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 The
Visual Arts categories provide a multitude of opportunities for new and existing editors. This article
will hopefully encourage any editors who have considered this area, but may have felt it was too "specialized". Some people may feel that it is
necessary to be an artist or an art expert to review and categorized art related sites. While it is true that many of the
Visual Arts editors do have an art background of some sort, this does not preclude others from editing here.
All one really needs is a good knowledge of editing and a love of art. The majority of sites reviewed here are really nice to look at. Yes, we have our share of
popup laden geocities and aggressive submitters who feel their sites deserve individual listings in just about every subcategory. However, many of the websites
are really a joy to review. They tend to be quite beautiful and are built as online galleries specifically for the surfer's viewing pleasure.
Editing in a Visual Arts category is not so different from editing other areas of the directory. It does
offer some unique challenges and exploring some of these areas will hopefully prove helpful to newer editors throughout the ODP and offer encouragement to those
who may have considered applying for editing permissions.
Multiple Websites
Many artists tend to list their work on every free portfolio site available. Some examples include www.artpromote.com, www.absolutearts.com and www.coroflot.com.
In addition they may have a main website. Frequently a directory search by the artist"s name can highlight any potential double listings, so it is important
when listing artist sites to use the preferred title format of Last Name, First Name. Also helpful for avoiding double listings is to ensure that the listed URL is
in the most simplified version; i.e. removing any extraneous parts such as index.html or default.html. (Always be sure the URL will function without it first).
Arts verses Shopping
This is not a problem unique to Visual Arts, however given the close relationship in category structure between
Arts/Visual Arts and Shopping/Visual Arts it does crop
up frequently. Becoming familiar with the Shopping Guidelines is a helpful first step. Visual Arts does tend to
get quite a few borderline cases that do require editor discretion, but dealing with these sites goes hand in hand with building basic editing skills. Below is a
summary of personal guidelines that were presented in a previous forum post related to this question.
- If the overall focus of the site is to sell paintings and has prices listed and provides an online method for purchasing the paintings
i.e. shopping cart feature or order form, it belongs in Shopping.
- If the site states that the "paintings are for sale", but has no listed prices, I would not consider the main focus selling, but
rather display and would list in Arts. These will generally state to "contact the Artist for details".
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Some sites will reference an off site gallery as handling the sale of their works. Again the main focus of their site would be to display
the works and I would list in Arts.
- In general if no prices are available lean toward Arts. When prices are listed lean toward shopping. Then make the call from other aspects
of the site. For example I have come across sites that list prices for some artworks while others will state not available, private collection or sold. More than
likely I would leave this type of site in Arts if the majority of the artwork was unavailable.
- One of the more confusing types that I have come across is a site with original paintings displayed, but not listed for sale but where
they do offer limited editions for sale with prices and shopping carts. I think in this case the editor needs to determine the strongest focus of the site and
decide the most appropriate category.
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Where does it go?
Finding the best subcategory for a website can also be a challenge. An artist may paint in oil and watercolor, display portrait as well a landscape works
and styles could range from realistic to abstract. Not all are easily classified. Visual Arts editor
davidj put things nicely in perspective in a forum post:
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"I just try to use common sense, based on my guesses as how the people interested in the site in question will
look. I usually end up doing something like this"
- If anything about the site is uncommon, that determines where it will be placed. In other words, if a site displays only impressionistic
paintings of deer in encaustic, I will put it in Encaustic, since that's what's special about it, and not in Impressionism or Wildlife.
- Next, I go for style. I can easily imagine someone wanting to look at impressionistic paintings, and not caring that much if they are
mainly nudes or flowers, oils or acrylics, but I would be surprised to find someone who wants to look at pencil drawings, but doesn't care if they are nudes
or technical drawings of airplane parts. (I have met a few people like the latter, but I try to avoid being left alone with them at night.)
- If the site doesn't concentrate on style, I go for genre or subject in preference to medium. I can a lot more easily imagine someone
interested in landscapes in general than in oil paintings in general. In fact, some of the media, such as oil, acrylic, and watercolor, are so popular these
days that if we are going to start using them as primary classifications there's hardly any point in trying to sub-categorize Visual Arts at all.
- If I am left with several choices as to how to classify a site, with nothing to decide among them, I will usually list it in the one
where it was submitted; I figure that the site owner should know the habits of his target audience at least as well as we do.
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As davidj points out, common sense is the key here. Finding a home for the site necessitates
determining the most unique feature of the site, as we do in all areas of the directory.Hopefully there are editors out there who will be encouraged to
take another look at Visual Arts. Keep in mind also that there are knowledgeable (and very talented)
artists editing this area. This is a real bonus as they can provide excellent feedback and help.
- artisands |
Please send all comments, questions or suggestions to the newsletter editor.
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