How DeviantArt Has Improved My Art

DeviantArt Indian and Old Maple Tree
Indian (2010) is my most commented deviation and Old Maple Tree (2010) the most viewed one.
Suomeksi alla. 

I'm planning to write a post comparing the art online communities / print-on-demand sites I use, but first I'm dedicating one post just for DeviantArt, which is the first online art community I joined. I've also had the highest traffic on my DA page and it's where I have the biggest gallery. Before joining DA (and one Finnish art online community) about 6 years ago, I had never showcased my art online or showed it to many people in real life either. So, here's how I think DA benefited my art:


 1. I used to be nervous about showing my artwork and didn't necessarily show it to anyone. Setting up an online gallery gave me courage not to hide my artwork in real life either.  

2. It's helped me learn to take criticism. At least, I'd like to think I'm better at that now... (But honestly, I don't think you'll get much critique on DA nowadays, unless you specifically ask for it.)

3. I've gotten tips on how to improve my art. This might be through comments on my own artwork or seeing art made by others or reading tips from clubs on DA.

4. Sharing my art online and getting feedback also gave me more motivation to learn new techniques.

5. It keeps my art organized. If I need to find out which year I made a certain painting or drawing, I usually check my DA gallery to find the information. 

6. It allows me to reflect. The physical paintings and drawings are scattered around. Some I've given away (or sold), some are on the walls and some are packed away in holders and folders. But when I look at my online art gallery, I can see all of my artwork in chronological order at a glance (well, a few glances because there are several pages of them).

7. And all this finally also led to offering my art up for sale, but I'll concentrate on that part in another post. You can sell prints of your art on DeviantArt as well, but that was never my intention when I made my account. This post was just to perhaps nudge you into sharing your art or creations online, if you don't already do that.

Do you use DeviantArt?


DeviantArt Bollywood and Safe
Bollywood (2009) and Safe (2012).
Aion vertailla käyttämiäni taidesivustoja / print on demand -sivustoja samassa postauksessa, mutta kirjoitan ensin pelkästään DeviantArt:ista, joka oli ensimmäinen taidesivusto johon liityin. Liityin DA:han (ja Harhakuvaan, jota en enää käytä) noin kuusi vuotta sitten. Sitä ennen en ollut julkaissut maalauksiani tai piirroksiani netissä, enkä esitellyt niitä muutenkaan. Tässä DA:n käyttämisen hyötyjä:  

1. Nuorempana en usein näyttänyt piirroksiani kenellekään (no, ei niistä vanhoista muotokuvista moni ole näkemisen arvoinenkaan). Nettigallerian perustamisen myötä tämä muuttui, enkä enää piilottele maalauksiani.

2. Olen oppinut ottamaan vastaan kritiikkiä. Ainakin toivon, että olen... (Tosin DA:ssa ei taida nykyisin saada kritiikkiä, ellei sitä erityisesti pyydä.)

3. Olen saanut paljon vinkkejä oman tekniikan parantamiseen joko kommenttien muodossa tai katsomalla muiden töitä tai DA:n kerhoista.
 
4. Omien töiden näyttäminen ja palautteen saaminen on motivoinut uusien menetelmien oppimiseen.

5. Teokset pysyvät kronologisessa järjestyksessä. Jos tarvitsen tietoa jonkin maalauksen tai piirustuksen valmistumisvuodesta, tarkistan sen yleensä DA:n galleriastani.

6. Voin nähdä edistymiseni. Fyysiset maalaukset ja piirustukset ovat leviteltynä ympäriinsä. Osa on annettua lahjoiksi (tai myyty), osa on seinillä ja osa varastoituna kansioissa ja koteloissa. Nettigalleriassa kaikki teokset sen sijaan näkee yhdellä vilkaisulla (tai muutamalla, koska niitä on kuitenkin useampi sivu).

7. Tämä on myös johtanut teosten myyntiin tarjoamiseen printtimuodossa, mutta kirjoitan siitä myöhemmin. DA:ssakin voi myydä printtejä, mutta se ei käynyt mielessä, kun tein käyttäjätilin sinne. Tämän postauksen tarkoitus oli vain ehkä saada sinut jakamaan taideteoksiasi tai muita luomuksiasi netissä, jos et jo tee niin.



Käytätkö sinä DeviantArt:ia?

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