An artist's website does two things: shows your work so people want it, and makes it straightforward to buy a piece or ask for a commission. EverWeb gives you galleries that open each work large, and in EverWeb 4.6 and later a contact form can take payment for an original or a print, or a deposit on a commission.
Who uses this
- A painter sells two or three original canvases a month, each with a Buy button that takes payment.
- A pet portrait artist takes commissions: clients upload photos of their pet, choose a size and pay a deposit.
- An illustrator sells prints in three sizes, with an option to add a frame and a choice of shipping.
- A potter lists the markets she'll be at and takes bookings for weekend workshops.
Features marked (add-on) need the Contact Forms Enhanced add-on. Payments also need EverWeb 4.6 or later. See What is the Contact Forms Enhanced Add-on?
Pages to make
| Page | What goes on it | Use in EverWeb |
|---|---|---|
| Home | One strong piece, your name, what you make | A full width image or Image Slider |
| Work | One page per series | Responsive Image Gallery, in a directory |
| Shop | Originals and prints with prices | Contact Form Advanced with payments, or a shop link |
| Commissions | How it works, prices, examples, request form | Text, gallery, form (add-on) |
| About | Bio, statement, photo of you at work | Text and an image |
| Exhibitions and news | Shows, markets, new work | The blog |
| Workshops | Dates and booking | Contact Form Advanced |
| Contact | Enquiries, studio visits | Contact Form Advanced |
For gallery set-up and the portfolio side, see Build a photography or art portfolio website with EverWeb.
EverWeb features that help
Galleries that show the work
On a Responsive page, the Responsive Image Gallery opens each piece large with your choice of background, and each image can have a caption and alt text. The Image Slider or Carousel works well for a home page. See Add a slideshow to your website: Image Slider, Carousel, Slide Show Fill or a gallery.
Fast pages
Resize images for the screen before adding them, and tick Export Optimized Images in File > Edit Publishing Settings. See Make your website load faster.
Protecting your images
EverWeb has no setting that blocks right-click or saving, and no watermark tool. Add a watermark in your photo app, upload screen-sized copies rather than print files, and add a copyright line. No website can stop someone copying a picture they can see. See Protect your photos online: watermarks, image sizes and copyright notices.
Selling originals and prints (add-on)
A form can work as a simple order form. For prints, use a Radio Button or Image Select for the size with a price on each, a Toggle with Price When On for framing, and a priced Radio Button for shipping, such as Standard 5 or Express 15. Visitors see a running total and pay on Stripe's or PayPal's own checkout page. A quantity can't multiply other options, so a buyer who wants two different prints sends two orders. The form doesn't track stock: when an original sells, take it off the form and mark it Sold. See Sell a product with options and extras from your contact form and Photographers: sell prints, packages and gift vouchers from your website.
Other ways to sell
For a few fixed-price items, the PayPal and Stripe widgets add a Buy Now button. If you already sell on Etsy, Shopify or Gumroad, link to your shop. See Sell products or digital downloads on your EverWeb website: which option to use.
Commissions (add-on)
A commission form can ask for the size (Card Select), a File Upload field for each reference photo, Color Swatches for a colour preference and a Calendar for the date it's needed by. Add a fixed deposit with a priced Radio Button. To have the client agree to your terms, add a Consent tick box linked to your terms, and a Signature if you want one. See Take bookings and deposits with your contact form and Get agreements, contracts and consent forms signed online.
Workshops and classes
Use Card Select for the date, a Stepper with a Unit Price for the number of places, and a confirmation email to each person who books. See Event registration and ticket sales with your contact form.
Supporters who pay monthly
Form payments are one-off. For patrons who support you each month with members-only updates, use Membership Sites paid plans. See Members-only pages, logins and paid subscriptions: EverWeb Membership Sites.
Sharing your work
Add your Instagram and other links, and the Pinterest Pin It button. Set a Social Media Image on each page so a shared link shows that piece. See Add social media buttons and feeds (Facebook, Instagram, X, Pinterest) to your website and Choose the picture and text shown when someone shares your page on Facebook, iMessage or LinkedIn.
A little movement
The Flip Card widget can show a piece on one side and its story on the back. Hover and scroll effects add life, used lightly. See Add animation and scroll effects to your pages.
Related articles
- Build a photography or art portfolio website with EverWeb
- Sell a product with options and extras from your contact form
- Protect your photos online: watermarks, image sizes and copyright notices
- Sell products or digital downloads on your EverWeb website: which option to use
- Take bookings and deposits with your contact form