Artcyclopedia

The web has become a place for the talented to display their wares.

For example, many garage bands make their recordings available via mp3's or streaming audio. And many of these garage bands end up moving up to payed performers as a result.

Likewise writers, cartoonists, and artists.

Today's FamilyFirst site concentrates on the last category. The site is called Artcyclopedia. Here's their mission:

We have compiled a comprehensive index of every artist represented at hundreds of museum sites, image archives, and other online resources. We have started out by covering the biggest and best sites around, and have links for most well-known artists to keep you surfing for hours. Update January/2006: We have now indexed over 2,100 art sites, and offer over 75,000 links to an estimated 180,000 artworks by 8,200 renowned artists.

They only cover artists whose works can be viewed online. The result for the art aficionado is that he/she can quickly find the work of the artist they seek.

The easiest way to search is by artist name. Doing a search for my favorite, van Gogh, revealed several museums online featuring his work. I went to the J. Paul Getty Museum ands was able to view four of his works (that the museum actually has in their possession).

However, you can also browse by genre. Clicking on my favorite movement, art deco, listed several artists. Clicking on Erte sent me to a page listing museums featuring his work, as well as links to poster stores selling prints.

So if you're looking for online works of art, today's FamilyFirst site is for you!

http://www.artcyclopedia.com

Digg It! It's Del.icio.us! Furl It!