Improvements at idrawandpaint.com

Hi to All,

We've almost completed the changes to the site in order to make it more streamlined and easier for members to follow:

1) We've reduced / combined groups and are in the process of setting up administrators to make sure these run as smoothly as possible.

2) We've set up five "Challenge" groups based on the main media. These will consist of a photo challenge to begin with and in time may expand into other types of challenges.

3) The are Help and Rules pages beneath each tab on the site. This goes someway to helping new members find their way around and prevents them from accidentally breaking our guidelines.

4) A new "Getting Started" guide is being produced as we speak by one of our experienced members and will be a great tool to help new and old members alike get the most from the site.

5) We've added a new rule to prevent a member uploading dozens of photos to the artwork gallery in one go. While it may occasioanlly be abused (and we moderate it as best we can), it has curbed much of the over-posting of pictures we had before.

6) We are in the process of appointing more moderators to keep the forums clutter and ad-free. They will also man the Help forum to provide better support to members.

7) We're working with several very active members to create "Program" groups. These will consist of follow-along tutorials and assigments and in time, we'll create a "Resources" section that lists these groups and other useful resources.

8) The Chat feature has been modified and made more prominant. Please drop in and chat with other members or set up a private chat with a friend who's online at the same time.

9) As ever, we welcome your feedback. Is there anything else you want improving?

Phil.

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gerri on March 31, 2009 at 4:12pm: In my opinion you guys are doing a wonderful job with this site. I'm aware that there have been some complaints, change is difficult for some, but I'm sure this site will continue to be very successful! Gerri

Permalink Reply by Dorothy on March 31, 2009 at 6:24pm: Looks fine to me Phil, thanks.

Dorothy

Permalink Reply by Mops on March 31, 2009 at 6:49pm: Looks great Phil. Really appreciate the work you and Bob have put into this site. Hoping to get more involved now that "things" are settling down here.
Mops

Permalink Reply by adam on March 31, 2009 at 10:44pm: Phil

In my opinion with the way you are handling it and placing a few things at a time for the changes it isn't that much of a shock.

Granted at start-up with the new items changed glitzes will occur, but as far as I am concerned, nothing earth shattering.

Actually the new people coming in won't even notice, lol they will start off with the new stuff.

Change seems to always bring problems, yet in the longrun, all will benefit by them.

Your and your group are doing an excellent job on running the site and I for one tip my hat to you, although I don't wear a hat, I will tip my beer glass.

Soon, all the trouble and hassle will be forgotten and everyone will be bouncing around the site like pros.

Adam

Permalink Reply by Mary on April 1, 2009 at 12:52am: well, whats happened to artwork ? Is it on a new drop down ? I like to look of an evening but its not there. Help !!
Its ok everybody, I found it LOL...gallery, what else !!

Permalink Reply by Kat on April 1, 2009 at 5:34am: Wow, sounds like you who are doing all this are doing a fine job of it. I really enjoy this idrawandpaint website. Thanks for providing us artists with a cool place to hang out..

Kat

Oh I think maybe we should set up like a community chat night, where we can have like say a gathering to just chat with and ask questions and the such. Like maybe "A night out with Bob"... or "A night out with Phil".... and we amatures can ask questions.... :)

Thanks!

Kat

Permalink Reply by Margarita on April 3, 2009 at 1:42am: Sorry Phil but I agree with Dawn and also I didn't post any group, but never received a thanks from you for encouraging people, and if you see my page, see my comments to paintings and thier answers are allways encourage them to follow and also giving some advices about what they are doing,, or please don't leave this page, and just received e-mails from you to tell me to stop my 1 or 2 mistakes, not anyone giving thanks for my work for this site and I'm one of the Pionniers, see my comments and you will find what I'm refering to now we are managed for one of our experienced members
" experts", that you don't say the names, is Shy one of them?, Dawn created many groups and disscusions, and you never gave her a thanks, so what are you doing? destoying your Dad's work? Sorry to be rude but I allways try to say the truth, and now is the time, waiting for your e-mail telling me to erase this comment as allways
Good luck.
Margarita "like allways sorry for my english but you don't speak spanish"

Permalink Reply by SHY on April 3, 2009 at 2:54am: Margarita,
I have no idea where you got that idea or why my name is even mentioned. None of this has anything to do with me.
SHY

Margarita said:
Sorry Phil but I agree with Dawn and also I didn't post any group, but never received a thanks from you for encouraging people, and if you see my page, see my comments to paintings and thier answers are allways encourage them to follow and also giving some advices about what they are doing,, or please don't leave this page, and just received e-mails from you to tell me to stop my 1 or 2 mistakes, not anyone giving thanks for my work for this site and I'm one of the Pionniers, see my comments and you will find what I'm refering to now we are managed for one of our experienced members
" experts", that you don't say the names, is Shy one of them?, Dawn created many groups and disscusions, and you never gave her a thanks, so what are you doing? destoying your Dad's work? Sorry to be rude but I allways try to say the truth, and now is the time, waiting for your e-mail telling me to erase this comment as allways
Good luck.
Margarita "like allways sorry for my english but you don't speak spanish"

Permalink Reply by Beverly on April 3, 2009 at 3:37am: Hi Shy ,Margareta was giving you a compliment ..for the work you and so many others have done on this site and Dawn has done so much in every area Thanks to all the great friends who helped me get around this site in the early days,with many laugh's eh! Dawn Ya I got a e mail once because I up loaded 2 extras LOL such is life ,I do think admin should reconize all those who helped get this site to the great standing it is now ,I know there are lot's that devoted many hours helping ,changes are fine but good friends are better ,It is about all of us helping each other.

SHY said:
Margarita,
I have no idea where you got that idea or why my name is even mentioned. None of this has anything to do with me.
SHY

Margarita said:
Sorry Phil but I agree with Dawn and also I didn't post any group, but never received a thanks from you for encouraging people, and if you see my page, see my comments to paintings and thier answers are allways encourage them to follow and also giving some advices about what they are doing,, or please don't leave this page, and just received e-mails from you to tell me to stop my 1 or 2 mistakes, not anyone giving thanks for my work for this site and I'm one of the Pionniers, see my comments and you will find what I'm refering to now we are managed for one of our experienced members
" experts", that you don't say the names, is Shy one of them?, Dawn created many groups and disscusions, and you never gave her a thanks, so what are you doing? destoying your Dad's work? Sorry to be rude but I allways try to say the truth, and now is the time, waiting for your e-mail telling me to erase this comment as allways
Good luck.
Margarita "like allways sorry for my english but you don't speak spanish"

Permalink Reply by Margarita on April 3, 2009 at 3:43am: Thank you Beberly your help is fabulous, because my english is not very good, and you are right it was a compliment for all the people that worked very hard in this Web Site.
Margarita

Beverly said:
Hi Shy ,Margareta was giving you a compliment ..for the work you and so many others have done on this site and Dawn has done so much in every area Thanks to all the great friends who helped me get around this site in the early days,with many laugh's eh! Dawn Ya I got a e mail once because I up loaded 2 extras LOL such is life ,I do think admin should reconize all those who helped get this site to the great standing it is now ,I know there are lot's that devoted many hours helping ,changes are fine but good friends are better ,It is about all of us helping each other.

SHY said:
Margarita,
I have no idea where you got that idea or why my name is even mentioned. None of this has anything to do with me.
SHY

Margarita said:
Sorry Phil but I agree with Dawn and also I didn't post any group, but never received a thanks from you for encouraging people, and if you see my page, see my comments to paintings and thier answers are allways encourage them to follow and also giving some advices about what they are doing,, or please don't leave this page, and just received e-mails from you to tell me to stop my 1 or 2 mistakes, not anyone giving thanks for my work for this site and I'm one of the Pionniers, see my comments and you will find what I'm refering to now we are managed for one of our experienced members
" experts", that you don't say the names, is Shy one of them?, Dawn created many groups and disscusions, and you never gave her a thanks, so what are you doing? destoying your Dad's work? Sorry to be rude but I allways try to say the truth, and now is the time, waiting for your e-mail telling me to erase this comment as allways
Good luck.
Margarita "like allways sorry for my english but you don't speak spanish"

Permalink Reply by Sue O on April 3, 2009 at 8:44am: On the whole most of the improvements are quite reasonable.
But please tell me how are we supposed to post paintings into individual groups????

Permalink Reply by Audrey on April 3, 2009 at 9:28am: I'm so glad I'm not in charge of this site as it is impossible to please all the people all the time.

Members will be allowed to create other groups if there is enough interest, so if someone feels particularly strongly about creating a group, they can sound out other members and then put their case to Admin.

Like Margarita I was a pioneer and was happy to help out to put 'this show on the road'.

We have not paid anything for membership of ID&P and we contribute by encouraging fellow artists with our postive comments and suggestions. My reward has been to receive the same back, to have my own page where I can post my art, my music, my thoughts.

I don't believe Phil or Bob owe me anything - quite the contrary, I owe them so much.