After a ‘ransomware’ attack brought down my website recently, I took the opportunity to enlist Ben Friday of Friday Design to redo and expand the site. He created and has supported the Quadra Island Studio Tour site for many years, so I was delighted to find a local talent with a track record of working with fussy artists!

I was quite excited about the ability to edit, update and change text and images on my own.  Ben was able to take my suggested layout concepts and translate them into a functioning site.  Then he started making suggestions: how about putting samples of my Vimeo videos “Steps to a Likeness” right on the website?  Folks have been able to purchase the DVD’s directly for a while, but now the new downloadable Videos can be ordered and excerpts viewed right on the website.

Then he suggested a venue for offering my hand-signed cards to my newsletter recipients.  Family and friends currently order from me directly but this will provide folks the ability to see all the images available.  For the holidays, I introduced a new line of island themed cards folks like to use for Christmas and New Year’s.  To access this part of my website, go to www.perrinsparks.com/cards (just add ‘/cards’ to the end of my website address).  This section cannot be accessed by a general web search, only by a direct link, or typing the full page name into the search bar.

Building a new website is always a challenging proposition, particularly when one has to do it under duress.  But working with a talented designer is a joy and the whole process has given me an opportunity to expand my web presence.  The various HelpX’ers who have come to stay with us have also opened up new horizons.  In August, Celine from France helped me venture into the world of Pinterest.  So stay tuned for new developments.  I also look forward to sharing my  landscapes created during the Hornby Island 5-day Paint-Out in May, and my newest portraits.