Comments on: A Header Befitting an Artist?

By: Philip M. Hofer (Frumph)

Philip M. Hofer (Frumph) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 03:11:31 +0000

Hrm, interestingly enough you should find a way to blend the header with the background otherwise it just looks like a ‘block of color’.

By: Darren Daz Cox

Darren Daz Cox — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:12:11 +0000

Because I’m an artist and have an art blog too and because I love you man, I’ll be brutally honest. The header is weak, not for lesser mortals perhaps, but for a genius like you it is bland and looks like the site is a branch of Yahoo or worse.

Why not have a self portrait and hand lettering? that would say a heck of a lot more than that font I’ve seen a million times. Even better, why not do a miniature masterpiece for the header, after all it will load before the art does on slower machines.

You are a visual artist who knows solid classical realism, has a fresh imagination and a definite flavor that allows you to make instantly recognizable renditions of what we already know but in your own way.

I instantly knew it was Hunter Thompson on your latest post, I instantly knew who the presidents were on your July 4th post and I also instantly knew it was you who drew them, that’s a sign of a great artist.

The banner says to me, as a graphic designer, that you perhaps paint generic landscapes and sell them at craft fairs after your retirement from 40 yrs work in a factory and now you dabble in blogging. It’s not you.

The other one looks like you took 5 minutes in Photoshop in 2003 to make and is even worse! You, of all people, deserve a banner that commands attention and inspires awe!!

By: Susie

Susie — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:50:47 +0000

Jay, I like them both actually, but that’s the gemini in me too.. one day I like this, and one day I like that. I had a blog groupie that loved my work, but when I first started out, I knew nothing about blogging, and he is the one that made me clean up my header. The original one was loud and in your face!

By: Danny Wagon

Danny Wagon — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:43:56 +0000

i’m fairly new to you – i like how u have it today – it’s clean – colors suggest (to me) sophisticated & compelling to see what’s next (sub-title should be aligned left w/title, tho) –

your ‘simian one’ – ‘distracting’ is putting it mild. The typeface is hard for me to read as it fights with the graphic – i don’t know enough about you to understand how this design relates to you but, it kind of reminds me of the designer ski boot boutiques in Vale or Telluride, they all use that as motiff.

I’ll certainly be checking you out, though.

Keep up the good work!

By: Dennis Sweatt

Dennis Sweatt — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:44:32 +0000

The second header is graphic but distracting.
Big fan of your work.

Dennis

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:53:03 +0000

The new header is rad. The classic pen is my fav. Although i wouldn’t change what you have currently. You said it the best, don’t want to distract. A very clean statement is what you got and i think thats all you need.

Notice how rad paintings usually have dull frames. That’s all they need. Now if the painting is dull or is super minimalistic, then yes, go ahead and spice up the frame.

I been thinking about this since i have a frame job of a very classy painting. I am really trying to hold myself back because i don’t want to take any attention away from the glittering beauty.

If you were to change it though, i would somehow clean up the lettering. You have 3 colors that make up the wordage. Don’t get artistic with the wordage and keep the drawing may be cool.