Traditional Japanese Printmaking

Jim Carrey: I Needed Color

James Niehues, the “Michelangelo of snow” – Map Design

His popularity among skiers is as high as the snowcapped mountains he draws. James Niehues’ handpainted images and detailed landscapes have been featured on ski resort maps across the country. If you’ve ever relied on a trail map to get down a mountain, chances are you have Niehues to thank. Serena Altschul visits with the artist at Breckenridge Ski Resort in Colorado to test his work.

How to Give Better Design Feedback

Find out how to give designers feedback that will strengthen their design process and skills, plus make you a better design leader.

Giving good design feedback is hard. No surprise there. After all, designers put their all into their work, and no one wants to sink design-team morale.

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Creative Kid’s Artwork

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Making Artists Paintbrushes

Making Artists’ Paintbrushes Is An Art In And Of Itself!

Why You Need to Build a Business Blog

Whether you are running a restaurant, an eBay shop or are a freelance creative, running a successful business blog could raise the profile of your organization or enterprise significantly. It might seem like a whole lot of work, writing posts then sharing them, and maybe you are not a natural writer, or you think that you don’t have anything to say. Whatever your hesitation, it’s time to move on. A blog alongside your website could be the difference between your business getting by and thriving. Read these top reasons to start blogging, and get yourself ready for the world of interacting with other people in the written form.

Raise your Personal Profile

Making yourself more visible and occupying a public position may seem intimidating, but establishing yourself as somebody who is engaged in their particular field is only going to help you further grow your business. In the age of social media, the individual has more of a status than ever before, and personality sells products and services. If you are able to write a blog each week, ensure your content is relevant and insightful: write about industry tips, demonstrate a good working knowledge of the business environment, and engage with your clients and customers. Make it readable, and you are guaranteed to inspire confidence in potential customers.

Promote the Right Kind of Sharing

Each blog post you produce will be read by some person or people, therefore, the chances of your post being shared are quite high. Although it may not go viral, a few shares of a single post means it’s working, and you should continue writing or blog post. Improving your number of shares, however, will take time. It’s a slow game, and not one you can rush. Of course, when your traffic starts to increase, you need to ensure your blog is able to withstand a large amount of people, all at ones. Consider using a service like Best Web Hosting that offers affordable packages.

Establish Your Business as a Part of a Community

Blogging is a means of creating and nurturing a group of people who are interested in what you have to say and write about. You can build a network of like-minded individuals, and watch your blog thrive as people start to conversate with one another. Not only does this increase your Google ranking and your success, but it also means you’re a reliable, reputable business who people turn to when they need support.

Develop Your Business Brand

One of the main benefits that blogging could have on your business is the discoverability of your brand. With catchy, field specific titles you could direct traffic to your website from different fields and even countries. This is where having a strong brand which is distinguishable becomes incredibly important; therefore, make sure whoever reads your blog also sees your branding.

Even if they don’t click on your business page right away, they might remember you or feel familiar with your aesthetic when it comes to choosing a service or product you offer down the line. Chances are, if they are reading a blog on your page, then they are interested in the industry you operate within.

4 Essential Website Design Tips for Piano Teachers

The piano is one of the most versatile instruments in music, spanning several genres from classical to jazz and contemporary pop music. If you are a piano teacher, this diversity of styles should guarantee a steady flow of students, but without a good website, they simply won’t know who you are and how to get in touch. To help you establish a successful studio, we’ve put together four essential website design tips for piano teachers. Let’s begin our journey.

1. Embrace the Internet

The first step that many piano teachers need to take has less to do with domain names and javascript and more to do with their way of working. There was a time when piano teachers thrived through word of mouth referrals. You may still attract some students this way, but with increased competition and a highly mobile and selective generation of students (and their parents), one of the best ways to make yourself known is by using the internet.

The internet has also become an excellent medium for piano teachers who wish to further their education. Excellent programs like the online master of music in music education can be completed from any location thanks to the internet and Rutgers Online. You could even become a well-known authority on music just by publishing your views online or boost your reputation by posting videos of your performances, lessons, and masterclasses.

2. Get the Right Design – at an Affordable Budget

To harness the internet’s huge potential, you need the right website. You’ll want to use the services of a professional web designer, but don’t pay too much when you’re first starting out. With a budget of $500-$1,000, you should be able to get your website up and running with the right design and functionality to attract visitors and secure new students.

3. Don’t Promote Yourself – Sell the Experience You Offer

Today’s customer is wary of self-promoting teachers who fill their websites with information about their own achievements and fail to mention the true benefit of becoming a student: the enriching process of learning an instrument. While it’s important to mention your qualifications, awards, and achievements, it’s equally important to describe your teaching philosophy, the approach you take to students, and the things you do to develop students musically, spiritually and psychologically.

4. Answer Students’ Questions Before They Ask them

Students and parents searching for a new piano teacher usually have a few common questions in mind: has the teacher completed a college degree or online MMME Program? Do they take beginners? How much do they charge? Do they train students for enjoyment, prepare them for exams and competitions, or both?

What musical styles do they specialize in and can they teach across genres? Do they give lessons at their studio, at students’ homes, or via Skype? If your website answers these questions, you’re more likely to get queries from students who are a good fit for your studio.

Conclusion

With a well-designed, comprehensive website that introduces your skills, methodology and teaching philosophy to prospective students, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful piano teaching studio. The more time, patience, and effort you put into your website, the more successful you will be.

Ink In Motion – Very Cool

The surprising pattern behind color names around the world