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Whimsical Artists: Scott Plaster's Artist Home Page Whimsical Artists: Scott Plaster's claw

Monday, December 27, 2010

ScottPlaster.com is Now W3 Validated. What??

ScottPlaster.com Website is Now W3 "Validated"  


Ok, so what does this little icon mean?

I'm sure everyone out there has visited a website and things were "out of place" or flat-out broken. Some sites even say Best Viewed in .... whatever browser. Well, the internet (believe it or not) has standards that website developers are advised to follow so we don't all bump into these problems. While being snowed in, I had something to keep me busy....

Some of you know that, besides being an artist (and teacher), I'm also a website developer. In addition to developing my own artist site at http://scottplaster.com and my new Free Greeting Card site at http://artgreetingcardsonline.com, I also have one for my website development consulting at http://webyoni.com.  I've also built many websites for businesses, including the Community Arts Cafe, the Gallery of the Arts, my arts organization the Cosmic Cow Society, restaurants including Fabian's in Winston-Salem, small businesses such as Brookstown Music and my girlfriend Therese's hair stylist site, and a number of art-related sites: Martin Tucker Photography, Sharon Kuhn's StudioTies website, and others. 

So, over the last week, I undertook the task of making some of my sites "compliant." That challenge is easier said than done, since only about FOUR PERCENT of all websites out there "Pass" (See for yourself HERE).   Only a very few popular sites you may use actually pass the test, including the Opera and Firefox websites, Wikipedia, and MSN.com. Some well-known sites fail miserably: Amazon.com with over 400 errors, Yahoo and Youtube with over 100 errors, and the ever-wonderful Facebook with a dozen. Of a few hundred thousand tested by one group, even websites produced by Dreamweaver and FrontPage are almost never compliant (3% and less than 1%). These "errors" don't necessarily mean that the websites are bad or don't work, or that passing the standard alone make it a good website. Passing the validation test DOES mean that the behind-the-scenes code will ensure that all recent browsers (and even older) can view the web pages accurately.

I like to think that you can make a user-friendly, attractive, functional website and still follow the "rules." During my website "fixing" validation process, I used every available popular browser (IE, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Sarafi) to make sure that my sites look the same in each. This task was not easy. Some functions, in particular, do not follow the standards well, including Facebook and video integration, but I found ways to make my pages compliant. 

In the end, I was able to validate ALL 15 pages of http://scottplaster.com (including the online image gallery), all the pages of http://webyoni.com, and the entire http://hairbytherese.com site.

Was it worth it? It was to ME. :-)

--Scott





NEW: Online Art Jigsaw Puzzles from Artist Scott Plaster

Online Art Jigsaw Puzzles
I'm really happy to offer everyone a little diversion in these trying times -- which goes along with the philosophy embodied by my artwork. Who doesn't need an extra laugh or smile?

I already have SIX Puzzles to choose from, including "Shaggy Sheep" featured here. These online Flash-based puzzles featuring my artwork are fun to use, and the pieces even snap into place as you solve them. What a cool challenge -- time yourself as you see my artwork piece itself into place. Just use the link below, or from my website at http://puzzles.scottplaster.com, select "Puzzle!" from the jump menu.

Happy Puzzling!

Try Scott's Online Art Puzzles Now

Saturday, December 25, 2010



Christmas Present ...

Hello!  I have a special gift for everyone.  Solve the Online Puzzle to Unveil the Special Message!

http://scottplaster.com/christmaspuzzle.php

Also, last day to send FREE Online Greeting Cards!

Send a free greeting card from my site at http://artgreetingcardsonline.com.



Sincerely,

Scott

Friday, December 24, 2010

Solve the Puzzle to See the Message...


Solve the Puzzle to See the Message...

Hello!  I have a special gift for everyone.  Solve the Online Puzzle to Unveil the Special Message!

http://scottplaster.com/christmaspuzzle.php

Sincerely,

Scott

FREE Online E-Cards.....Send one NOW

One More Day...
It's almost Christmas; why not send an online greeting card to people on your list who didn't make the "present list" this year? I offer this service absolutely free of charge just to share my art.

I've also included a choice of Holiday Songs (which is optional).

Why not send something with some local flavor to the art and animal lovers on our list?

It's REALLY easy. No logins. No payment. You can add font effects, and even get a message when the card is picked up. You've got nine images to choose from, including "Greetings from the North Pole" featured here. The original 22"x28" "Tazewell Mountain" painting was based on a scene from Tazewell County in Southwestern Virginia, where I used to live. Yes, the mountains there really do look like that! The original painting is hanging on the wall of my classroom, and is available as a greeting card and in one of my card sets.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Time Running Out: FREE e-Cards and Other News

Time Running Out: FREE e-Cards and Other News
It's getting closer to Christmas; time to send one of my free Online Greeting Cards. Most cards are $.99 at Hallmark.com, and even for the cheapest Walmart card, you've got postage and a trip to the Post Office.

Why not send something with some local flavor to the art and animal lovers on our list?

It's REALLY easy. No logins, no annoying music, no payment. You can add font effects, and even get a message when the card is picked up. You've got nine images to choose from, including "Greetings from the North Pole" featured here. The original 22"x28" "Tazewell Mountain" painting was based on a scene from Tazewell County in Southwestern Virginia, where I used to live. Yes, the mountains there really do look like that! The original painting is hanging on the wall of my classroom, and is available as a greeting card and in one of my card sets.

I've been hard at work on MY WEBSITE. If you haven't taken a look lately, please do! I have it decorated for the holidays, but I've also added some visual effects, totally rebuilt the site to make pages easier to find, and also added a contact page. I recently added a neat little Cry Baby home button, and made the images on some page rotate through a set of different pictures. My site has an image gallery, but also has separate pages to showcase my cards and prints. There's even an interactive page where you can play with the animals from my paintings! See if you can see anything different about the animals in the header...

If you'd like to know more about my work, I was just featured in a newspaper article available online below:

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Save Some $$ -- Send a FREE Card...

Save Time and Money with My Free e-Cards

Time is running out. My FREE e-cards are quick and easy. I've got nine images to choose from -- everything from my animals to "Old Fashioned Christmas" to a few landscapes.

Great way to add some whimsy to the holiday season!

Hundreds of cards have been "picked up" so far. Don't let your friends and family be left out.

Send One Now....

Sunday, December 19, 2010

How about Sending This One?
Time Running Out? Try My FREE Online Greeting Cards 

It's getting closer to Christmas; time to send one of my free Online Greeting Cards. Most cards are $.99 at Hallmark.com, and even for the cheapest Walmart card, you've got postage and a trip to the Post Office.

Why not send something with some local flavor to the art and animal lovers on our list?

It's REALLY easy. No logins, no annoying music, no payment. You can add font effects, and even get a message when the card is picked up. You've got nine images to choose from, including "Mewwhy Quasmus" featured here. The original 30"x40" "Neon Duck" painting was based on an actual duck I fed at Country Park near the Natural Science Center in Greensboro. She was the very mild-mannered (unlike the boisterous geese surrounding him), so she was my favorite. The original sold shortly before Christmas last year, but it is still available in cards and prints.


Other Notes: 
  • Don't miss the Cosmic Cow Society exhibit at the Community Arts Cafe in Winston-Salem. The show has been extended until the middle of January. At the show you will see my "Collection of Flies" and more...
  • I've completed a handful of other website upgrades, including a "jump" menu on the navigation bar with links to the most popular pages. I've also refined the look somewhat to make all of the pages more consistent. You'll also notice a new effect in the masthead with the picture rotation!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

O, the Weather Outside is Frightful...

O, the Weather Outside is Frightful....

So, we got our snow (ice), with more to come..... What a great time to kick back and send some FREE online greeting cards. 

The site is very easy to use. It even features a "fancy editor" that lets you style your words with finesse. Nine festive images are available, with variety for every flavor, even one with a little snow. The original "Tazewell Mountain" didn't have any snow, of course, but I bet it will starting tonight and this weekend.




Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Let it Snow ... If it Does, Send Some Cards!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!


It might snow once, or TWICE in the coming days. What a great time to kick back and send some FREE online greeting cards. 

The site is very easy to use. It even features a "fancy editor" that lets you style your words with finesse. Nine festive images are available, with variety for every flavor, even one with a little snow. The original "Tazewell Mountain" didn't have any snow, of course, but I bet it will starting tonight and this weekend.




Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas is Getting Closer....A Card for Everybody

FREE Online Greeting Cards and Other News
It's getting closer to Christmas; time to send one of my free Online Greeting Cards. Most cards are $.99 at Hallmark.com, and even for the cheapest Walmart card, you've got postage and a trip to the Post Office.

Why not send something with some local flavor to the art and animal lovers on our list?

It's REALLY easy. No logins, no annoying music, no payment. You can add font effects, and even get a message when the card is picked up. You've got nine images to choose from, including "Wooly Christmas" featured here. The original 30"x40" "Shaggy Sheep" painting was based on a sheep at the petting zoo at the Natural Science Center in Greensboro. People have often commented on the texture and color. I like to think I captured this animal's gentle personality. The original sold shortly before Christmas last year, but it is still available in cards and prints.

I've been hard at work on MY WEBSITE. If you haven't taken a look lately, please do! I have it decorated for the holidays, but I've also added some visual effects, totally rebuilt the site to make pages easier to find, and also added a contact page. My site has an image gallery, but also has separate pages to showcase my cards and prints. There's even an interactive page where you can play with the animals from my paintings!

If you'd like to know more about my work, I was just featured in a newspaper article available online below:





Read the Article About Scott in the Mountain Times

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Scott Plaster featured in the Mountain Times...

I've been featured in an article in the Mountain Times in Watauga County, and the article appears online!

"Scott Plaster started painting as a very young boy, using tempura paints and cheap ox-hair brushes to color in the Picasso-esque figures his dad drew on manilla drawing paper. It wasn't long until by age 10 he was oil painting on his own easel in his parent's basement, using the recipes in an adult-level book to mix his own painting mediums.


Nearly 30 years later, Plaster is now exhibiting and selling his work in galleries across North Carolina. "There was a time when I had no idea how to get a gallery to even look at my work, and now it has been difficult keeping galleries and shops stocked with my paintings and prints," Plaster said...  READ MORE...."

 I hope you take the time to READ the ARTICLE.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Follow Your Own Star....

Follow Your Own Star ...

It's even closer to Christmas -- time to think about holiday wishes for the ones you know and care about. With times being tight, online greeting cards are a great way to share with your family and friends. The site is very easy to use. It even features a "fancy editor" that lets you style your words with finesse. Nine festive images are available, with variety for every flavor, even including a few of my landscapes like the modified "Moonrise Sunset" featured here. This painting was inspired by my annual fishing trip to Topsail Beach with my father, Wayne. We didn't have much luck fishing but really enjoyed the hospitality of some other Davidson County natives who happened to be there, who even gave us some of the bluefish they caught. On one of my trips back to the room, I snapped a photo of the moon rising over the ocean just after the sun went down. I couldn't wait to get home to paint it! I quickly sold the original but offer this image in high-quality matted and framed prints. They're even available for sale online and I will deliver them free to anywhere in the Triad! Check my website and see they Buy it Now button; you get a beautifully framed 16" x 20" for only $58. See the original image and buy it at My Website.

What a cool greeting card! I hope you'll take advantage of this offering and send them to your friends and family!


-- My Greeting Card site at http://tinyurl.com/scottplastergreetings


Thursday, December 9, 2010

Time to Send FREE Greeting Cards....

FREE Greeting Cards!

It's even closer to Christmas -- time to think about holiday wishes for the ones you know and care about. With times being tight, online greeting cards are a great way to share with your family and friends. The site is very easy to use. It even features a "fancy editor" that lets you style your words with finesse. Nine festive images are available, with variety for every flavor, including the original "Cosmic Cow" featured here. The Cosmic Cow was my first whimsical animal and launched a new style of work for me and my professional art career. I first saw the cow on the Blue Ridge Parkway. He really stood out to me and I knew that one day I would paint him. That painting led it to be the namesake of my arts organization, the Cosmic Cow Society. You can read the story about it here.



I hope you'll take advantage of this truly original greeting card offering! It's not too early to spread some holiday cheer...


-- My Greeting Card site at http://tinyurl.com/scottplastergreetings


Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Free Greeting Cards!



FREE Greeting Cards!
It's even closer to Christmas -- time to think about holiday wishes for the ones you know and care about. With times being tight, online greeting cards are a great way to share with your family and friends. The site is very easy to use. It even features a "fancy editor" that lets you style your words with finesse. Nine festive images are available, with variety for every flavor, including the "Crabby" one featured here. The original, "Crab in Space," has a layered background that adds dimension to the space in the background, and the crab's texture is captured with a rich impasto. I was really pleased to capture the distinctive blue of the BLUE crab that you see on his legs. 


You know the best part? He was delicious!

I hope you'll take advantage of this truly original greeting card offering! It's not too early to spread some holiday cheer...


-- My Greeting Card site at  http://tinyurl.com/scottplastergreetings

original "Crab in Space" available in cards and prints




Sunday, December 5, 2010

Decorating for the Holidays....



My Websites are Decorated for the Holidays!


I took out garland, lights, and a bountiful amount of fir clippings to 'spruce' up my websites for the holiday season. The new look is in keeping with all of the holiday specials I'm offering. I'm offering FREE online greeting cards, special holiday discounts at several galleries, and some special exhibitions. You can read about all of them in my latest newsletter at http://fineartamerica.com/emails/previewemail.html?emailid=5139. You can SUBSCRIBE HERE so you will get updates right to your email inbox.


Check them out:

-- My Home Page at http://scottplaster.com
-- My Greeting Card site at  http://tinyurl.com/scottplastergreetings

Use this Coupon for FREE COFFEE
AND Discount on My Work at the Community Arts Cafe
(like on the Flies below)
Now at the Community Arts Cafe in Winston-Salem

Last Day to Vote!!!

What to Paint?

OK, Christmas is coming up, which gives me some time to do a few (hopefully) paintings. I've also been able to paint on weekends. I have a few ideas in mind (shown below). What do you think? What should become my next whimsical animal? Use the poll on the left hand side of my blog page to cast your vote!

---Scott

Cute Little Duck

Seagull With Attitude

Hungry White Ibis


Adorable Little Doggie