DA is DeAd

Dec 17, 20153 min read

Deviation Actions

Published: Dec 17, 2015

2.4K Views

Ok, maybe the dramatic headline wasn't necessary. But really, is it is me or is this community losing its vibe? I mean, even despite its attempts to make it more "social network-ish" and the multiple interface changes it's somehow lost a big part of its appeal and I'm not sure why. And it's not just me, I've seen the same sentiment echoed around, in other journals and even in real life conversations with friends and people who aren't active users of deviantART.

Personally, it's not a big loss for me as I've only kept this page over the years for funs & the occasional ego stroke, and it's never been in any way a source of income for me nor do I wish it to be. But it's been this online home that I've basically grown up artistically with and it's sort of sad seeing it like this and coming back to an empty inbox. And then seeing old friends close their accounts to never come back. And not me, I’m talking about professional artists, closing their accounts or leaving their old work here but migrating somewhere else. And it's not only that the good ones are leaving (or hiding somewhere... WHERE ARE YOU?!... or maybe I just need to browse more art!) but it's almost like DA is being taken over by teens and this type of art i'm not really moved by.... OR I am getting old and apathetic and less cool.

Anyhow, that's not to say I'm not going to keep doing art and posting it here (and the only reason I haven't been around as much is because college takes the best of me). But I’m not gonna lie, it’s not as exciting anymore. Like, last year I submitted at least three high quality works, that I KNOW are good because they took a long time and many people (outside DA) seemed to like it, but they got nowhere near as much feedback as earlier works of mine. One of them is the Natalie Portman portrait, which is imo superior in technique and resemblance to the actress than, say, my Kate Beckingsale one which somehow got higher numbers. Oh and taking into account that I’ve shared my recent deviations to groups and everything, but still… nada. And in general, deviations that would have exploded my inbox three years ago are now sitting on a god forsaken page where the sun no longer shines. *Dramatic thunder* Anyway, I’m not complaining or anything just making an observation... I'm still gonna hang around until hell freezes over because I like it and I can...

Hope y'all have a great holiday/new year's... Tschüss!