What's this? TWO issues of Stockilicious this week? Get used to it! For the next month Stockilicious will be posting twice a week to pump out MORE tips and tutorials, promote MORE fantastic stock and give some MORE love to the awesome stockers we have here on deviantART!

Welcome to the sixth issue of Stockilicious

Index
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1 - StockArt Explained!
2 - Thumbnail Feature and Stock Tips - Portrait Stock
--- Tutorials included
3 - Stock Clubs
4 - Stock Contests
5 - Forum Activity
6 - Stock Challenges
7 - Chatrooms
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STOCKART EXPLAINED!:
Stockart gets a lot of criticism when it gets a Daily Deviation or even generally when it is uploaded because not a lot of people fully understand what stock is. So I'm writing up a quick explanation of what stock is and why is it so valuable to the artists that use it.

Stock is a resource: Stock photos by themselves aren't usually viewed as much more than a resource to people - on par with brushes, textures and other nifty treats for people to use as part of their artwork. What not many people realize is the work involved in creating their stock or the time and money spent so that artists don't have to go to places like iStockPhoto or SXC to buy their resources. When taking stock photos we need to think of how useful it would be to people. They aren't just random snapshots we submit to our galleries to get more pageviews. Even the simplest photo of a toy bear could be used for countless forms of art and in many different situations. The next time you see a stock photo - don't just see it for the photographic quality of the image, see it for the possibilities of what it could become.

dA Stock is FREE: As mentioned, stockers pay out of their own pockets to create their resources - sometimes spending in the thousands of dollars - to give artists something that the stocker generally won't get reimbursed for. Paying for tools to render, costumes/props/makeup, backdrops, better camera equipment, new computer programs to render... the list is endless. Trying to put a price tag on all of that would make your head spin - yet we still submit our work for you to use for free.

We do it for the ART: Ask the stockers why they do what they do and 9/10 will tell you they do it for the art that can be created from it. A lot of stockers have started out as artists that couldn't find the resources they needed (or weren't affordable from other stock websites) so they started making their own then shared them with the community. Stockers do stock for the art that can be created but also as an artform in itself. Thinking of characters, poses, expressions, settings, and the like doesn't just come at the snap of the fingers. These things need to be thought out just like a painter's painting or a manipulators manipulation. There is always an artistic idea in mind when making stock.


FEATURES AND TIPS:
You may browse the Stock Portraits gallery and cringe at some of the Myspacey quality you can find there - but for the most part we DO know what we're doing and what the artists want.
Quality portrait stock can be hard to find but when you find it you will be rewarded beyond belief.

Below are some examples of the great quality you can find in the portraits section (if you just look a little closer).



Tips for taking Portrait Stock:
Don't hold the camera. Put it on a tripod (or a stack of books if you need to) and use your camera's timer. Your arm will be visible in the shot (ala Myspace/Bebo/etc) and your neck/facial position will come across as strained if you try and hold the camera at arm's length.
Don't just change your facial angle slightly and not change your expressions or hair/makeup. Jazz it up a bit. If you have two photos side by side and, at first glance, you wouldn't really be able to tell the difference between them then chances are you can scrap one of them.
Use different hairstyles, make-up, props, costumes... don't just leave that to the full-body stock! There is still enough of you visible to make it interesting and new.
Express yourself! We have plenty of blank faces in the portrait gallery (sure, we could use a few more quality ones) but we don't have anywhere NEAR enough expressions! Its easy enough to draw or paint a blank face without too much reference but drawing someone screaming their lungs out or being genuinely shocked or awed at something requires a little more creative effort. So make it easy for the artists and give them some more variety to work with.
Above all else - try and find an artistic side to your portraits. You can have a blank face, a distant stare or be full of emotion - but stock is art too. So try and post stock that will be useful to artists.

Stock Tutorials:
If you want some more help with your portrait stock - check out the tutorials below to get a few more tips and tricks on things varying from makeup and hair to your camera setup.



GOING CLUBBING:

Stock Clubs! Where stockers can go to submit their work to gain a bit of publicity and to interact with other stockers in contests and themes!

- An awesome idea for stockers and artists to work together! Every week an image is submitted to the club gallery and artists are encouraged to be inspired by it - any form of art is accepted! And there is NO LIMIT to how many times you can use the image

- Want some ready-made cut-out stock for your art that you don't have to fiddle with the magic wand or quick mask tools? You're in luck! Cut-out Stock is JUST what you're looking for - taking all that fiddly work out of using stock.


STOCKER CONTESTS:

Its not just about the prizes! Stockers get to see all the lovely artwork made with their stock and a set theme in mind. If you have a stock contest you want promoted, drop me a note with the details

is hosting a Day-Dreaming Robot Contest
Details: [link]
Deadline: 12 July, 2007

is hosting a Born In a Flower Contest
Details: [link]
Deadline: 24 May, 2007


FOCUS ON THE FORUMS!:

The StockArt forums are located here: [link]

A place for stockers to promote their contests, artists to request specific stock, ask for help finding stock, discuss stockart in general and much more! We go a little silly sometimes but don't let that scare you off! Just remember what we're about - STOCK!!

Having a hard time crying: touches on a topic most stockers are aware of.
Strange requests that never get used. Have you had requests for photos of JUST your feet? Curtseying? Crying? Looking dead? Chances are you've been asked by a 'Collector'. Check out this thread by ~StickyStocks for more info.

Why Do YOU do Stock?: Its a pretty simple question, and one that stockers have a pretty general answer to. If you want to know why we do what we do click on this thread and get inside the heads of the people whose resources you use


STOCK CHALLENGES:
We've got a lot of awesome stock in the StockArt gallery but if you are itching to try something new - why not join in on the Monthly Stock Challenges I'm hosting at =demonicintuition

The current challenge for April is: PERSPECTIVE

You might remember my first Stockilicious News Article that showed the various perspectives you can use while doing stock. So here's your opportunity to try something new! All the details can be found here: [link]

All you need to do is submit some stock with a different perspective during the Month of April and note me with a link! How simple!? All perspective stock will be featured in my journal and, at the beginning of the next month, will be featured in the Features Newsletter.


CHAT WITH US:

Don't forget that stockers chat too! A few haunts the stockers visit are below:
#StockTalk | #FishnetStockers | #TheHarem
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PREVIOUS ISSUES:
Vol 1: Perspectives (MC) | Vol 2: Lighting (MC) | Vol 3: Characters (MC) | Vol 4: Fight Stock | Vol 5: Requests

Alright kiddies, school is out! Don't forget your homework

Back Thursday!
-Demonic