A few wks ago I did an article based off of a Poll of mine, where I asked people to share some new Deviants with me that they had come across recently. The article featured the new Deviants, as well as those who suggested them. I had wanted to start an article series on this, & call it "Hug A Newbie" - thanks to =innocencedied2nite for that title - but it's now grown into a Project. One we could all pitch in & do together. Hug A New Deviant! Or, H.A.N.D. for short.

For so long, we've all sat in the shadows, at one time or another, & wished for deviantART to be a better place. For all the negative folks to duck tail & run. For all mean & hateful comments to be obliterated. Being mean & hateful to others is so last season. It's time to take back deviantART. We might not be able to encourage others to always do so, but at least we don't have to sit idle & be part of the problem. We can join forces, & hopefully, get to all the new Deviants, & show them right from the start, that this is a good place to be. We can take them in under our wings, point them in the right direction, & be a friend in need. We can gather on their pages, & lend a helping hand, & drop a hug or two. Maybe if we reach them first, we can start a cycle of positive energy that will last throughout their stay here, & continue to spread.

The Concept

The idea is pretty obvious. Find a new Deviant, & lend a helping hand.

I've come across alot of pages that have no Galleries, comments, Journals, or anything. I've often wondered why. Was deviantART so huge, that they ran away? Did no one come to welcome them, & point them in the right direction? Think of all the creativity we might be missing out on, when all it might have taken was for just one person to reach out & offer a little help, give encouragement, or leave a hug. I spent some time today to welcome about 20 new Deviants, & I plan on making this a part of my daily ritual. Hopefully, others will to.

Many of us do this already, but alot don't. Maybe they don't know how to find a new Deviant. This is where you come in.

Recruits

Be a H.A.N.D. Recruit, & leave a hug on pages of new Deviants everywhere! Proudly wear the official Stamp at the top of the article to show that you participate in H.A.N.D., & Fav the article to help spread the word. ( Subscribers can use the Stamp thumbnail code, Non-Subscribers can link it ). Mention it in your Journals, & encourage others to participate.

Don't only say you're a Recruit though, live it! Show new Deviants that the reason they joined really is all it was cracked up to be. Not only are we the most kick @$$ Art Community out there, but we're also the most kick @$$ Family out there.

Down To Business

But Christie, I have no idea how to find new Deviants. I'm all revved up, with no place to go.

Understandable. They're kind of hidden, but only because once you get there, there's other treasures to dive in for too.

First, click the < More > button at the top right of the page, then you'll need to click where it says < Today >. That'll take you to Today's Info page, but <wack wack>, don't get sidetracked. You can always go back to all of that in a minute. Towards the middle of the Today page, on the right hand side, you'll find a short list of brand new Deviants. Don't they shine so pretty? It's like finding a diamond in a coal mine, just waiting to be pounced with everything we have to offer.

Now you know where to find them. Hug them, heart them, offer help, or just slober all over them. They'll appreciate it, & so will everyone else who sees you doing it.

Now's our chance to make deviantART a more positive environment, & make 2009 THE year that started it all!