= New website =

**Geuseppe** · January 23rd, 2006, 04:56 AM

So I've finally updated my website a bit - a new design, trying to keep it very simple, with large images and information that doesn't take up space.

You'll notice you can click on most large images and view more information... a DIV script feature that my brother worked very hard on. I plan on updating this more frequently.

(KeithBluhm.com- my bro)

----- and my new site -----

JoeBluhm.com

...let me know what you think.

**timpaatkins** · January 23rd, 2006, 07:03 AM

Great website and great design, and great art! The klick on img to get more info is very nicley done, with just enough info to make me wanna know more! Lovley stuff!

One thing though (and this I have said before to others) :
what is the purpose of the splashscreen? ("A welcome" isnt a good enough reason!)
I vote remove. Its just another click for a potential client. Imagine how many clicks a day those guys have to do. Make their job easier.

And you say "specialize in..." and then you basically list everything related to art. You may need to refrase that, hehe
Cheers Tim

**Geuseppe** · January 23rd, 2006, 11:40 AM

Thanks - excellent tips - I will consider revisions!

**asoir** · January 23rd, 2006, 04:33 PM

Apart from paatkins' great suggestion's, it's a great looking site, love the navigation and the frame in the middle is extremely useful for easy browsing. Also the portfolio is kick ass.

**strych9ine** · January 23rd, 2006, 04:40 PM

Great site design and art Joe, real tight work. I'd kill that splash screen... I personally think that your main page design makes more of an impact thanthe splash. I'd also consider putting up your best work in the main screen on initial load, or maybe load the first one up for each section. Use that space to make that much more of an impact.

Great stuff man!

**Geuseppe** · January 24th, 2006, 02:56 PM

Great tips guys. Thanks for the kind words.

I've noticed a small bug in Iexplorer, where a blank strip comes up on some images, at random while loading - my brother will iron that out in the DIV script. (i think that's the term)

As far as the splash page, I figure that's a great place to have a message, latest update, messages, links, etc. I used to do that with my old site, but maybe that's too cluttered and I should keep that on my 'home' page rather than a splash... Is this necessarily a bad thing? - how important is it?

**Geuseppe** · January 24th, 2006, 03:35 PM

Okay - changed some things as-per suggestions. The only debate now is about the splash page - I understand the lack of need, however I'm a sucker for the "cover page" - ideas?

**Fellah.** · January 28th, 2006, 06:15 PM

Very cool work, man!

**AmishCommy** · January 31st, 2006, 03:51 PM

SWEET!!!!

joe my man, it just gets better and better. now all you have to do is post more sketches and take some of them to the finished state. I think the sketches are way better then the finals becasue you create such great and interesting shapes. and that's what was really missing from the old site.

**timpaatkins** · January 31st, 2006, 07:17 PM

Hey man, great update and tightening of the page. Hmm, regarding the splashpage, do you have any animationskills? I was thinkin, as soon as I saw your toddler on the first page, Id love to see him animated, just a simple "Ive been clicked" reaction. Check out Loomers site for the kind I mean. Mabe he starts crying or something, or he gets annoyed, or give an insane smile. He could burp, or get pissed off. That would make a pretty good splash, interesting, and it says something about you, that you have some distance to yourself, to your work, a sense of humor, and some animationskills.

**cotron** · January 31st, 2006, 07:38 PM

Ohhhh shit! You're Joe Bluhm? Hah, small world! I was working for Kaman's back in Virginia for a couple years and your reputation was pretty substantial

Gotta tip my hat in respect, pictures I saw of the park sketches you were doing were so ballsy and funny, stuff I could never have pulled off and still gotten paid by the type of people who came to King's Dominion. Anyway, nice site, don't have much to add to the advice that's already been given. Cool man!