PaintMap.com - Exploring the World Through Art

With Paintmap, you can get to know the world through paintings. Think Panoramio, except instead of panoramas, there are paintings. Basically, PaintMap has geolocated works of art throughout the world, allowing users to globetrot via famous and not so famous pieces of art. Paintings are generally real world objects rendered in oil and water colors. Users visiting the site are able to learn more about the artistic activities in an area represented by a painting, and they get a more creative view on geography. Users can search by typing in a place name or location; alternatively they can click on the map or browse through highlighted entries on the homepage. Each painting is open to comment and description. Under each painting blurb you’ll also be able to see if the painting is for sale or not, and who created it using what medium. If you’re an artist, uploading your own painting is free.

“Paintmap is a geolocation-oriented painting sharing website with the following goals: on one hand, it allows painters all around the World to locate physically the subject painted by others and learn about the artistic activity at a given area. On the other hand, Paintmap allows Google Earth users to complement the physical and photographic knowledge of a given area with the artistic descriptions provided by users. Last but not least, Paintmap will contribute to the capture of our nature and human heritage through the artistic work of users as a record for future generations.”

PaintMap gives users a unique perspective on the world. It’s a clever mashup, offering a creative POV on geography and the world as a whole. The interface is simple and clean. Has potential.

Does PaintMap offer a means of onsite communication—messaging for instance—which would allow painters to get in touch with potential buyers? How is this site going to be monetized?