Download times rule the Web and since most users have access speeds on the order of 28.8 kbps, Web pages can be no more than 3 KB if they are to download in one second which is the required response time for hypertext navigation. Users do not keep their attention on the page if downloading exceeds 10 seconds, corresponding to 30 KB at modem speed. Keeping below these size limits rules out most graphics.
I am not a visual designer, so my graphics would probably look bad. Since this website is created by myself, I didn't want to spend money to hire an artist.