The Top 3 Artistic Entrepreneur Sites
June 10, 2009 by Justin
As the Internet evolves, it continues to bring an added dimension into areas that aren’t often thought of as translating to an online medium. Take art for example. Art lovers have embraced virtual art galleries for years, but now that interest has led to the creation of online art networks. There are three websites in particular where their creativity in creating a web presence should be applauded.
While many art groups struggle with limited resources and financial limitations, the Internet is becoming their canvas to a stage full of opportunities. The creative side is thinking in business terms and the end result is global art networks that serve the needs of the local art community while attracting new supporters and artists.
There are many art related sites, but the ones that bring a comprehensive approach to the art world promote interactive contributions from around the world. These 3 artistic entrepreneur websites are masterpieces in opening the art world to a whole new generation, while at the same time gaining many more supporters than ever thought possible.
1. Artslant.com
Fairly new to the scene having been established in 2006, Artslant.com has quickly become the leading site for the contemporary art community. Founded by artists Georgia Fee and Catherine Ruggles, the art portal provides art happenings in cities around the world. The searchable calendar features openings, exhibits and art events by date, while the list of galleries gives visitors a handy guide to art museums and galleries in the cities they will be visiting.
Along with art news, Artslant.com offers visitors a virtual exhibition of works by hundreds of contemporary artists. But what sets Artslant.com apart from other art-related sites is its functionality. Artists and others in the field can register and add their events and openings, or create their own gallery of works on the site.
2. HumbleVoice.com
Made for artists by artists, humblevoice.com is a community of artists, musicians, photographers, videographers, musicians, filmmakers, poets, writers, other artisans, art supporters and those who simply appreciate their works. Established in 2006, the website allows artists to create their own community of family and friends as well as share their works with a global audience.
Each artist has the ability to manage and update their own site, while visitors can easily browse current events, get artist insight by reading their blogs, and purchase or download art, photography, music, videos and more.
3. Virb.com
This social art network is one of the comprehensive around, connecting artists with those interested in their works. The range of art topics is far-reaching, from art and music to fashion and film. Any type of work can be posted, from a band’s latest release to a blogger’s recent thoughts. What’s exciting about virb.com is that it is entirely community created.
It’s exciting to see how the Internet has changed the way we view art. It has elevated the art world to a whole new level and has inspired collaboration between various mediums. With the creativity that artists bring to these sites, one can only image what will develop.
If you have a top artistic entrepreneurs website that you believe belongs on the top list, leave us a comment and tell us about it.
Matthew Toren
The New Era of Copyrighting
May 15, 2009 by Justin
Copyrighting your original works is a good thing. It ensures that no one steals your intellectual property and profits from it. But the copyrighting process can be long, tedious and costly, with the original intent of protection often getting bogged down in the legal process. Now there is another choice that offers a streamlined process, yet ensures that the needs of all parties involved are being met.
Creative Commons allows people to promote and market their intellectual property in a less restricted manner while still enjoying copyright protections that are necessary for their particular work. Anything traditionally covered under copyright law, including books, songs, films, videos, photographs, audio and visual recordings, websites, blogs and software documentation, is protected under a Creative Commons license. While this approach gives you more freedom with creative opportunities, you might still want to copyright your work for complete legal protection.
Creative Commons is a nonprofit Massachusetts corporation that provides free licenses and legal tools so a creator of intellectual property can easily indicate how the work can be used. Creative Commons offers three different license formats: Commons Deed, which is a summary of how the intellectual property can be used; Legal Code, which displays the legal wording of the actual license in its entirety; and Metadata, which contains the important elements of the license in machine-readable coding so it can be found by search engines.
With a Creative Commons license, you have the option of offering your work with “Some Rights Reserved” or “No Rights Reserved.” For example, you can allow your work to be shared, distributed, copied, or remixed by others as long as credit is given to you; give permission for remixes or adaptations of it with certain distribution restrictions; grant or restrict commercial use in which someone profits from your work; or allow full use in the public domain as is.
For online works, an html code is designated for your work and a license button and statement appears on your piece. Anyone who comes in contact with your work will be obligated to follow the terms you set under the license agreement. For published works not on the Internet, you can include a statement on the work or include a graphic of the license button, licensed statement and URL link.
An important feature of a Creative Commons license is its non-exclusivity. You can protect your work from unauthorized use in the public sector while maintaining the right to enter a separate non-exclusive license agreement to sell your work to an individual or company, or receive royalties from it. You can also decide to stop distributing your work at any time under a Creative Commons license.
With the evolution of technology encouraging the sharing of words, music and pictures to create new and better creations, a Creative Commons license is a welcome format for offering blanket protection for proprietary rights. It opens up a world of opportunities for co-sharing while honoring the rights of the creator.
Have you been using Creative Commons to adapt your work? We would love to hear what you have been doing with these rights - leave us a comment!
Adam Toren
Push My Button! - 6 Ways to Share
May 8, 2009 by Justin
Social Media Buttons help your visitors share the content of your blog or website with others. Not all of your visitors will use them, but a large percentage of them will, and this can potentially generate a significant amount of traffic to your site, not to mention another backlink to boot. No savvy internet entrepreneur is complete without a decent set of social media buttons for their blog, although be cautious when adding them, so as not to add too may as it may clutter your site. Whatever your style, there is an easily implementable set of buttons out there for you to include on your blog or website, with little or no fuss at all. We have found the perfect one’s for you right here.
1. Add This
Add This is definitely the fully loaded, corporate style option. They are reputedly the #1 bookmarking and sharing service. Their buttons are currently used 20 billion times per month! With this choice, you can customize your look with very little effort. They are the market leader and their service is absolutely free.
2. Sociable
Sociable is a very versatile plugin for WordPress, and it has been totally revamped by Joost de Valk. With this selection you can choose from 99 already specified social bookmarking sites, change the location of the buttons so they do not necessarily appear at the end of your post, and add any specific site you want as a button.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/sociable/
3. Share This
Share This is very much like Add This, but not quite as versitile (not installable on WordPress).
4. Add to Any
Out of all of them this one is perhaps the easiest widget to set up and add. It integrates fully with Google Analytics, and you can share to bookmark managers, social networks, instant messengers, browsers and E-mail addresses.
5. Social Marker
Social Marker does not really look all that nice, but it can help you spread a link on 49 of the best social bookmarking sites in under 15 minutes!
6. Sociofluid
It speak for itself! very cool looking and does everything you need it to.
And if you are just after a nice looking button for your blog, check these sites out:
My Social Buttons
My Social Buttons provides a range of different buttons and badges for social media. Their most useful page is their collections page, which provides overviews of 9 fully functional sets of buttons. They also provide a personalised Twitter ‘follow me’ button service.
Open Source Hunter
This site is another nice compilation of free sets from various different designers. There are 3 particular sets that stand out for me:
1. Function Icon Set, 128 Completely Free Icons which range from icons for the usual social media bookmarks to icons for various other utilities that you might want to put on your sites.
2. Social.me which is a set of 30 icons for the most popular social networks/web 2.0 sites out there.
3. The Leaves Fall: A Social Icon Set For Bloggers. This set contains 11 social icons, designed in an autumn-style (I know summer has just started, but what the heck!). This set includes icons for Twitter, Technorati, RSS, Reddit, Facebook, Delicious, StumbleUpon and Digg.
http://www.opensourcehunter.com/2008/10/11/social-buttons/
If you have any Cool Social Button Sites you want to share - then we want to hear about them! Leave your recommendations in a comment.
Matthew Toren
Fifteen Artistic WordPress Themes
March 6, 2009 by Justin
If your business is art, design, writing or any other creative endeavor, you want a blog that reflects your style and gives visitors to your site a whole different experience than they would have at a tech blog or a mommy blog. That’s why I’ve picked out fifteen gorgeous (and free!) artistic Wordpress blogs templates that you can use to represent your independent or freelance business.
1. Mosaic: http://www.freewpthemes.net/preview/mosaic
Lots of texture and muted colors give this blog template a unique look without overwhelming the eyes. Freelance technical or architectural drawing would be at home on this site.
2. Imagination: http://wordpressthemesbase.com/view/?theme=Books%20and%20Imagination
Perfect for a novelist or writer, this blog is whimsical but can still be used for both men and women. Features adorable mini-notepads for recent blog posts and recent comments.
3. Cool Star: http://wordpressthemesbase.com/view/?theme=Cool%20Star
Asian influenced design that combines modern design and strategically placed vibrant red alongside a neutral organic motif. This might be a nice choice for interior designers.
4. Creativity Within: http://wordpressthemesbase.com/view/?theme=08%20Rainbow%20Feather%20(v3)%20-%20English%20Version
Beautiful use of contrasting yellow and blue color and a gorgeous rainbow quill makes this theme a great choice for creative writers.
5. Lalaland: http://topwpthemes.com/lalaland/
Bright, funky, with an ultramodern tree design in the header, this theme can work for a multitude of businesses including graphic design.
6. Rainbow Garden Theme: http://topwpthemes.com/rainbow-garden-theme/
A stunningly gorgeous theme that combines elements of fantasy and nature with vivid color.
7. Trendy Theme: http://topwpthemes.com/trendy-theme/
Features olive and khaki colored background with a provocative Rorscharch inspired header.
8. HuaHua: http://test.nattywp.com/?preview_theme=HuaHua
Indie artists or crafters will love this charming 1970’s inspired theme. Think: Partridge Family meets Hobby Lobby.
9. Triplo: http://test.nattywp.com/?preview_theme=triplo
Perfect for a freelance artist, this simple, professional blog features a set of rainbow drawing pencils in the banner.
10. Whiteplus: http://test.nattywp.com/?preview_theme=whiteplus
A simple blog design with a fabulous artistic multicolored banner.
11. Deep Green: http://amazingwordpressthemes.com/wordpress-themes/deep-green-10/
A deep, moody design that calls to mind dreaminess and the psyche.
12. Swan Melody 1.0: http://amazingwordpressthemes.com/wordpress-themes/swan-melody-10/
Watercolor swan design on unfinished paper-colored background. Very unique design.
13. Scruffy 1.1: http://wordpressthemesforfree.com/detail/25.html
Show your blog to be what it really is: A work in progress. This ‘unfinished’ looking theme looks like a well-loved first draft.
14. Butterfly Trip: http://wordpressthemesforfree.com/detail/495.html
Finally! A butterfly motif that isn’t all girlie! This theme is creative, strong and features ‘graph paper’ background and neutral colors.
15. Art: http://wordpressthemesforfree.com/detail/541.html
Appropriately titled, this blog theme is a work of art. Features urban-style black and white design with vivid red and yellow accents.
Amazing New Water-Powered Jet Pack
February 1, 2009 by Justin
I thought this was a super innovative idea. It’s a jetpack, but it uses water to propel you in the air. You are tethered, but it looks like you still get some good distance, and you just drop into the water if something goes wrong.
Sign me up for one of these as it would surely be fun on the lake!
Amazing New Water-Powered Jet Pack - Watch more Free Videos
