User Friendly Guide to

Plein Air Links (PAL) Website

The following is information and tips on using the PAL

website. It is written for those new to the internet.

Then a guide through each website page follows.

Website links - There are a number of different links that allow you to travel within and outside of the website, and to send an email to the PAL webmaster. Anywhere the text changes color and is underlined when you place your cursor over it, is a link. Also, photos are a link if your cursor changes to a little hand when you pass the cursor over it. Examples follow:

1. -“Email me” - clicking on this link with open your email program and bring up a blank new message addressed to pleinairlinks@mac.com. All you do is complete your message and send.
   

2. -Page menu items on the left column of DaGroup’s and POP’s main pages and the top of other pages, such as, “Paintout Schedule”, “Upcoming Events”, “Blog”; are links to pages within the website. Put your cursor over which page you want to visit and click on it.
   

3. -Weekly Paintout Photo Links are on the main group pages at the bottom of the left hand column. Click on the week’s photos that you want to see.
   

Those are just a few links. Try clicking on all links and see where it takes you ... you can’t go wrong. If you get stuck, click on your browser’s “back” button, or, as last resort, re-enter the site from the start.

Home “Welcome” Page - This page welcomes viewers to the website. It is the entry to the two painting groups, Benicia Plein Air Group, and Peninsula Outdoor Painters. It is also were people new to us can join our group by clicking on the “Enroll me” text at the bottom corners. To enter a group’s pages, click on the group photo or name. This page also has a counter which shows the number of people who have accessed the website since February 28, 2008.

We put the two painting groups together so that they can see what others in the area are doing. Feel free to explore the other group’s web pages. We hope that this broadens our artist community and increases diversity and creativity.

Painting Group’s Main Page - The main (DaGroup or POPs) page shows the links to all the other pages for the group at the top of the lefthand column. At the bottom of that column is the links to the weekly paintout photos. The main body of the page gives general information regarding the groups.

When you click on a photo link it brings you to a web gallery of the weekly paintings. The web gallery allows you to upload your painting’s photo that may not have been captured that day. As an alternative to this upload method, you can click on the “Email me” button at the bottom of the website’s main group page and attach your photo to the email.

Paintout Schedule Page - This page shows the paintout schedule for the selected group. The beginning of the page gives general guidelines for the paintouts. Most weeks there will be a google map showing how to get to the paintout location. The map is “interactive” so click on it, move it around, to get more information.

Upcoming Events Page - This page is an entry to different types of upcoming events. As the “red” text instructs, click on the Event Type that you want to view to get to that specific information.

1. -Receptions/Exhibits Page lists all the local reception and exhibit announcements that have been sent in. It has an “Email me your upcoming events” link so that you can send announcements to be put on the page ... make them pretty because we just “cut” and “paste” (or drag) them onto the page. Note that the menu list at the top includes upcoming event links to paintouts and workshops.
   

2. -Paintout Events Page lists upcoming paintouts organized by other groups. If you know of a fun paintout event, please “Email me” so that others can know about it. (Make them pretty because we just “cut” and “paste” (or drag) them onto the page.)
   

3. -Workshops Page lists workshops conducted by professional local artists. If you will be conducting a workshop or know of an upcoming workshop that you recommend, please “Email me” so that others will know too. (Make them pretty because we just “cut” and “paste” (or drag) them onto the page.)
   

Blog Page - This is a fun communication page. One cannot directly input a blog entry to the website, but they can input comments.

1. -New Blog Entries can be done by “Email me”, that is, sending a message to pleinairlinks@mac.com along with a photo if possible. It will be put up on the blog as soon as possible. Blog entries should include the group name (DaGroup or POPs) and title of the blog entry. Other than that they can be anything about art, or anything that  inspires art, or info about a new found painting spot, or ... you get what I mean. It’s all about sharing our passion for painting and the group.
   

2. -Comments can be added by clicking on the “Read more ... __ Comments” text at the bottom of a blog entry. This brings up the whole blog entry for you to read ... and at the bottom is a “Add a comment” link. Click on that and a little box appears. Type in your comment in the “Comment” box, then in the “Comment as” box put your first name. You do not need to put anything in the “URL” box. Then make sure you input the letters and numbers seen in the blue box in the “Image Verification” box ... this prevents others from sabotaging our fun by using automated repliers. Lastly click the “Add Comment” at the bottom. Your comment will be instantly added. To get back to the other pages, keep clicking “previous” or “next” until the main blog page appears (or re-enter the site). We welcome those who add comments to continue the blog’s conversation.
   

Artist Websites Page - This page gives links to the group’s artist websites. Just point at the website name and click to immediately access the artist’s website. It is so fast and easy to move from website to website. Use your back button, or history tab, or just re-enter the PAL website to get back. Also following the artist website list is a list of “Favorite Websites” and “Favorite YouTube Videos”. These are sites that show interesting gallery, instruction, videos ... and more. If you have an artist website, or favorite websites or YouTube videos regarding art, please “Email me” to get on the list and share.

Online Exhibit Page - This page is meant to be an online exhibit of the group members’ works ... just like one would see at a gallery. Each group member can send in one photo of a recent painting a month to put on the Online exhibit. Just “Email me” the photo, title, location. Anything goes as far a painting subjects ... if you are doing figurative paintings, still lifes, abstract .. and want to share them, and maybe get comments from others ... send them in. As I think of it, if you want to be open to an onslaught of critiques, be sure to indicate “critiques wanted” and I will put that by the Title. Viewers can use the comment feature to provide critiques ... only constructive ones, of course.

1. -Comments can be added by clicking on the photo that you want to comment on. The photo will enlarge and at the bottom is “Add a comment” text link ... click on that and a little box appears. Type in your comment in the “Comment” box, then in the “Comment as” box put your first name. You do not need to put anything in the “URL” box. Then make sure you input the letters and numbers seen in the blue box in the “Image Verification” box ... this prevents others from sabotaging our fun by using automated repliers. Lastly click the “Add Comment” at the bottom. Your comment will be instantly added. To get back to the other pages, click on the “Back to album” link that is on the top right side of the page (just underneath the “Email me” link).
   

That completes this guide for now. The website will be evolving as we gain more experience. It changes everyday. Put the website on your browser’s Bookmarks Bar and check the site at least weekly to see the new paintings, read the blogs, make some comments, and get directions to the next paintout. ... and if you have any ideas for the website ... you know it ... “Email me”   ha! .. or tell us at a paintout.