@desertpenguin Shouts: 15,301

1) Why do you make art?

I never used to make art. The common cliche of "I've been holding a pencil since I was 5!" does not apply to me. I started drawing when my Dad was diagnosed with cancer, and eventually passed away from it. It is my emotional and creative outlet and that is why I create art. Not to mention, I enjoy it.

2) What piece in your gallery do you feel is most underrated? <

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I would say this one. Even though it is very minimalistic, I find it very striking and powerful, and it has much meaning to me.

3) How did you find deviantART?

I was browsing Elfwood one day, and I found the link for deviantart on an Elfwood artists biography

4) Who is one of your biggest influences, and why?

My father. He taught me to be patient and persistant, and supported my art even when I thought it was the worst creation on the earth.

5) Any words of wisdom for your fellow deviants?

Behave in the Shoutbox. Comment constructively. Use toilet paper. Respect the lawn gnomes. Don't be afraid of Lolly!





@newklear Shouts: 56,246

1) Why do you make art?

These days, I don't create all that much, but when I do, it's mainly to express the feelings and emotions I'm going through at that point in time, the ideas I've got inside my head, and comment on the way my emotional track is running at that point in time. More recently, it's been focused on love and the effects it has on the human artistic expression, using alot of bright colours, and alot of really brushy kind of digital paintings.

2) What piece in your gallery do you feel is most underrated?

I don't particularly feel any work is underrated in my gallery, if anything it's more to the opposite end of the scale. When I compare my gallery to that of the rest of the deviants here, I can certaintly say there is alot better work out there that deserves attention over mine.

3) How did you find deviantART?

A friend of mine actually put me onto it back when I was a "poet" back in the days of '03. Said I should join, so on the 18th of Jan 2003, I joined. And, the rest is history more or less.

4) Who is one of your biggest influences, and why?

Biggest influences would be every person I come into contact with, every peice of art I see, everything I listen to, but, most of all, of recent times my loving girlfriend, *meevilmonkey has lead me on an artistic journey I never thought I would take. Others who have really left a marked impression on my style and tickled my senses include `devart-critic, `alchemism, `snowmask, `adam1975 (Hey Dad! ), ~ruseone/*jerryhazard, and many more. Too many to list. Basically if I know you, I talk to you or watch you, you've made some kinda influence on me

5) Any words of wisdom for your fellow deviants?

Stay true to yourself and who you are, and you will get places. The one thing I hear all the time is the question, "How do I get pageviews/comments?". Countless times. My answer? Just be active, be supportive, and offer the very best criticisms you possibly can, even if it's saying you don't much care for a work. Just do it in a way that is constructive. Oh, and spread the love

Much love to my peoples, they know who they are





@kyza Shouts: 20,461

1) Why do you make art?

I make art to make myself happy and the other deviants around me, making someone smile is always a nice boost to the day. It's also a great way to pass the time and develope my skills, most of my new work is all digital but I still do pencil sketches when I find inspiration.

2) What piece in your gallery do you feel is most underrated?

A photograph I took around the time I bought my very first SLR camer titled Relax.
It's a very warm and beautiful photo and one of the best I've taken so far, I'd like more people to view this because I feel they are missing out.

3) How did you find deviantART?

I found deviantart through a friend back in 2001 when I was still in high school, it didn't interest me at first but I ended up joining early 2002 and can't get enough, my friend on the other hand hasnt been so fortunate.

4) Who is one of your biggest influences, and why?

Hmm well I don't really have anyone, but *nyssi has made my time here great, she has helped me progress in a lot of areas of my art and also helped me grow as a person/deviant.

5) Any words of wisdom for your fellow deviants?

Be patient with deviantART and your fellow deviants, sometimes the place can get a bit hairy but that doesn't mean you can go around abusing everything and everyone. Be calm and go check out the forums.
And remember deviantART isn't about statistics, it's about ART.





*dreamheaven Shouts: 29,219

1) Why do you make art?

Couple of reason's I guess, I've been "writing" as such since I was in primary school, short stories were my thing back then, the wonderful primary school gazette we used to get at the end of each term always had something of mine in there, whether it was fiction or reporting about an event from around the school. I moved to poetry about 10 years ago after learning, and loving, alot of Shakespeare's work. His sonnets were just beautiful to my ears, and a pleasure to act out.
My other reason is that it's a simple pleasure in my life that helps me relax and get whatever is going on in my head out

2) What piece in your gallery do you feel is most underrated?

Oh man, that's a hard one I think there's a tie, The Journey Faced and Pedestal
Journey is something written for a friend back in school, simple, straightforward and not too sappy for a not so happy topic, and pedestal, my entry for *da-agon's contest and also one of my personal faves

3) How did you find deviantART?

My wonderful buddy from a chatroom far far away, *nightowl brought me here to see his manip's one night, and as well as seeing his work, I noticed there was a lot of poetry here too, so I joined up and stayed, that was almost two years ago now

4) Who is one of your biggest influences, and why?

Writers: I really look up to `rebelchic and *akashka. Both their styles are amazingly fresh to me, coralie from the heart, and I have fun translating her french ones Heather for the most amazing imagery one can think of in 3 stanza poetry
My own writing: Nature usually, I go to a place here in Queensland called the Glasshouse Mountains, and sit up at a lookout and watch the world pass me by, fresh air and a beautiful backdrop make it easy for me to write. The lovey stuff, is inspired by memories, and present friends.

5) Any words of wisdom for your fellow deviants?

Oh where to start.... comment constructively is something that everyone should try to do, even if you just include one thing you think could be different, or another thing that looks fantastic.
Go to devmeets if you can! *nyssi and @kyza organise ours here in Brisbane, and I love them both for the effort they put in, as well as my fellow brisvegas kiddies for comin to them
Oh and lastly, try and comment on a new person's work every week, its amazing some of the talent that hasn't been "discovered" here yet.





*flameturret Shouts: 11,430

1) Why do you make art?

Making art makes me feel at ease with myself. It also gives people an inside in what I am feeling at the time. Art to me is a personal thing, I like to take my time on each piece of work.

2) What piece in your gallery do you feel is most underrated?

A hard question, my work is very different in terms of what they really are, Icons, Wallpapers, Designs, Skins.
I made an Icon Deviation: Circle Theme Icons which i worked on for some time long ago which i thought was fairly good, but really i dont feel it was underrated at all. I am happy with all my work.

3) How did you find deviantART?

I actually found deviantART through high school back in February of 2002. One of my friends told me about it, however i was unable to join because of the school firewall. so i had to wait till I got my home internet connection again.
I finally joined deviantART on the 8th of July 2002.

4) Who is one of your biggest influences, and why?

When I first joined deviantART *jokla was a huge influence on my when I began making Windows XP logon Screens.
Recently though I have turned towards 3D now people like +randomcasualty, `hameed to name a few give me inspiration of what sort of work I am looking forward to do

5) Any words of wisdom for your fellow deviants?

For new people to deviantART I give you these words "never give up"..

---*flameturret---




This concludes the 12th edition, thanks to all the deviants who participated, and thank you dA for the support!