Devious Minds: TopicalityDiscovering what makes us devious.*Topicality :iconTopicality:How did you first discover deviantART? I was looking at art online when I was young, and saw `loish's work, it eventually led me to deviantART. I lurked for a while, then eventually joined!What was it about dA that made you want to stay? I wanted to post my artwork... however once I discovered chats, I learned about GMs (now CV's) and Daily Deviation suggesting. I had and continue to have the loving support that keeps me here, along with my ability to find and collect beautiful artwork- Tis it is all about the art!What is the story behind your username? At one point I wanted to do debate in high school, but I've gone off to do other things. I was thinking of good user names and was playing with a random word generator. It came up with the word Topicality, a word I remembered was used in debate. It's used in debate when one is g
Childhood GoneI want everthing back again, back before the boys were men.I want everything sane,everything plain, everything normal again.I wanna be innocent.I wanna be ignorant.I miss how it used to be,miss how simple it seemed.I can't believe how we've changed,now everythings become unchained.Our lives were pure,our minds untainted,when a hug was the only cure,the best cure,for the scraped knee,for the falling tear.It was easy,it was slow.I want it all back.Can anyone tell me...where did it all go?When did we lose our innocence?When did we stop being ignorant?When did the dark touch our light?Who threw
NectarinesI said I preferred peaches,but you wanted a nectarine.So we brought it backand you portioned it outand I found it wasn't better only different. You went backto your city, and I held the tastein my mouth for days.Curl the knife around the pit;gently twist the halves apart.Admire the honey-golden formsand the rich-veined flesh.So what did I buy at the grocer'son St. Benedict's Street? Notpeaches, but smooth nectarines.It is different in this country,where pleasures have becomenecessities.These days I cannot tasteexcept in memory.
An old man's deathWearily he sits in his usual chair. Maybe no one will notice how tired he is and how much it hurts. His oldest granddaughter knocks on the door and opens the door."Hi grandpa. How are you today?" She gives him a hug and sits the plate of cookies in front of him. Her fiancé steps in behind her with a gallon of fresh cow's milk. He hadn't had that since he was a boy. Yum!He smiles. "When are you getting married??"She pauses. A different reaction that usual. Usually she says, "Not sure yet. We'll let you know.""October the eighth."For a split second he thought there was hope after all. October wasn't too far away. He could make it
'Happy 12th BirthdAy' NYC devMEET Wrap-Up As part of the "closing ceremonies" for 's 12th birthday week, #ThisIsNYC held another devMEET in midtown Manhattan. And by numerological coincidence, twelve people showed up! The weather was nearly perfect: a tad warm and a bit breezy, but nary a raincloud in sight. Deviants started arriving around 1:30, and we kicked things off at 2 p.m. with 'circle time': we sat under the shade of the Time Warner globe in Columbus Circle, trading journals, sketchbooks and real-life stories.After about an hour, we decided to move things into Central Park; we headed toward The Rocks, and found a relatively quiet stretch of grass and boulders which we claimed as our own. We then ran three contests: A found-art challenge, to come up with something involving the number 12; this was won by ~FoxyEevee. A created-art challenge, combining the themes 'birthday' and 'outdoors'; thi
Deviousness Award`CypherVisor is one bad-ass, top of the scale, crazy CSS coder and deviantART customization resource provider. We are honored to have him in our community for all that he does for FREE. Every premium member or a super group in deviantART seems to be using atleast one of his resources to beautify his/her page.The Deviousness Award is the highest thing deviantART can give to such a "psycho" for creating a journal skin which looks exactly like a deviousness award widget and is actually given to exceptional deviants around deviantART. If you want to fuck your own profile page with this outrageous skin go hug him and tell him that you love him.Well, gentlemen, when the shit hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay. Here's `CypherVisor facing the fire and there's George hiding in Big Daddy's pocket. And what are you doing? You're gonna reward George and destroy `CypherVisorEven after getting hit by shit, being called a psycho and crazy, he's always caring for others and
CleveMeet Wrap-Up and the Adventure Home The CleveMeet was a rousing success! The day was beautiful, albeit a bit windy and sprinkles were on the horizon, but Huntington Reservation is a gorgeous park with amenities and one fabulous beach and view of downtown Cleveland off in the distance. $Ayame-Kenoshi came up with the idea for the meeting place, and it was easy to get to from all directions being accessible by freeway and turnpike travel.The original devMeet was scheduled for 2 PM, but $Ayame-Kenoshi had to be at Hopkins International (CLE) to board a flight to Paris for a devMeet there. The time was moved up to Noon, which worked out better for several deviants.The gathering spot was in the parking lot in front of three converted houses (donated) that housed a restaurant, art museum/store and a café. There was seating everywhere, from picnic tables to a gazebo. A wrap-around porch to the café and convention center (the upstairs houses art shows and conventions and schedules for upcoming shows
How to comment muro LIKE A BOSSYou will need:At least one (1) friend willing to waste time muro-ing with you Bonus points if said friend lives halfway across the world with major time difference, meaning times spent still awake at 3am in the morningMore time than you know what to do with OR the will to procrastinateMouse or a tablet (tablet is better)...SnacksThe method (+ tip)Click the "Add Drawing" button when commenting and just go with it TIP: Personally i like to use the Webink or Sketch brush with webbiness/strokes turned off. These two brushes give crispier lines And if you're seriously dedicated you might end up with something like this *Darqx and ~McAlli, 3 days, 28 muros, and >7000px long...happy scrolling...
dA Related (RED) Contest!Welcome to another deviantART Related contest! This contest is all about supporting (RED), the cause known for fighting for an AIDS free generation by 2015.The contest is split into three (3) categories: Deviant Stamps, Journal or Gallery Skins, and DeviantIDs. Each category will have one Major Prize winner. Deviant Stamps Create a Deviant Stamp that supports the (RED) organization.(RULES) The stamps message must support/promote (RED). Your entry must be submitted on or after December 1st, 2012. Your entry must be submitted into the category: Contests > 2012 > dArelated RED Contest > Devian
April's Challenge: Stalk a $taffer or CV ResultsIn April, we asked group members to stalk a CV or $taff member to help dispel the myth that these people are too important for everyday deviants to get to know. In fact, many of them produce great art and have fun personalities just like you and me! Here's what we found out:Staffers:iconmoonbeam13: $Moonbeam13Name: Danielle Ward (Danie)Location: CanadaJoined DeviantART: October 19, 2003Role: Director of Community RelationsRegular Articles: Community Relations Newsletter | Pimps and Whoas | Discovered$Moonbeam13 is Unique Because: *MissMorticia writes: "Way back in 2005 when I first started using dA, I remember coming across :dev
dA[dot]ART - Your help needed!deviantART recently announced that through a new organization, Dadotart — they applied to manage a new Top Level Domain (TLD) called “.ART.” The aim of this is to have the .ART TLD — the Internet addresses that could end in .ART — organized and distributed with the full participation of the global art community.This doesn't mean that deviantART.com would change to deviantART.art (or deviant.art). The .ART TLD would service all of the arts, including art forms that deviantART doesn't handle - like the theater, music, dance and so on - and would allow people to have individual identities associated with the arts without going through a community like deviantART or YouTube.To achieve this goal, dA needs YOUR help! You can find out how to give your support to this mission in a practical way in thi
Announcing the deviantART Creative GrantsAnnouncing the deviantART Creative GrantsAt deviantART, we have spent the past 11 years building a place where artists can share and discuss their work and get inspired by the work of their contemporaries. A noble cause, for certain, but we would like to be so much more to our beloved community of brilliant creatives. Starting today, deviantART will also be a means of inspiration in an entirely new way with financial support for art.On 3 month cycles, deviantART will accept applications from artists seeking to fund art-related projects. A panel called the Creative Grants Board will pick those projects that they believe will benefit particularly from a Grant and give those artists the support they need to make it happen. The lucky few who are chosen to receive Grants will also be given a beautiful accolade on their deviantART Profile Page to celebrate their succes
I really don't get it...So, the new thumbs. They've got everyone up in arms and complaining about how the staff should've asked users for their opinions, should listen to their users more, etc. This comes up every time a new feature comes out that some people don't like. And it really confuses me, because as far as I've seen dA admins are more active in listening to their members than any other site out there that I've been on. We have an extensive beta testing program, volunteers and admins we can talk to at any time, a help desk that actually responds to the tickets sent to them, places to make suggestions about improvements, and so much more. How is that we have all that and yet so many people are constantly complaining that the admins don't listen to us? We wanted username changes, we got them. We wanted subfolders, we got them. We wanted a button to turn of redraws, we got it. We wanted the new thumbs to be justified rather than left aligned, we got it. We wanted signatures to be distinguishable f
May I have yo' attention please - Emergency comishEarly this month I was admitted to the emergency ward at the local hospital.Needless to say I received my medical bill this morning and it isn't pretty.$3800 total.Only having just emigrated and the government still taking ages to process my stuff to allow me to work, and Ashley barely making enough to just pay rent as is, this is something we cannot afford.So... It's comission time! Now, I really don't like begging or what have you but this is some serious business.Below is a list of what i offer, how to pay and how to go about contacting me for a comission;Commissions avaliable :Basic character Chibi (examples: http://zeurel.deviantart.com/gallery/?catpath=scraps#/d1rzogf http://zeurel.deviantart.com/gallery/?catpath=scraps#/d1rzo70 ) (Inks only/coloured) - $ 10 / $15Full character image (examples: http://zeurel.deviantart.com/gallery/?catpath=scraps#/d2zszfb ) (ink/coloured) - $20 + $10 for extra charactersAnimated gif 2-3 second loop. Extra cost if y
Happy Birthday deviantART!Holy moly, did we just go full circle into anotherbirthday? YOWZA! Not to mention a year of me working here! Seems likeonly yesterday I was submitting this deviation, celebrating my win overgetting hired.Then only a week later I was thrown into deviantART's 11th birthdayfestivities with a team and job I was still getting to know. It wasoverwhelming, exciting, and nervewracking all at the same time! Idefinitely had no idea what to expect.In hindsight, I had nothing to worry about! The teamat HQ are a great bunch and have a fabulous knack for making bothcommunity and fellow team members feel welcome. Besides, if there's oneway to get to know new people, its definitely with a party! Well, exceptfor $Ayame-Kenoshi She's forever alone.This year is not with some sad goodbyes, though. Welost `LisaLotek as she flittered off to bigger and better things. Wewer
Twitter TipsHi #printscommunity!, In our last poll we asked about your use of Twitter in promoting your Prints. Well, the community has spoken and a number of you have asked for some tips on how to better use Twitter to promote your work. So, we've put together some tips for you on how to leverage the Twitter platform in marketing yourself. Twitter is different from dA, facebook, and tumblr in a number of ways. Perhaps the most important is brevity. Most tweets live and die in a matter of minutes. The vast majority of tweets die in the first hour. Also, you only have 140 characters to say what you want. So how the heck are you gonna use this thing to market your prints? Here is a list of things that we've found to be massively helpful. Build your followers: The more followers you have, the more networks you connect to. By building a massive stable of followers, you will increase your chances of touching some of them and getting your me
Do-It-Yourself Journal SkinDo-It-Yourself Journal SkinGet into Journal skinning by learning how to create your own Journal skin in this tutorial!Written by `miontre for dA Related Week in #projecteducateJump to resourcesHeya everyone! In this tutorial, you'll be learning how to create your own Journal skin on deviantART. This tutorial takes a "Do-It-Yourself" or "Assemble-It-Yourself" type approach. I've pre-created a design, and it's up to you to put it together and customise it - with instructions, of course! Note that you need a Premium Membership to use Journal skins! This tutorial is aimed at anyone who is interested in starting to create Journal skins on dA using CSS. Those who don't know anything about CSS yet can follow along, and hopefully learn something along the way! Those who are beginners with CSS can learn how to turn a design into code, and how to use CSS to create a Jo
CEA Blog: Mature ContentHey guys, today I want to talk about Mature Content on deviantART and hopefully clear up some misconceptions that exist around it. For those of you eager to look at some boobs and hot male torsos, I'm afraid I won't be including any here .How the mature content filter worksAll members over the age of 18 can choose to enable or disable the mature content filter to suit their needs. All members with a registered date of birth under the age of 18 have the mature content filter locked on and can not disable it. All logged out visitors have the mature content filter enabled and can not disable it.The mature content filter is split in to two types, strict and warning. The strict filter is completely voluntary and prevents any deviant with the mature content filter on from accessing the work. The general or warning filter is the standard mature content tag and will remove the image from immediate view when browsing and place an warning page on the devi
CEA Blog: How (And Where) to Report DeviationsThe Galleries here at deviantART.com receive, on average, around a hundred thousand submissions every day- any way you look at it that is a lot of creative works coming in every minute of every day. Among this outpouring of creativity which we call Deviations there are, inevitably, works which could be potential problems and when members of the community find deviations which could be troublesome for one reason or another it is only natural to want to bring them to the attention of the staff here at deviantART.Because of the various ways that a deviation might be a problem we'll focus on only one specific issue in this blog, that issue being the subject of copyright infringement.Now we've already tried to explain the ins and outs of copyright in our copyright policy so if you haven't read that particular page yet I'd encourage you to do so now (you agree to obey the rules and restrictions laid out there every time you submit
CEA Blog: Know Your Report CategoriesHi deviants!In my past blogs we've gone over How to submit Abuse Reports and How to Report an Underage Deviant. In this blog I'm going to give a breakdown of each category in the Copyright & Etiquette portion of our Support Center Contact page.So why is filing reports or inquiries in the right category important?Picking the right category ensures the right staff members are reviewing your ticket as soon as possible. Filing a ticket in the incorrect category requires that we escalate it to the correct team for review and this can potentially add time to the wait for a response. Take a quick look through the categories and pick the best one for your ticket. If you're still unsure, fear not! We'll go over the categori
Tir Na nOgFollow me to a magical worldWhere the lonely fairie-folk feastAnd dance among fields of flowers,Through forests so thick with enchantmentYou'll want to stay lost forever.Leave behind your loved onesLeave behind your worriesAnd let Tir Na nOg envelope you,A place where time has no meaning.A second can last forever,Or forever can slip away in the blink of an eye...Follow the maiden with flowers in her golden locksWho has known more lifetimes Than all the most ancient mortals, this world has ever seen.Drink her honey wine.Feast of her mind numbing ambrosia,But do not forget:Immortality should be left to the fair
Feary SongFeary SongI heard the faeries dance one day in a time long gone they twirled joyously in the fray singing their faeries songAnd then i saw as i did watcha man with eyes like firestep foreword and begin to sway to the ethereal choirWith skin like snow and hair spun goldhe drifted through the throngthe eyes of all who saw were hishumming that fearies song After a time he stopped by chancebefore the girl watching their playand oddly asked her for a dancebespelled, i joined the fraytwirling among the beings brightmortal and Elvin kingby their magick, my heart took flight and i began to singthe words like