O-FISH-al new website, channel and shop launch!
Well it has been 5 months of more since my last post – so apologises! I decided to take a step back from the website to focus on finishing my masters and moving to Dundee to start a PhD. But just because I have not been publically posting does not mean I have forgotten about my little website. During my time off from my weekly posts, I have thought about where I want to take the direction of my site, especially what it will mean to me whilst I complete my PhD (which I have heard is only a tiny bit difficult).
Over the past few years, this website has been a comfort and outlet for me. But what one of the best but most pleasently suprising benefits of starting this site is seeing how much my art has improved from the first orginal drawings I did. Way back when, when I came up with the idea looking for away to escape some of life stresses, I didn’t imagine how much I would love the results of doing this site. There is no way I would give this website up and stop posting – but for this to realistically to have the determination to set aside time each week, and not be tempted to post intermitentily instead of weekly, how I create content for the site needed a re-jig.
The main goal to spread the word on the wonders of marine life on UK coasts (and others) has not changed, and will never change for this website. But I realised me droning on about species every week might not be the best way to engage people – and is not the best way to engage my own motivation to post each week. At the same time I want this website to challenge me personally, to make sure I spend time outside (even when I am stressed from uni) and to force me creativly to dabble in things I haven’t had the chance to do before even if that idea scares me at first.
So this brings me onto the changes…
BEFORE
Used a premade theme – with no option to change fonts let alone layout or desgin.
NOW
I have completly revamped the image of the website – it is my best attempt at designing a website (from scratch) to be bright, friendly and engaging!
BEFORE
Weekly posts on a Sunday
NOW
Weekly posts on a WEDNESDAY evening
BEFORE
Each post was written with an acompanying illustration.
AFTER
Launched a NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL so I can bring you videos, show you not only awesome videos of the species I am thinking about but also how I make my art, what I get up too on rockpooling trips and actually tell you via video about the species.
BEFORE
No way for you to purchase my art, and me trying to budget to replace the art supplies I use up every week.
AFTER
Launched a NEW ETSY SHOP so not only do you have the option of buying some of my art and prints if you like them – but alsso support the site so that I can go replenish my dwindling art supplies.
I am so excited to see where continung to make art and posting on this website takes me over the next few years and I would be delighted if you would follow it along with me? (if you are dont forget to head over to my CONTACT ME page to follow me on all my social media to keep up to date)
I would also like to thank everyone who has supportd this site so far – without the support I would not have had the confidence to take this site to its next level let alone begin selling my art on line – so thank you <3
As always I am open to new constructive crisitism and opinion of how you think the site works, how I can imporve, I want to hear if you have any suggestions of new content and what you want to see this site achieve.
I hope you are as excited as I am to see what lies ahead, but until then happy rockpooling and wrap up warm!
MarineMumbles xxx