Deviantart.com is a great web-site which lets artists from all over the world to submit their art (not necessarily paintings and photos - crafts and even literature also goes!)
Advantages:
+ very popular - when you submit a picture - it will automatically appear on the front page (among the Newest) - and will instantly be seen by all the visitors
+ no moderation - no grumpy administrator will tell you your art is too ugly to be received (unlike all those Stocks that will give you lots of rules and boundaries and then decide that your art isn't original enough)
+ you can sell your works (for example, have your painting printed as a puzzle, magnet, coaster)
Disadvantages:
- very popular and with no moderation: thousands submit their art all the time, and if you submit a brilliant picture it has a good chance to get lost in the flow!
What should you do?
*Join communities that "get" you
*Promote yourself via social-networks
*PRACTICE AND RAISE YOUR SKILLS!
*If you want - you can try to see what the audience likes and try to please them (but it's better to not give up and continue being yourself)
There is also a premium accaunt, but so far I am content with the free one :)
Also! This web-site is great because it is very beginner-friendly. I haven't met much trolls there, and many of my pictures were added to somebody's Favorites (which is great if you have a low self-esteem).
But I must warn you: if a web-site says you can sell your art - it doesn't mean you WILL sell your art!
It may take weeks or months before you get noticed, and you need to really work on your skills and marketing (proposing what people will love). I will say right away - I never try to please the customers - it's more important and hard (!) to express the real you.
So you're welcome to see my Gallery - it's not much, because I don't submit everything I draw.
