Over the last few days, I have seen MANY deviants post articles about how disappointed they are about the new design v5. I've also seen a lot of deviants post comments and articles thinking they are god's gift to art. I'm here to set the record straight and tell you to STFU and read up!

I've been here from basically the begining, I missed the release of dA by only a few months. I've been here, watching, looking, searching, learning for 6 years now. I've learned a LOT from other deviants here and their artwork. I've learned a LOT about my own abilities through others comments and critiques.

I want to address a few things that people should know before they flame the site that has changed internet art forever.

First off, let's adddress the new design. Ever since dA was launched, it's been plagued by server load issues and balancing. Jark, the original creator of dA said once and I quote "The reason why dA has a simple design is simply load times". Version after version they have pushed the envelope on features while still maintaining a minimalist design so that the artwork featured here can get to your desktop fast and effortless.

For those of you disappointed with v5, you should have seen v1, or even v2! v5 is 1000% better than v1 ever was and I for one am PROUD to call myself a deviant. I think the staff has done one HELL of a job making this site awesome once again.

Now I want to talk about content on dA. Mainly I will focus on the difference age categories found here. I'm not discriminating, just trying to help our new members and even fix habits of the older members.

For members that have joined in the last 2 months. One thing is for certain, this is a community. I wish you would take the time to learn the community before posting images. This is for YOUR sake because I want to see the newer members advance their art form without prejudice.

Deviants ages 13-16. Please, do not post notebook drawings or any art that is not considered "finished". There is a section for that, called "SCRAPS". Drawings are ok, but they should NOT have notebook sprials on the side of the image or anything "unprofessional". This is for your own sake. People will not favorite a notebook drawing. And if they do, they shouldn't! It's time to step up the quality and drawings that are half-finished, notebook drawn, have no business being a deviation, but rather a scrap.

Deviants ages 16-18. Post your artwork in a professional manner. Stop with the sexual drawings of half-breed anime bunnies jerking off some other anime guy. Anime is an awesome artform and I am truely a fan of some, but Hentai is Hentai, Manga is Manga, you can not mix the two! Deviants in this age group need to focus on professionalism and present their artwork in a way that showcases that THIS is the best you have done (so far).

Deviants ages 18-23. This is the time to perfect your work, focusing on form, perspectives, and proportions while still delivering your artwork in a professional manner. By this time, if you have done it right, you should have no problem selling prints, or landing a job doing art and design that you love. This is the major growth period for the artists (it was for me, just look at my gallery!)

So, I plead with the community to stop this popularity contest. DA IS NOT "HOT OR NOT" and should NOT be treated as such. For those of you obsessed with stats, get over it. I for one have been here for 6 years, with less than 4k page views and honestly, I couldn't care less. I know that people who see my work, love my work, as I love my work and that is enough for me. For those of you posting garbage notebook drawings and unfinished work, go back to the drawing board and finish before posting it as a deviation! That's what SCRAPS are for! What defines a finished drawing? The paper around the drawing must remain clean, free from other elements like notebook spirals or those little "frills" you get when you tear a page out from a binder or notebook. Finished drawings should be on finish paper (Strathmore paper is my personal favorite). What defines a finished deviation? When your artwork is appealing to you, contains coloring (if not a drawing) and shading and a background.

I just wish people would take the time to learn about the other veteran artists here. Know that they have earned what they have because they DIDN'T post unfinished work. They spent the time to polish their work and THAT's why they have 100,000+ page views. They didn't "whore" themselves out for page views, but rather earned them with their artwork. As I have earned every one of my 3,500 some page views with my art, not because of "I'll comment on your art if you post my page view number". That is just sad.

So, I plead with the community to shut your trap, grab your pen/pencil/wacom and get to it. For the only expression understood on DA is ART!