Website deconstruction

**Burpee** · 09 April 2009, 03:07 AM

Gary Priester has inspired me to redo my old webpage. Actually he might have been trying to inspire me to buy Web Designer, lol. I just might do that anyway but now I'm going to have to wait for a bit before I can get it.

In the mean time, I am going to share the link to my site for a short time so that you can read my short story 'The Tale of Isa'. It's only 2 pages. I really like this tale and I'm kind of proud of it. I won a Golden Tori award for it.

It will probably not be on my new webpage so you may well be the last people to see it.

The site is very crude as I wrote alot of the code myself. I never share or post the link anymore and it has gone to the wayside. I think it's time to reinvent myself so I post it here and ask if there is anything at all that I should keep. Be brutally honest, as I know it's not very good anyway.

I'll be removing most of the artwork. There are only a few images that I'll carry over. I want to use Xara to make my buttons, headers and navigation bars. If there's nothing worth saving I'll start from scratch.

The biggest question is whether or not I should keep NGartplay. The second is exactly what do I want from my site. I don't know the answer to either of those, lol.

Do not laugh...here it is:
http://burpee.sitesled.com/

**Soquili** · 09 April 2009, 03:36 AM

Hi Nancy,

I really like your artwork on the site. One point about your galleries though. When someone clicks on a thumbnail to view the larger image. I think you should provide a way back to the thumbnails without having to click the back button of the browser.

Your short story has possibilities. It could be fleshed out and have smoother transitions. Oh, and make the font for the credits different from the story text.

**steve.ledger** · 09 April 2009, 03:40 AM

Originally Posted by Soquili

I think you should provide a way back to the thumbnails without having to click the back button of the browser.

Use the keyboard 'Backspace' button Bill.. (Or ALT + ← )

Very nice work Nancy.
I've never got into 3D work, can't think why really. Just not my thing I guess.
But I do enjoy viewing what other people can create..

**Soquili** · 09 April 2009, 03:45 AM

Thanks Steve but I was thinking more along the lines of having the larger image be a popup and a click on it would close the popup.

**steve.ledger** · 09 April 2009, 03:49 AM

I'm messin' with you Bill.

But for what it's worth, pop up blockers can ruin well intentioned sites

Nancy I very much like the art work in 'Sewer Rats'
You must have spent a great deal of time working on those graphics?

**zaphodeist** · 09 April 2009, 05:08 AM

Smashing artwork Nancy, particularly like "The Land" collection.

**athman** · 09 April 2009, 05:44 AM

Impressive.
Keep it up

**iamtheblues** · 09 April 2009, 08:32 AM

Nothing crude about the site, Nancy. Its simplicity serves as a showcase for your work. I particularly enjoyed "Grandpa's Chair" and the hangdog expression of the guilty mutt in "New Shoes".
"Canyon Walls" and "Danver's Crossing - 14 Miles" are also in my favourites list. I appreciate the art in all the sections, but Fantasy isn't really my scene, but I can marvel at the artwork produced.
Edit: On further perusal, I saw "Late Night Snack" and was immediately reminded of Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks". It's not so much what he paints, but what the viewer can't quite see which is
evident in a lot of his work, and that is echoed here. Before this becomes a critique of your work, I'll move on.
The only criticisms I have are that the 3D Art Links Resource Page is difficult to read because of the text colour/background clash, and I would advise a continuity of background that is established
on the home page. I appreciate that it will all change anyway and look forward to seeing the new site.
Your main questions are interdependent, really. If you feel that the NG Artplay is the main focus as a business where you will sell artwork and peronalised puzzles and post freebies and have links
to other sites, then you would probably be better to retain that name.
If, however the site is mainly going to focus on displaying your work, then I think you should announce Nancy Griffin to the world.
Saludos,
Bob.