For years, many of my sketches lived inside notebooks, folders, and drawers. I enjoyed creating them, but once a drawing was finished, it often disappeared from sight. Unlike traditional paintings, I didn't have enough wall space at home to display every piece.
That simple problem sparked an idea: what if I could create a virtual gallery where people could walk through my artwork as if they were visiting a real exhibition?
That's how ArtDay started.
I wanted more than a portfolio page filled with static images. The experience needed to feel immersive. Visitors should be able to move through a gallery, approach artworks, and explore the collection at their own pace..
The objective was to recreate the feeling of walking through a modern art exhibition directly from a web browser.
ArtDay was built using React, Three.js, and React Three Fiber to create a real-time 3D environment.
The gallery includes:
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One of the biggest challenges was performance.
Large artwork images looked great, but they increased loading times significantly. Several optimization passes were required to improve startup speed while preserving image quality.
Another challenge was mobile usability. Desktop visitors could navigate with a keyboard and mouse, but mobile users needed a completely different experience based on touch interactions and artwork-focused navigation.
During development I experimented with AI-assisted coding tools, including Codex.
AI helped accelerate implementation and testing, but the project still required traditional problem solving, debugging, architecture decisions, and many rounds of refinement. In many ways, it felt less like replacing development and more like collaborating with an additional teammate.
ArtDay is still evolving.
Future ideas include artwork descriptions, artist notes, improved mobile navigation, multiple gallery rooms, and support for larger collections.
What started as a way to save sketches from being forgotten in a notebook became an experiment in creating a more immersive way to experience art online.
While ArtDay started as a personal project, the idea can be applied to photographers, painters, illustrators, sculptors, and creative professionals looking for a more immersive alternative to a traditional portfolio website.
Artists in Massachusetts and the Greater Boston area often rely on social media or static galleries to showcase their work. A virtual exhibition allows visitors to explore collections in a more engaging way while remaining accessible from any device.
At EngardIT, I build custom websites, interactive experiences, and digital portfolios for artists, creatives, and small businesses throughout Massachusetts.
Whether you're an illustrator, photographer, or independent artist, a virtual gallery can help your work stand out online.
