UWSAG talks to Marianne Auger
of the Art by Old Bear Grinning website

Owner: Art by Old Bear Grinning
Winner: UWSAG Top Ten! for July, 2003

1. What got you started in website design?
   
   "Curiosity and time on my hands as well as a subject matter that has had somewhat limited exposure on the net up to this time. Always wondered what my abilities could amount to if I just applied and learned, Art By Old Bear Grinning answered that question. Set out to find the best value for my dollar and the easiest way to get things up and rolling, mission accomplished in a week!! That was March 2002, I knew nothing at that time, since then, I have acquired much knowledge now and I have not looked back."
   
   
2. What do you hope to accomplish with your website?
   
   "It is my intention to create global awareness of aboriginal art and artists, Old Bear Grinning being my pet project :~). I would also like to keep the heritage and legends alive through sharing as much of it as I can on our site as well as provide links to other information sites."
   
   
3. What advice would you give other webmasters?
   
   "Take every piece of advice and learn from it, take every criticism with a grain of salt and gratitude that some one is being honest, know that if you follow the rules and take your time, all things are attainable, even some of the most elusive web site awards. Plan thoroughly before you jump into the “web site” world of the internet, it can be a cruel place if you are unprepared. Make a list of 50 possible page names because although you start with 6 pages of content, you will always be adding to it in the future…I did not do this and now when I create a page, naming it tends to be one of the hardest things."
   
   
4. What was the biggest problem you faced with your website?
   
   "WAS & IS…my site navigation. I am just having a heck of a time choosing, learning and deciding which type of navigation would best suit my style of web site. I had no problem with background or colors or any such thing yet navigation has been and will be my bane for a while I sense."
   
   
5. If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
   
   "Absolutely nothing!!!! I had tremendous fun learning, experimenting, failing and succeeding and I would not trade it. I have met wonderful people, acquired skills I thought were beyond my ability and best of all, have gotten the message out there about this wonderful Artist."
   
   
6. What plans do you have for the future?
   
   "Well it is our intention to seek out Gallery space in our area, the gulf islands and Vancouver Island, BC, Canada as Old Bear is just a creative fool these days and we are quickly running out of room in our home. Eventually, commissioned works will be the fare of the day. As for the web site, I will continue to add to it as things are finished, work on the navigation system and eventually open our own award program to honor similar sites as ours, honoring artists out there in the world."
   
   
7. What else do you like to do?
   
   "Aside from tend to my “starving artist” and my small group of quadrupeds, I have a jewelry business, I make beaded items, I tend to my quarter acre of gardens, read, evaluate sites for Redneck Nature Web Award of Excellence, laugh, love, and live in one of the most beautiful places in the world!!!! Gabriola Island, BC, Canada. I believe that we are all the Masters of our destinies and the Maestros of our miseries, I prefer to live each day as a Master."