Change to presentation of WIP on website?

[Terri Ficenec]

Hi,

My website is badly in need of updating, but I can never seem to get motivated to work on it! One of the things I'm considering is changing the format of the on-the-easel section of my website to include a sort of slideshow of the progress of the work.

Slideshow (new) Format
Current Format

Would appreciate any comments on whether the potential new page layout formats correctly on your screen (should not be any scroll bars w/in the page...) and generally whether it's preferable to the old layout... Also whether it's clear how to run the sllideshow or whether the slideshow should be set to run automatically when the page is loaded (right now it doesn't). Not sure what I'd put where there's room for the text with the slide show... or whether will actually use that feature or not. . .

Thanks for any feedback!

[Laurel Alanna McBrine]

Hi Terri,

I am no expert on websites, since I have had my domain name for almost a year and still haven't gotten around to getting it made - for now I make do with my blog.

Anyhow, your painting is wonderful - the cat's expression is priceless and I like the Gainsborough feel to the background.

As to the format for the work in progress, I like both, although I must say, as a painter I enjoy seeing 4 versions of the work at once, so I can study how it evolved. For someone who is not an artist, however, I think the new idea has a cleaner look.

All the best!

[Claudemir Bonfim]

I second Laurel's words. I liked them both, but I think the new one works best for non-artists.

[Terri Ficenec]

Laurel & Claudemir --

Thanks for the feedback! that's helpful to know. . . I'm thinking I will start to use the new format at least for works as they are in progress...
http://www.terrificenec.com/wip/andrew.html
that way I can include comments for clients... Maybe once portraits are complete I can also include a the progression in table format for anyone who might be interested - the images are being loaded anyhow. . .

[Kenneth Kaiser]

Hi Terri,
I just visited your site---very niceI. I have two very minor suggestions. For the works in progress section, maybe a little bit more time could be given to the various slide-show images that have a longer description below them. (It could be, though, that I am a slow reader!) The second suggestion involves the closeness of some of the lettering (e.g., Portraits in Oil) to the upper horizontal bar--could additional black background be inserted above these titles?
Ken

[Terri Ficenec]

hmmm... the 'slideshow' is set to run automatically when the page loads, but you can turn the slide show off, and flip the 'slides' manually whenever you're ready -- maybe that's not clear enough from the setup of the page? Should I change the Run/Stop and Previous/Next links to those little Pause & play type icons - would that be more user friendly?

I'll play with the spacing for the wording... thanks!

[Natalie Hunsaker]

Hey Terri,

Mostly I echo what's already been said so I'm not sure I have a lot to add, but I will say that my first inclination is to look for the play/pause buttons and arrow icons instead of the words. I also immediately look for them at the bottom of the image and when I didn't see them there, I didn't even realize I could scroll through (the one with the girl and her cat didn't automatically start the slideshow on my computer, but the one with the boy did). Anyway, seeing the arrows or icons at the bottom would have made me understand a little quicker than I did initially.

If that's a lot of work, and I built my website so I know these things take time, it may be best to keep it as is. Although it took me a minute to figure it out, I eventually did and enjoyed scrolling through your instructive and wonderfully rendered paintings. Well done!

[Terri Ficenec]

Thanks everyone for your input... Here's updated version taking into account feedback.
http://www.terrificenec.com/wip/andrew.html

The 'fade' feature (where the image gradually converts to the next) really only works in IE so depending on the browser you're using transitions might be more gradual or more abrupt... guess I'm wondering if people have a preference? Should I turn the fade off in IE?

[Kenneth Kaiser]

Hi Terri,
Although I cannot see the fade feature, I do like the pause/play, forward, backward buttons. At least for me, these controls are very clear and easy to use.

Ken