Help me design my forum!

[QueenTiye]

OK - first here's the site: http://www.windonwater.net.

At present - it is a floundering generalized forum - floundering because I have very specific vision, and being generalized about it makes everyone confused as to what the site is about...

I'm about to transform the site, get focused and hopefully turn the site into something great.  BUT to do it right - I need help designing this site - help with mods and such.

Here's what I want: I want a monetized site (AdSense and Revenue Sharing) that features art from contributors on the front pages of my TinyPortal, and I want forum discussions but I think I need fewer forums, and I want it to be really easy for users to contribute art.

For the front page - art cannot be thumbnailed - it needs to be full sized or sufficiently full sized as to take up the width of the center column if it needs to, before forcing a click to view.

Or - I think that's how it should go.

BTW - the front page art will be comic art - so not always the same size and shape.

What do I need to install on my SMF/TP?  And since I'm so new to this (despite all appearances!) I really need you to tell me what each mod you're recommending actually does, and why I need it...

Thank you in advance!

QT