Director of Artist Relations & Assistant Director of Artist Relations

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. Contact the Gallery Director that best represents your art style and tell them your ideas. Need support for a contest? Advice on your artwork? Tips for how to get involved? Perhaps you have feedback for the administration. Artist Relations is your one stop shop for all of your Artistic needs. Gallery Directors are constantly giving your feedback and suggestions to us in an effort to make deviantART best represent the needs and wants of the community.

News

1. What is going on with Volunteers?

Glad you asked! Since it's inception, the volunteer program has never been revitalized to be more consistent with a growing community and as such, I found it was lacking in support, enjoyment and nurturing for people who give of themselves to enhance the community experience. As such, I set out to change the program to better meet these needs, and as a result, stopped taking new volunteers on until it was in place. I know it has taken a long time, but these things have to be developed and approved and etc and this all takes time but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and as I told the volunteers last night, we're in the homestretch. In my opinion, volunteers are an integral part of what makes this community incredible and it's very important to me to ensure that they have all of the support and appreciation they deserve. I appreciate how patient the community has been and I know how frustrating it has been for everyone involved I humbly request your patience a little longer while we iron out the final details and we'll be at full speed and badder than ever

2. The galleries are a mess!!!! What is going on with Miscats??

I know it's painful to look at, but as explained a while ago, we stopped moving them to gather data and see if we could develop a way to empower the community to deal with some of this mess. This is still being worked on and in the meantime Artist Relations has been asked to not touch anything during this period. It's messy but it's for a good cause It isn't permanent however, the Gallery Directors will be getting their brooms back shortly and heading back in but please stop screaming in their direction, they're simply following a request, if you need to scream you can note me I'll do what i can to explain this more. Trust me I'm not a fan of mess either!! In the meantime, keep reporting the miscats and try to offer as much information as you can as to where the artwork should go.


3. My gallery has no GD, therefore no DD's and this sucks!! What are you doing about it?

I am personally taking daily deviations suggestions for galleries that do not currently have a gallery director. Please remember to link the piece you want to suggest in the note you send me. This is an effort to keep things moving relatively smoothly and get exposure during this time of re-crafting the volunteer program within deviantART. On top of this, I have given DD privileges to various other staff members who will be featuring art as well and I'll let you know who they are when they are comfortable with the tools We want to feature great art and cover as many areas as possible, so send in your suggestions.


4. What is going on with the Doll Gallery??

The evolution of the doll gallery has reached it's prime and ^ShoneGold is releasing the reigns to me to continue it's journey. Over the next few weeks, I will be holding meetings and speaking with the doll community to decide how things need to develop so they can feel supported and welcomed. If you are part of this community, please pay attention to my journals, i will be in touch soon


5. You keep talking about Groups?? What's that about?

We are getting ready to start the groups project and I'm gathering information through journals and polls. If you run a group or are part of a group and want to get your say in, please visit the following and leave your comments and input there:


Journal: Groups
Journal:Groups Part Deux
Poll:Are you in a Club/Group?
Poll: How should group content be included


6. I have an idea for deviantART!! Where do I put it?

I love the deviantART suggestions gallery and I favorite and collect from there, as does $spyed and various other administrators that regularly swarm the gallery. This is the best place to put your ideas and suggestions, especially if you have mockups (which we love btw). You can also post to the Suggestions Forum


7. Why haven't you updated in forever??

The simple answer is that time got away from us Things have been moving quite quickly and with the launch of a new version, lolly retiring, conferences etc. it just didn't come together. However, those are excuses and I apologize for the lack of newsletters. We will be issuing one a month for now and see how that works. Bi-weekly seemed to be a lot I'm not sure people were reading them but I'm sure that will be a poll for another time Regardless we are here and active and ready for action. Project Educate, ^collab-da and many new projects will be coming to fruition shortly, it's all very exciting right now


8. What is going on with Film??

You can certainly read more about what is happening with film at ^deviantartfilm but what I want to add to it is that the team of volunteers with $FallenRox are kicking major butt with that gallery. $FallenRox has been moved over to film primarily because it's incredibly important to me that the film community be grown and that takes a lot of work and time that I personally, don't have. $FallenRox comes from the industry and has abilities I don't to make Film on deviantART as amazing as it should be. So if you're wondering where she is, you can find her buried under requests for invitations, recruiting industry types and just being absolutely invaluable with ^deviantartfilm - but you'll see more of that for yourself


9. What is with the new layout?!

I actually figured it would be easier to read this way, and these are questions I've been asked since our last update. I have a personal forum I have set up here that allows you to post any questions, comments or concerns you have and if it's a popular one that needs to be addressed widely it may end up in the next newsletter. Let me know what you think of this format by posting a comment on this newsletter

Artist Relations Sponsored Contests

Guilty Pleasures - The 8th Deadly Sin - Deadline September 7, 2008
8 Legged Freaks - Deadline September 8, 2008
The Glamorous Life of Agent 008 - Deadline September 8, 2008
Primary Fear - Deadline September 8, 2008
Character Lab Pt 2. - Deadline September 15, 2008
8 Legs - Deadline September 21, 2008
Paint by Numerology No. 8 - Deadline September 23, 2008
Life through the Lens - Deadline September 26, 2008
Manipul8 - Deadline September 28, 2008
Ultimate Fandom Contest - Video Games - Deadline September 27, 2008
Fella Fashion Show - Deadline September 29, 2008
Think Pink III - Deadline October 2, 2008
Pieces of Eight - Deadline October 4, 2008
8th Dimension in Nude - Deadline October 8, 2008
Animation Emoticon Contest - Deadline October 11, 2008
The Solidarity Contest - Deadline October 17, 2008
Stage A Male Photography Contest - Deadline November 20, 2008
A Midsummer Nights Dream Contest - Deadline December 15, 2008




- Pass the Panel - Ongoing
Lyrical Inspirations - Deadline September 13, 2008

Important and entertaining links you should go to

Skinmasters #11 WinGNOME-XP

Creator's Creator #1 AveDesk

The Red Dot Contest

Help a deviant Heal through Art

The Ultimate Guide for Costume vs Cosplay

Like the Transformers?? Go say hi to Guido!

Common Mistakes for First Time Comic Aritsts

Top Ten Things to Do Without dAmn

Spam Update

Line rider 2 - Unbound

What Design Is, and What it is not

*DA-Networking a new group!

Project Stacee

Results of the 1st Annual Silent Auction

A world of Stories book Launch

In Defense of Collections for Clubs vs Submissions

Street Art Vol. 8

How to Write a professional Creative/Communication

A contest to launch the acid burst love federation

Revolutionary new resource for emerging writers

Bi-Weekly Film Review # 5

Let Unknown Be Known: August

Film & Animation DD's - August 2008

The Artisan Crafts Gallery, edition 41

Summer DDs - Photomanipulation

Street Photography Interviews: BQW

Interview with photoscot

GeneratingHype on letters, editing and GDship

Interview with ickylust

The Spread the Love Project

The 25 most Influential Film Directors of all Time

The Magical Realm of the Fairy

winners of the da loving day mini-contest of artistic nudes

Nude as The News *August 2008 in review*

The "Banned Books" Contest - Fight Censorship!

Unknown Street


Some thumbs of favorites Roxy and I have added recently:

News from the Galleries

Ring Master

Anime/Manga
Anthro
Artisan Crafts - ^Myana
Artisan Crafts - ^Kitten-of-Woe

Comics & cartoons

Customization
Handhelds
Visualizations

Digital Art ^cosmosue
Digital Art ^JunkbyJen
Fractal Art
Photomanipulation.
Pixel art & dolls
Vexel

Fan Art

Film - ^deviantartfilm
Film - ^Kaotika
Film-Animation - ^guruubii

Literature

Abstract, Surreal/Fetish Photography
Animals, Plants & Nature
Artistic Nude
Horror & Macabre Photography
Macro

Resources - ^bleedsopretty
Resources - ^znow-white
Resources/Stock
Stock Photography


Traditional Art - ^limnides
Traditional Art - ^oilsoaked
Traditional Art - ^stigmatattoo