The first task of BAIL 104 was to categorise different websites into the grid provided:
Flickr https://www.flickr.com/
- Site not specifically for illustrators, but can be used to present work online
- Site is made with creativity in mind, most common purpose is photography portfolios
- Can be made into a more professional portfolio site, if the right content & information is added by the user
Association of Illustrators (AOI) http://www.theaoi.com/
- Very professional portfolio platform
- Need to be approved & have to pay in order to be shown on the site
- Specifically aimed at illustrators & potential clients sourcing the perfect artist
- They produce 'Varoom' and portfolios, which showcase the illustrators on the site
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/
- More 'casual' portfolio platform- Good way to communicate and learn from other illustrators
- A way to gain a fanbase/following
- Not made especially for illustrators, but artists usually make accounts dedicated just to their illustrations
- Can link to other websites and contact information
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
- Very casual platform
- Although not designed to be a portfolio, illustrators can make a page to showcase their work in a more professional manner
- Easy sharing can be an effective way for spreading your work across large audiences
- Normally attracts smaller and more personal commissions, rather than work from big corporate businesses.
Folio http://www.folioart.co.uk/
- Illustrators agency that showcases artists work
- Professional platform
- Need to send in an application & need to be approved in order to be represented
- Good platform to be recognised & be picked up by big named clients
Tumblr https://www.tumblr.com/
- Informal platform
- Good way to get your work around
- Effective way to gain a following, especially a young audience
- Perhaps wouldn't catch the eye of big businesses
- Free to sign up & personalise as you wish
Big Active http://www.bigactive.com/
- A collection of successful illustrators work is presented online
- A very 'high-end' following of clients, so would be a great way to get your work recognised
- Would have to be well known enough in order to be accepted
- Also specialises in graphic design & other creative disciplines
- Your work that you upload, would be re-posted by users & would spread across audiences that way
Pinterest https://uk.pinterest.com/
- Could be used as a portfolio, but not a very professional platform
- Would be a great way to get your work 'out there' & to gain a following
- Free to sign up, but design of page cannot be customised
- Would attract fans, rather than potential clients
- Opportunity to learn new skills and techniques
- Usually links to professional websites
- Not made just for illustration, more of a lifestyle website
- Good for inspiration & finding starting points
Handsome Frank http://handsomefrank.com/
- Illustration agency
- Would have to be accepted in order to be represented & to have work shown online
- Small portfolios of artists work
- Would attract future clients
- Blog sits within website, which highlights recent works
Behance https://www.behance.net/
- Online portfolio website
- Would be a more professional online portfolio when compared to traditional social media sites (this one is more specialised)
- Free to sign up
- Easy communication with other illustrators
- Not specifically just for illustration, as it is for all creative disciples
- Support networks & opportunities to learn new skills
Twitter https://twitter.com/
- Social platform
- Enables fans to keep in touch
- Allows you to build a social network
- You can upload photos of work, but would most likely link to your website/online portfolio
- Could help to attract future clients by posting recent work
- Could easily reach large audiences through re-tweets and likes
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/
- Acts as an online CV & would present your skills and experience to employers
- Maybe not suited well to illustrators, as it showcases all subject areas & specialities
- Could lead to a support network
Illustration Friday http://illustrationfriday.com/
- Weekly illustration challenges/competitions
- Free to sign up
- Blog integrated in site, which highlights weekly winners
- Great way to meet similar people, gain a following & to learn new skills
- Links to your website/social media, rather than uploading onto the site
- Online community
- Opportunity to advertise on the site (paid)
Blogger https://www.blogger.com/
- Website is for all blog types, but you can freely personalise the look of your blog to fit your work
- Free to create an account
- Slightly limited with the presentation of your work
- Could attract fanbase & clients
- Allows you to see other people's work & processes
It's Nice That http://www.itsnicethat.com/
- Online blog/news feed that features upcoming illustrators, graphic designers, photographers, and artists
- You have to be discovered by the team that runs the website, in order to be featured in one of their articles
- You can submit your own work, by using the online form, which helps your chances at being noticed by the team
- Focuses on certain projects, rather than all work done by an artist
- Interviews with artists allow you to lean new things
- Publish 'Printed Pages' which includes examples of work from illustrators/graphic designers (published twice a year)
- Would be a great platform to be noticed by clients & to gain a fanbase
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/
- Website only has videos
- Would be better suited for animators, as they would be able to post their final pieces
- However, illustrators can upload videos showing their process, and discussing relevant topics. For example Holly Exley creates videos all about illustration
- Would be a great way to gain a following, which would then be interested in buying your work
- Could link to your other social media websites
- Could attract the attention of clients
- Learn new techniques and processes
- Allows creative discussion in the comments & creates an online community
Skillshare https://www.skillshare.com/
- Online classes which allow you to learn new skills
- Free to get started
- Not just art-based classes, so it's not specific to just illustration
- You can upload an online portfolio to show others what you have made as a result of the classes
- Online community
Etsy https://www.etsy.com/uk/
- Way to sell your own handmade products
- Free to sign up & to customise your profile
- Can link to other social media
- Online community of other creative people
- Etsy does charge a monthly listing fee & takes a fee when a sale is made
- Can build up a reputation through reviews
RedBubble https://www.redbubble.com/ Society6 https://society6.com/
- Upload your designs & orders are made and fulfilled by the company on your behalf
- Free to sign up & to create a profile
- The company takes a percentage of the sale. You just get paid for providing the design
BigCartel https://www.bigcartel.com/
- Allows you to create a platform for an online store
- You have to pay for a 'plan' which is proportionate to the amount of listings you have (charged monthly)
- All orders are made and fulfilled by you
- Allows you to have the support from the company, rather than being solo with your own personal website shop
- Online community
- Doesn't take a fee from any sales
Not On The Highstreet http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/
- All orders are fulfilled by yourself
- UK based
- Really useful & well known platform to get your work recognised
- Have to be approved to be able to sell on the site
- One-off joining fee (It costs £199 £238.80 including VAT) to join, and you pay a 25% commission (plus VAT on each sale) [1]
Folksy https://folksy.com/
- 'UK equivalent of Etsy' [1]
- Smaller platform, but just suited for handmade items (no manufactured or vintage items)
- 15p per item, or unlimited listings for £45, with a 6% (plus VAT) commission on each sale
- Would need to build up other social media profiles, in order to drive traffic to these sites
Tiger Print http://www.tigerprint.uk.com/ Ohh Deer https://ohhdeer.com/
- Professional network which sources illustrators to create work to sell
- These companies work with well known clients, so is a great way to get your work out there
- They would also promote these products, which would bring publicity back to you - further your client base and following
- Very limited illustrators and artists working with them
[1] https://www.theguardian.com.money/2015/feb/05/make-money-from-hobby
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