Suggestions For Improving Fineartamerica.com

Super job!!!

Wow free space... press releases... you couldn't do a better job.

We'll send you lots of business - just wait. Thanks for the hard work and service to the arts!

Mike Emerson
VP World Marketing

e4 FINE ART - Largest Solo Artist SIte in the World

www.e4fineart.com

Hi Brian. I just want to say thanks, and we are trying very hard to bring aboard the very top artists / galleries which we are associated with... for one Agora galleries at www.agoragallery.com.

I love this site. It works easily and, for the most part, the structure is intelligent. Just one suggestion; why not create a classification for print makers? Those of us who do limited edition serigraphs, etchings and lithographs need a separate category.

Also, are you planning search engine and other promotions? I’m sure many of us would love to contribute modest amounts to well placed ads to drive traffic to your site.

This is a very nice thing you do, Brian, and I hope that, at some time, it brings you rewards.
Here's my feedback.

Your site is pleasant to look at and it's easy to set up one's own pages. I appreciate all you've done, and I think all the others do too.

My one criticism is with the artists web URL. Mine looks like this:
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/ron-stacy.html
and that's a bit awkward. I know that a more simple URL can be used. For example, I'm involved with another web host, and my page has thie following in the page field:
http://www.gobc.ca/Stacy-Studio-Ron-Stacy_memberdetail_mID_122.php?search=stacy&search_in=&start=0&type=s
But I use:
www.gobc.ca/stacy
as my address and it reaches me fine. I'm quite pleased to use that on my business cards etc, where I wouldn't want to use the longer one.

Is this possible for you to do?

Thank you,
Ron Stacy

For the record, Agora gallery is a "vanity" gallery with no real selection process aside from the hefty fee that artists pay to exhibit their work there. They make their money from the egotism and naivite of the artists, not from selling art.

Hello,
I love the site very much. Just one suggestion, maybe add more featured artwork catagories for listing art in would be good. Like for example, animals, fantasy, etc. etc. Being more specific might help people locate the kind of art they want a little more easily. Thanks and great job!
Jodi

This is a great site! I was up and running in less than 13 minutes...it takes longer to make soup! LOL!!! I will definately place a link on my site and other places online.

So, when do we start getting billed? Is that in your business model?

So far, I have no complaints. This site is the best I've come across so far. It encompasses all the best elements of the various sites I post on, and I am loving it!

Only suggestion I can think of is to make posting an image when posting a new event, an optional field. When I'm posting about an art show, where I'm only 1 of many exhibiting artists, if I *have* to post an image, I'd make it of the venue, as opposed to say my work, but sometimes there isn't a photo of the venue available and then I feel kind of stuck, because it's required.

Thanks for all the hard work on the site, it really is awesome, and I can't wait to see how it grows!

Brooke

Great site! Just joined and was easy to do. The site is clean and it's informative, especially in my locality. The calendar of local events is great and hope everyone will post their openings so we can visit and meet and enjoy art.
Suggestion :Can you offer a copy of your logo in order to place it on my web site as a link.

Best of luck!
Roger Calle

Hi Roger - you can download a logo with this link:

Fine Art America Logo

It's a free site, how much more can we ask for!? Thank you so much for this new publicity! I will make much use of this site!

Watch out for this rip-off art gallery, they only want your money, of which if you are an artist you do not have any to give .

I apreciate the fact that this site isfree, easy to use, and seems to be running smoothly. My only suggestion, well two actually, is that the featured art picture be able zoom larger since many, inlcuding myself, likes to view items closely and on a larger scale. My othr suggestion is that you have subcategories,for example: Painting is one of your categories, would be nice if there were options under it like "contemporary", "still life", "figures", etc...

Just a thought.

Thanks again for a great site!

Geisha O.

I do not see a catagory to list my hand silk screened limited edition prints. I think that drawings is closest but it really doesn't fit. Not a very important point just thought I would ask.

The format of this site is truly well done.

I am a professional artist, and posted to your site several days ago when I received an invitation email. I've never personally exposed my work on the internet since my career has been as a public artist doing textile commissions for architecture, interior space, etc. I was pleased at how easy you've made it. I like being able to control my page, arrange images, etc. And I like seeing where a viewer is coming from. Haven't figured out yet how I'd know if someone wanted to inquire about onoe of my works.

There is only one suggestion I'd lilke to offer about categories: would you please consider a category for printmaking and/ or graphic arts? I make monotypes, and sometimes incorporate them into artists' books. I've noticed several other artists have also suggested a printmaking category for lithographs, etchings, monotypes, intaglio, etc.

Best wishes to all the young emerging artists who may find a community at this site, and thank you again!

Great site,and so far very easy to manuver. I am wondering though if there is any way to see if we can check all our personal stats, and see a list of who all has looked and from where? (instead of just the one current stat)
I would also like to see a possible section where galleries that post on here might be interested in getting submissions from artists.

So far the site is great but I am sure many of us would like to know how many hits we are getting at our pages. I am sure this is a pain to create and since the site is free as of now that it probably won't happen, but I can hope.

I would like to see a search by "type" of art. Photography, Oil Paint, Drawing etc. Also, it would be nice if the type displayed on the thumbnail. I'm sometimes not sure if I'm looking at a photo or a painting/drawing.

Just figured out if I start at the home page instead of my profile, I can search on type. Sorry. Otherwise, great site.

Brian, I've been trying for days to get an answer to my question about why I can not input size & price with my images. I also can not edit my images. Please help.

Try using the numbers on the keyboard rather than the number keys to the right...

Thanks, Mickie but I don't even show the edit option with my images so there is nothing I can do...

That is so wierd, I just tried my suggestion on one of my pieces and it did allow me to put a number in if I used the keyboard numbers, but not the keys to the right. You mean when you have your profile up and at the display of your work there is no edit option? I don't know how that could be or why it would be just with yours and not everyones....hmm, very odd.

Keith.. on the first page of your gallery where you can see all your pieces.. there should be an "edit" and "delete" under each picture.. let me know if you see that.. I'd be interested in finding out what your problem is..
I hope this helps

I love the site.....thanks! Just hope you are in some way getting rewarded, other than all our love!!!!
Thanks again.
Liz

Reference PhotoBucket discussion. Could you stop public ability of downloading images of art? Thank you. Karen

I was playing around with the POD option just looking at how different works looked in different mats, and I noticed something of interest - you can order a print on different types of paper, framed, matted & framed but you cannot order just a matted print.?

Every time I say no to the "frame" option and yes to the "mat" option, once you apply a mat, a frame is automatically added. On the art show circuit I sell way more matted prints than matted & framed prints - partly because of the cost and partly because people like to choose their own frames, or even build them. Ideally the matted & framed prints we offer are a far better deal economically, but that's the way the public likes it...

I think this arbitrary adding of frames could be effecting potential sales through POD

As you can see if you go on my site here, I have posted on my Bio page Googlepages click here, the reason I did it is because of the size it can make the painting, life size. I'm using it as a marketing tool, as they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that is what were selling a picture of our work. Myself if I were a customer wanting to purchase a piece of art on the Internet I would want to see it up close and personal to make my decision to buy, I would want to really see it. Not something that is only 2" by 3". I think FAA will really benefit in sales just by this one small change. Linda

What a great site. Thanks for the opportunity to display my work to the world. I do have a slight problem though. On my screen the the edit functions under the images are cut off, part of the info in the box at the top of the page next to the FAA logo is outside the box and the last line of my bio is cut in half horizontally. It all displays correctly on my daughters lap top so I'm assuming the problem is with my PC. I thought possibly changing the screen resolution would help but it doesn't seem to. Any suggestions?

I'd like to say THANK YOU for such a great, easy to use site! I also really appreciate all of you wonderful people and your amazing artwork! Everyone has been so encouraging and supportive!

Cher

Most of the art on this site is family safe. Some of it is not. My grandchildren check in from time to time and I think it is only prudent to be able to filter out materials that are intended for adults only. Please let me know if such a filter already exists and, if so, how to activate it.

Thanks,
Anne Norskog

No, there is not.

Dear Marlene,
Thanks for taking the time to answer my question that was posted both on Blog and Discussion. Perhaps a safe filter should be requested by those of us who feel this is a needed tool. I do not actually know you feel that way, but I see that your portfolio contains many children as subjects. I am a nearly 60-year-old granny and it distresses me some of the work posted on FAA is not able to be filtered. It is not appropriate for children. Quite frankly, some of it is pornography. People masturbating, whether female or male, or engaged in sexual acts, is not art. It is porn.

Anne,
Actually, although I am a grandmother of 3, I do not agree that the responsibility for what children see on the internet lies with the websites. That responsibility lies with the parents or whomever is in control of the computer. I also believe that censorship in art is generally a bad thing. I agree that some of what is posted could be considered porn by some. The danger is, who would you have determine what is porn? There are some who would put a fig leaf over certain parts of the old masters paintings and sculptures, as well as ban all showing of breasts. We are one of the few countries who look at the breast as a sex symbol.
FAA is a free site owned by one individual, and believe me, the owner does not tolerate blatant abuse of his site. That being said, FAA is an art site for adults with art submitted by adults. Nowhere does it claim to be family oriented. The majority of the art submitted is rather benign.
I understand your concern, however, and my suggestion would be to put your favorite examples of work in your favorites tab and let the kids view that with you, or let their parents know that's where they can see what you think is appropriate.
Take care,
Marlene

Thank you Marlene.....I agree and second everything you just said. What children watch on TV and see on the internet is solely the responsibility of the parents!!
Liz

BRIAN

I'm also going to post this as an email query and another discussion topic...I guess you can tell I'm anxious to resolve this issue.
I've got POD on my website TomRomeo.com , but I can't the "Return to Home Page" link to return to the page from which I left
(www.TomRomeo.com/Artwork,htm).

I changed my website to the latter in the Contact information section, but keep getting an error 404 (page not found) message.

It WILL return to www.TomRomeo.com, however when THAT URL is in the contact information.

If I am missing something, please let me know. If it is built in to the site as a "Feature", please consider letting us return to the page WE choose.

Thanks

Marlene

VERY well said - I agree with your view on this and would like to add my "second" as well!

99% great site to my mind.

To repeat a couple of earlier suggestions:

1. A separate members only section for critique, and maybe volunteer tutorials or workshops.

2. Ability to upload images in comment responses (I know I can use HTML to load images inside posts from my web site).

3. Larger images for posts.

Thanks for everything Brian!

_jc

Great site -- fun community. Thanks for all you're doing to make this happen for everyone Brian.

Links to import/export information in regard to tariffs/duty is an important consideration for artists.
http://usitc.gov/tata/contact/index.asp
http://cbsa.gc.ca/contact/general-generaux-eng.html

When I login I am immediately taken to a page announcing POD instead of my home page. I already have POD so I dont need to be made aware of it every time. Can this announcement be removed for those of us who have already subscribed?

Artwork descriptions and keywords should be visible on our shopping cart pages.

would be nice if the site could show the preferred art work selected by the artists in FAA.
........otherwise great site....happy you created it
Michael

Hi Brian, I think it would be really cool if you could put a link to the next page at the BOTTOM of each gallery page so that we don't have to scroll back to the top. A friend of mine was looking at my work and thought I only had one page cause she didn't see the "next" link at the top. Thanks.

Allow us to create things that are almost like folders where we can seprate our pieces into collections

Allow the list to be arranged by date of last visitor so we can quickly see what was last viewed.

Hi Brian
I am experiencing a continuing problem with My Potter's Garden title. When I edit this page it keeps changing to My Potter ... its seems to dislike the apostrophe for some reason. I have to retype the full title in all the time.

Also, another minor detail, my second hyphenated name only prints in lower case instead of with a Capital P.
Can these be rectified?
Regards
Kerryn

I haven't signed up for POD yet.. but will likely do it today.

One thing that would be awesome if you added to the POD accounts... is the ability to allow visitors to sign up for a given artist's mailing list so that they can be notified about upcoming shows, etc.

I'm going to print up some cards that have my url on them, with a link to the FAA POD gallery, and if they got that far, it'd be nice to provide a way for me to notify them with upcoming shows, books, new travel prints, etc.

Unless that is already a feature on this site... does anyone know of a decent module or service I could use to capture voluntary visitor contact data?

Just want to thank you, Brian, for creating this wonderful site. I am still just finding my way around - although it is so easy to navigate - I love the format - I've looked at other art sites that are not nearly as nicely organized. I love to look at other people's artwork and to read the discussions and blogs.

I recently ordered some PODs and am very pleased with the quality of the prints as well as the finishing and frames. I have one suggestion regarding matted work that someone else touched on already about not wanting the piece framed. Your price on the little frame is quite reasonable, but I would like to have the option of having the piece matted and in a clearbag rather than a frame. I'd probably order a number of those for shows if that option was available.

Ruth

I like the potential of FAA, but am running into some snags. Emails to support seem to take forever to get any answers (actually have never received any) which makes it difficult. I have a dyptic that I want to throw up for sale as giclees on canvas that each measure 24x24". What pixel size file do I need and can FAA provide square formats?

Secondly, I've put up 13 images so far and now I can't seem to add any more. I'm able to upload the images, but they don't show up on my profile page.

Is it just me?

Boris,

Can you send me your e-mail again? This seems to be a common problem with e-mails not getting through. I've set up a fairly strict e-mail filter, and I'm starting to think that legitimate e-mails are ending up there.

To answer your question - yes, we can print 24" x 24" squares. We can print any rectangular shape up to 44" wide.

Please resend me your e-mail, and I'll answer all of your specific questions there.

Brian

I am just ga-ga crazy mad in love with this site. I have stumbled around for years trying to find a way to get my work out there. As a self-taught artist, there is a lot that I do not know. This site is the biggest and most constructive help that I have ever encountered. Thanks Brian for your hard work, your obvious love for art and artists, and your strong advocacy for our needs.

One thing I have trouble with is using the HTML codes with My Space page. Whenever I try to post an image from hear onto there, it turns up as two dots. Now, those two dots do link back to here, but I think I could sell more prints if I could get the images from here on to my My Space page. Otherwise, this site is great.