[dbcurtis]

I love what you are trying to do. My family has a few artists in it (none full-time enough to pay the rent) so I have a visceral understanding of the passion that drives your idea.

After looking at several paintings, I found it difficult to get excited about any of them. Not because I didn't like them, but the web site just doesn't give the art presence. I mainly looked at oils and acrylics, and I could not get any idea of the brushwork, the texture. I just could not connect with any of them across the intertubes.

So I love the idea, but to me it seems the challenge you face is how to present the art. Sorry I don't really have any great suggestions -- more views of each piece that allow for examining the technique? More careful lighting of the photos in a way the best complements the art? It is a big challenge and I don't have any great ideas.

But there is something about being there -- we have all seen Munch's "The Scream" or Van Gogh's "Starry Night" a zillion times on the internet, on mouse pads, in cartoon parodies -- but actually standing in front of those paintings is an experience from another world. I want to get as close to that experience as I can when I look at your artist's works.

I think you need to up the curation somehow -- maybe some comments from the artist about the piece, or some very close images of exciting details.

Very sincerely best of luck, I hope you succeed for your artists.

[JohnFriel]

> So I love the idea, but to me it seems the challenge you face is how to present the art. Sorry I don't really have any great suggestions -- more views of each piece that allow for examining the technique? More careful lighting of the photos in a way the best complements the art? It is a big challenge and I don't have any great ideas.

I agree with you on this! We're planning to roll out detail shots and installation shots soon, and I think those will go a long way to helping viewers get a sense for the IRL presence of certain works.

Also, while we don't have a concrete plan for it yet, it's clear that some artists need help photographing their work.

> Very sincerely best of luck, I hope you succeed for your artists.

Thank you!

[lukevp]

John,

I think this is a great idea! This is probably not a core competency in your platform, but I can imagine a lot of artists don’t have a resource to get decent photos taken ( not good camera, or understanding of composition, etc). Would there be some way to partner with local photographers to have them come out using your platform to either connect or maybe even pay for it? For example, $50 for the trip out and to set up if within 30 miles, and then $20 per piece to digitize it with multiple angles and staging?

Either way, good luck with the platform and I’ve passed it along to my wife, who is an artist.

[stevekemp]

I used to photograph large-pieces for a local gallery. I wouldn't even attempt such a job for $50 + $20/piece.

Photographing large canvasses, color-balancing, processing, & etc. Is not a quick process and requires both patience, experience, and a decent camera/lens/lighting setup.

I've seen artists list their canvasses on websites using iphone photos, and that does nothing to advertise their work.

[egypturnash]

I would really hope that any artist remotely close to pro has some understanding of composition!

[dbcurtis]

> Also, while we don't have a concrete plan for it yet, it's clear that some artists need help photographing their work.

Absolutely. Photography is it's own media, with it's own techniques to master. I doubt many painters are going to have the necessary lighting equipment and the know-how to use it. Not that they couldn't -- it's just not their media. Some assistance from a specialist would help a great deal.

[blast]

That reminds me of how the biggest thing that Airbnb did for growth in the early days was offer to send hosts a professional photographer to make their flat look more appealing. I bet you could do something similar.

[dan-robertson]

I also agree that the images matter a lot. All the photographs of paintings are taken against the same coloured wall. I don’t see why that shouldn’t be the background of the website too. I think it would make it look like there’s more space between the paintings.

I think if I were choosing something I liked, I’d want to just look at the pictures first (a gallery I suppose) without much distraction. On my screen there’s a load of search controls taking up a third of my screen (but maybe other people have a better idea of what they’re looking for).

It’s probably also worthwhile trying to make the images work with the wide gamut displays that are starting to become more common (mainly on various apple products) as they will magically just look a bit better/more colourful.