Interview: Jason Dowd at The Expressionist, New Blog Magazine

July 7th, 2008 by Easton Ellsworth

Did you know you can use blog software to create an online magazine?

I recently asked artist Jason Dowd a few questions about The Expressionist, a just-launched blog magazine covering the art industry with a Tampa, Florida flair.

Easton: You’re calling The Expressionist a “magazine.” Why?

Jason: The magazine is dedicated to the many fields of art. No matter what you touch, someone had to create it, it’s a work of art. I know from being an artist for more than 16 years art is an expression, that concept seemed to fit this magazine and gave it a powerful name. Thus came “The Expressionist” in honor of all the artists inside.

Easton: How did you settle on your current site design? What sites (if any) influenced your design decisions?

Jason: My site manager and partner, Jesse Petersen, knows the person that made this current layout. He chose it because of our content and it’s an easy to navigate layout. When I asked him about designing my site, I showed him Rolling Stone, Time Life Magazine, George, and People.

Easton: How much time and effort has The Expressionist required so far? Do you anticipate any lightening of the load soon?

Jason: To start it’s been grueling. Jesse has worked through school and all his waking hours getting our layout perfect and some content. I have been working on it almost 24/7 myself. Hopefully once we get it running, Jesse, Justin and I will be able to take more of a department role in writing and management. My goal is to in one year get us off the writing and have us manage our deparments and hopefully hire writers.

Easton: How do you plan to make money with The Expressionist? Any advice for professional bloggers out there?

Jason: We plan on selling a .pdf of our magazine each publication which will contain the featured articles, and some higher sub content. We also plan on advertising, we sell space on a tower for ads, and we will allow advertising on our stories. For advice, find someone who knows what they are doing when it comes to blogging! You want to do it right the first time, and I am so lucky I knew someone. This magazine would not be even remotely close to what it is today if I didn’t have Jesse.

Easton: What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced in launching The Expressionist? What advice would you give to those who may create similar blogs or online magazines in the future?

Jason: Time … we all have a demanding schedule and had to make hours of work fit into minutes. Luckily we really had no major flaws anywhere or any major setbacks. Advice … first, get an idea that will impact the majority of people, bring stories to them that not only keep them informed, but educated. Believe in your work, and use it for the good of the people, not just yourself and you will see how successful it becomes with time. With any online/print magazine or blog, fresh content is key. Expect to put at least one, maybe two articles up daily so be on the lookout for the news.

Thanks to Jason Dowd and Jesse Petersen for sharing a bit of The Expressionist with us.