Director of Artist Relations


Hello!

The purpose of Artist Relations is to strengthen the community spirit as well as network with fellow artists so that we may bring outside opportunities to you, and help you to hone your skills. The Gallery Directors are the first people you should go to regarding your galleries. They are the people you need to make gallery suggestions to, and ask questions about your specific genre, or seek knowledge from. They also act as your lifeline to the administration. They are here to support and listen, and I can tell you we've got incredibly talented, devoted and passionate people on this team, so get to know them!


Due to real life constraints, `delya has left the Artist Relations team. ^y2jenn will continue to monitor the Comics and Cartoons gallery on her own at this time.

^Aeires is back from his hiatus and we're very happy to see him .

I am working on a couple of very cool top secret projects.. but top secret means I can't tell you yet.. but soon!

If your deviation gets relocated because it's in the wrong category, it gets blocked from the original category it was moved from. However, what we are finding is that people are ignoring the move all together and again intentionally miscategorizing their deviations. This may seem like no big deal to you at the time but it's incredibly frustrating for myself and my team to deal with the same people over and over and quite frankly it's hostile. If your deviation is relocated and you don't agree, please contact the help desk and we will be happy to discuss it with you, don't "fight back" as a sign of your supremeness because this really gets us nowhere.

I will be filling the open Gallery director positions shortly, I need you to find some patience there are methods to my extreme madness at times I just want you to know I haven't forgotten!

Changes and additions to Galleries are in the works so look forward to new and shiny things to play with.

It's always nice to find support in the community so I really appreciated this article as did many on staff here I'm sure.

I'm a big fan of the Underrated Artists article.

*toy-camera is really awesome group as well

*DMchat is a great group you should take time to check out if you're into digital media.

IMPORTANT - If you have an complaint about a gallery director, disagree with their daily deviation choices, the way they handle the gallery, or some other thing you feel you can't discuss with them one on one, then I am your next step. Feel free to send a note or email me at moonbeam13@deviantart.com In the case of daily deviations, if you choose to belittle the artwork on the actual deviation page instead of following the procedure of contacting the gallery director or myself, you may find yourself banned as this is a violation of deviantART etiquette policies. Consider that a warning. Thank you.

Miss an edition of the newsletter? Check out my journal

Looking for contests? Find a list of all AR sponsored contests in the module in my journal




The Key System
As you can see at the very bottom there is a Key System. The way this will work is simple. If you have a specific inquiry or suggestion for a specific department, begin your comment with the appropriate Key Code, that way we can search the page and compile them and address them.


Cartoons & Comics

Hi guys! Comics and Cartoons is still moving along. I've been really impressed with the overall creativity in submissions over the past couple of weeks. The notepad I keep for DD suggestions and features continues to be nice and full. I'm also seeing more and more traditional comics/cartoons suggestions everyday but please keep them coming! Digital is taken care of. I always have suggestions for digital. Remember that traditional needs DD love as well! I certainly wouldn't object to a note with more than one suggestion. Oh! On the subject of DDs; if you have a suggestion for an anthro DD and it's a comic and/or cartoony enough to fit within my gallery please poke me about it! I know here's been some frustration over the lack of anthro DDs so for the time being I don't mind helping out in that area.

As you might've noticed, `delya has stepped down from her gallery director position. If you had any plans to get in touch with her about a guest appearance in future Comics and Cartoons articles please let me know! I would love to continue on with that idea.

Other than that not much is going on! Keep those great submissions comin' and keep a smile on your face!

CUSTOMIZATION


Wallpaper

Hi to all in Wallpaper Land. This is a very short entry this time, but an important one non the less.

Over the past two weeks I've been looking into what needs changing, removing and adding to the wallpaper gallery as part of my regular reviews of the gallery.

Right now I am looking at adding an additional four sections to compliment the existing ones and there will be a slight change to the name (and therefore type of submission) of one of the existing categories. Because things are still being processed you have another few days to suggest additions to the gallery! So get those notes and comments sent to me as soon as possible if you have any ideas, otherwise look out for the changes and check out the next newsletter with details of the new categories!

Until next time, take it easy!



z.


DIGITAL ART

Photomanipulation

I would like to use this issue of the newsletter to let you know that I am in for some pretty busy weeks mostly due to my studies (process engineering, if you were wondering). That is also why I have been not as active as I used to be lately. Rest assured, I still do the Manip Tips & Tricks articles as well as features, but I don't have as much time at the moment to do as much browsing as I'd like to. That's where you come in: especially for DDs (but also for other things like suggesting artists for the Manip T&T or to be featured in newsletters) I highly depend on your input at the moment! Lately, I've noticed that while I do get suggestions regularly, there sadly is a huge amount of them that I need to reject based on principle. Therefore, I'll try to explain my criteria for DDs once more:

photomanipulations ONLY
^{If I get suggestions for anything else, I will not touch them no matter how great they are. There's a list of gallery directors and their ressorts on the right side of my journal page to help you find the right adress. Also, if it's been put in the photomanips category but is not a manip, I will not DD it either, just relocate it.}

last DD must be longer than 6 months ago, preferrably no previous DDs awarded
^{Receiving a DD gives the artist a certain exposure. For the sake of fairness and to allow the artist to actually develop their style and techniques (and not get a DD for "the same thing twice"), I have this minimum of 6 months written down. I know you've got no way of checking that at the moment, but I do, and if you know the deviant you're suggesting just had a DD, don't bother suggesting him/her...}

Stock sources have to be listed
^{I will not DD a piece - no matter how wonderful it is - if I cannot be reasonably certain that no copyrighted material has been used! It's not too much to ask to state in the description somewhere that you used your own images, it doesn't diminish the value of your deviation. But it helps me and the community here in making a statement - the statement being that copyrighted material is prohibited and that crediting stockers is not just a courtesy, but in most cases it is a condition under which stockers let you use their pics in the first place.}

Don't suggest yourself!
^{I hope I do not need to explain that particular point, do I?}

Please send me a note with the link to the piece you want to see featured
^{If you would like to include a write-up (like those that appear under the DDs) you're welcome to - if it sounds good, I'll use it. But please don't write an essay on why that deviant deserves a DD - I pick DDs for the artistic merit I see within a piece, not for any other reason like "she's such a sweet person", "he has helped me tons" or whatever else you could think of...}



Also, the deviation needs to show a certain skill level - that doesn't mean it has to contain an awesome amount of details or be perfect or something like that. It does mean however, that things should actually be blended together; if textures are used, they should serve the deviation, not overshadow its content; there should be some form of composition to the piece; etc... Additionally, if I feel that the piece was put together hastily or if the person has something in the artist's comment that indicates he feels he didn't do his best or plainly states he doesn't like it, chances are I won't DD it either. Receiving a DD is something that is more than one day of glory, it goes beyond that, for the artist receiving it at least. I've talked to enough people after they've gotten a DD to know that while for me it may be the "daily routine", for the artist it is not. And therefore, the piece should be memorable, not only to me or you, but to the artist. Giving a DD on a piece I find grand but the artist himself hates will serve no one.


Vector Art

Miscategorised artwork and moved deviations
Regrettably we're still having lots of trouble with miscats, despite the recently-updated gallery description spelling out the details on what's not kosher. In fact I spend most of my time browsing the gallery, when looking for nice work to feature, actually spotting and relocating pieces that clearly don't belong.

Please, if you want to put something in Vector Art (ditto with any gallery really) and you think it might be a little outside the boundaries, what you should not do is submit, just to sort of, you know, like, test the waters. Read the gallery's description through first, so you're making an informed decision. If, after reading it, you're still a little unsure about what's okay and what's not then contact the Gallery Director and ask for clarification, that's one of the things we're here for

Better to be sure before you submit, rather than risk getting upset - yeah, it happens! - when something is relocated for being in the wrong gallery. Relocated artwork is moved to Scraps, just to hold it temporarily until you've decided on a better place for it; and don't worry, deviations retain all favs and comments.

Mixed Bags
This month marks the one-year anniversary of my monthly selection of interesting pieces from the gallery to help highlight some of the best that Vector Art has to offer. If you missed any of them at the time they're still there for you to peruse:

February
March
April
May
June
July - vehicles
August - animals
September - people
October
November
December
January
February

And don't forget to +

Thanks again to the many fans of vector art here on dA who have helped bring some of these artists and their work to my attention, you've been a great help


Flash

Hello to all the Flashers out there.

I know it's a bit late but I believe this is the first Flash entry to the AR Newletter of 2007 and what a great year this is going to be - especially the next couple of months. Not only is the Flash Gallery reshuffle going to take place (once in first priority) but there's going to be an official competition coming up very soon and some interesting intervews. Not to mention that every monday I'll be posting my "Weekend Woundup" in my journal featuring some of the many Flash deviations submitted on the weekend just gone.

Speaking of submissions, please bare in mind what categories you're submitting your deviations to.

Over the last week I've seen too many photos being submitted to the Flash Gallery. And remember if the user has no control of your deviation then it is not Interactive and most likely belongs in the Animations category.

In the next AR Newsletter more information will be revealed about the competition shortly followed by it's own article.

Any questions feel free to note me. Until next time


Manga/Anime

Hello everyone! This time we have two important things for you to :announce:

The first Manga/Anime Mini Contest has started! From now we will run a new mini contest every two weeks. You can win a three month subscription or a print, so don't wait and read about the rules and the current contest's theme HERE! It will last to the 14th, but we'll start another contest on the 15th. Isn't that great?

Also, the next issue of our Manga/Anime Monthly Newsletter has been posted. Give it some love and read it by clicking here. Wow, it's the fourth issue! Time's sure going fast...

We hope that you'll enjoy the contest. And remember, we're always ready for Daily Deviations suggestions, so if you see a piece worth more attention, don't hesitate and suggest it!

See you in the next AR Newsletter!

Photography

In the next month or so, deviantART will be undergoing an overhaul of categories to simplify the process of submitting and finding art. We'll be making some changes to the photography categories to meet this goal.

The main change will be that we'll be more strictly adhering to our policy of subject-based categories. That means we'll be eliminating several technique-based categories and moving those photos to other categories.

In particular, these are the changes that we're planning:

All deviations from Animals Plants Nature > Macro > Animals will be relocated to Animals Plants Nature > Miscellaneous

All deviations from Animals Plants Nature > Macro > Nature will be relocated to Animals Plants Nature > Miscellaneous

Obviously, it's not ideal to have your photos in the Miscellaneous categories. If you have photos in one of the affected categories, please take some time to evaluate where it should go. If you have a macro photo of a flower, for instance, please move it to the Flowers and Plants category.

All deviations from Photography > Darkroom will be moved to Photography > Miscellaneous

We've been planning this move for quite some time. The Darkroom category has caused confusion for years and it's time to end it. From now on, if your photo does not significantly look manipulated, it should go in the appropriate subject-based category. If you've removed a blemish or a distraction from a portrait, for example, it should go in a portrait category. If you've added textures, layers, superimposed other images, changed the background, etc., that piece should be moved into one of the Photomanipulation categories.

Sticking to our plans to have subject-based categories is currently the best way to organize our photography gallery.

Also, we plan to eliminate certain redundant categories. These are the planned changes:

All deviations from Animals Plants Nature >Mammals will be relocated to Animals Plants Nature > Miscellaneous

All deviations from Animals Plants Nature > Dogs &Cats will be moved to Animals Plants Nature > Domesticated Animals

Please go through your gallery to make sure your photos are categorized properly, so this change can go as painlessly as possible. Thanks!



Fetish Photography

I've been noticing an influx in beautiful additions to our photographic galleries - from the models themselves! It's great to see so many well established fetish and pinup models joining our community and setting up house here. This is exciting in so far as they represent many different international photographers who may not otherwise have their work showcased on DA. And some models and photographers meet right here on DA, so it surely is happy families around these parts!

Please do not leave negative comments on the models pages simply because they did not click the shutter on the camera. Fetish and glamour photography is a two way street, and models are more than welcome to set up accounts here to showcase their hard work. The models have full permission from the photographers to use the images in their own portfolios (including DeviantArt), so please respect them and give them feedback!

On another more serious note, I was extremely angry to discover that an image I featured as a DD turned into a forum for the debate over womens size and weight. I think women of all shapes sizes are beautiful. Why should an image of a curvy woman create such a stir? Making sweeping, derogatory generalizations about models on the artists own work is not the place to do it. Please refrain from this kind of immature behavior, remember that these models are humans too and they read each and every comment. Thank you.

Some sexy examples of our top notch, jet-setting models:










Photojournalism

Not much to say right now, cleaning out the gallery and working on bringing you a really sweet photojournalism contest, so look for that in the coming weeks. One thing that I do need to announce is the start of a new monthly news article that will showcase the very best of the Photojournalism gallery and other fantastic work done in a photojournalism style, so please go show some love for .


RESOURCES

Resources

Things have been a bit quiet on the Resources front, but I'm happy to say things are going to start getting busy again. ^bleedsopretty and I have some ideas for contests, more details as they start fleshing out (was that a hint? ).

We're also gearing up to start publishing a regular resource feature, and you guys can take a part in it by
sending in links to resources on deviantART you have found useful - bonus points if you can include deviations that have made use of it too. We're going to have a contest for the logo design, but again, more details on that when we have them.

The new submission process
We've been happy to see that for the most part people are finding the new submission process easy to use. One tip we'd have to give though, is that if you're uploading an image please make the full-view size the original size of the image. Many of you are leaving it at the default width of 600 pixels, which could cause confusion for people who usually full-view an image and then right click to download.

The new submission process also gives artists the ability to choose a Creative Commons license. For those new to Creative Commons, $realitysquared gave a quick outline in this news item. This is especially useful for resource providers, so look into it if you haven't already.

Search, search search!
With so many deviations in the resource gallery it can be hard to find something specific if you just page through the recent deviations - so use the search tool! While the search tool might seem basic at first, it's actually quite powerful and allows you to restrict your search down to specific categories.

For instance, if you're a Photoshop user looking for blood brushes you could type 'blood in:resources/applications/psbrushes)'.

To find out what you'd have to type for other categories: browse to the gallery you want to search in and then check the address - the bit you want is in bold http://browse.deviantart.com/resources/tutorials/digiart/photomanipulation/

For more info on using deviantART's search see FAQ #577: How do I use the main Search?

Firefox users might also want to install deviantEXPERIENCE:CrystalBall by =dancewiththesky, an extension that makes it much easier to perform advanced searches (no need to remember the category structures!).


Stock Art

We are Devo

In 1978 we were watching Saturday Night Live

When they played this small video clip

It was done very cheap -

We were introduced to ‘Boy’ – this small child in a plastic sweat suit and
a mask

Who was reporting to the General (dressed ... well ... dressed like a
General)

“Devo” he asked

We are Devo he answered -

Next thing we knew is this band came up playing a weird song called Jocko
Homo

It was the new beginnings of New Wave... something so totally different
than had ever been before.

It freaked us out and the next thing we knew we were coloring out hair
blue and life just seemed fun again

(Most of the music before now known as classic rock)

A lot you were babies ( does the respect sign )

Jump to the future

dA is going to become Devo

Rad changes in the wind. Something totally new


Our CEO ( Chief of Operations ) $spyed

He works way too hard

I know for a fact he is on overtime

We all are . Charged and lookin to the future .. We have rocket boots

deviantART is going to make history... and you all –

(Yes You .. * points his finger at you...) are the ones pushing it there

When it happens it will be because of the leadership of deviantART and you



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To direct your comments towards the right gallery director, optionally prefix your comments with the following acronyms:

PREFIX LEGEND

AR: for Artist Relations
PH: for Photography
AN: for Photography > Artistic Nudes
FP: for Photography > Fetish
SP: for Stock Photos
DA: for Digital Art
3D: for Digital Art -> 3 Dimensional Art
AA: for Digital Art > Anthro
DF: for Digital Art > Digital Fantasy
PM: for Digital Art -> Photomanipulation
PA: for Digital Art > Pixel Art
ANI: for Anime
AC: for Artisan Crafts
COM: for Comics and Cartooons
CON: for Contests
DI: for Designs & Interfaces
FL: for Flash
ICN: for Icons
POE: for Poetry
PRS: for Prose
ST: for Skins & Themes
TA: for Traditional Art
VP: for Visualization Presets
WP: for Wallpaper
RES: for Resources
FR: for Fractal Art