artwork, and maintaining the location and availability statuses of each painting.
So check out the new, updated site here: www.peterbatchelder.com
And here are a few artists/gallery friends also using GallerySprout (and it’s companion ArtSprout.com) sites to more easily manage artwork and their websites…at the same time.
Dragonfly Fine Arts Gallery, Oak Bluffs, MA: http://www.mvdragonfly.com
Stephanie Reiter Fine Art: http://www.stephaniereiter.com
Warren F. Green Fine Arts: http://warrenfgreenfinearts.com
Christie Scheele Fine Art (site built on testing site): http://christiescheele.artsprout.com/
“Old Road” : 24 x 24 : oil on canvas : 2013
To be placed at Left Bank Gallery, Wellfleet for upcoming August Show.
I recently took Lily to a weekend softball tournament in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, where the famed amusement park and boardwalk were of greater interest to the team than the tournament itself. While the kids road the rides, I shot a few iPhone pics of abstracted views of the park. The bad weather was actually a good thing, as the skies add a bit of eeriness to an otherwise fun place.
I’m pleased to have been invited to participate in the Drawing Room Gallery’s upcoming show, En Plein Air, at their new gallery space in Cos Cob, CT. The show runs from June 89 to August 31. Preview Work
These pieces are based on scenes–and memories of scenes–from life on the Vineyard. The solitude, light, and wind of the Island is unforgettable. The top and bottom pieces, both based on the light at East Chop, one of two “Chops” that provide the protection of Vineyard Haven Harbor.
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This larger piece, “Barn and Two Spruce”, 62″ x 56″ was placed by Powers Gallery, Acton MA, at a new home in Lincoln, MA. admission essay help
If you happen to be in the Richmond, Virginia area in April, I have a show of new work at Red Door Gallery beginning this Saturday, April 6.
All work in the show can be viewed here:
http://gallerysprout.com/collection/red-door-gallery-show-preview/
Many thanks to Jerry Shapiro, Red Door Gallery owner, for his invitation to show in Richmond.
Red Door Gallery contact information:
1607 West Main Street, Richmond, VA 23220
804.358.0211
www.reddoorgalleryrichmond.com
director@reddoorgalleryrichmond.com
I was fortunate to have the last-minute opportunity to attend Bo Bartlett’s Master Class at Columbus State Univeristy, in Columbus Georgia, and worked alongside Bo and 20 or so talented artists from all over the country. Working with Bo, seeing how he works, hearing how he plans a piece, and watching a painting evolve, was impressive and inspiring. Equally impressive was getting to see the new space where the Bo Bartlett Center will be: a huge, high-ceilinged warehouse above the university’s fine arts center.
Below are photos taken (with Bo’s kind approval) of the class and the Center where many of his major works will find permanent residence. Click any image to scroll through.
