So DA friend or enemy?

[Maeve]

For me, dA is like Photobucket, but with a better classification for art pieces. I mean, I would never make it my professional site (who would want a site where there are ads for other artists on your page anyway), but to store pictures and discuss about them, it's not a bad place.

[dreamer676]

Maeve; that's cool. lol I agree with you in that I would never make dA my professional site because I make friends there etc, it wouldn't be appropriate, but tbh I don't think it's a bad place either, I just think it's flawed as is most places.

Applejuice; oh ok thanks anyways =)

[Beri]

I can understand it not being good for the ego to not receive any comments on something, I usually don't, unless it's my friends who are already watching me. I've never really had some random person watch me before. Only either because I watched them first, or they know who I am. x3

I'm a big watcher/stalker of emoticonists, and pixelers on that site. x3 I can spend hours looking through galleries, and adding favorites *nod*

[dreamer676]

[futaba_tan]

I'm a dA friend. Yeah, I left it multiple time, but now I'm kinda there to stay.

You gotta understand that the site is HUGE so of course you wont get a ton of focus right from the get go. It takes patience and time and a lot of activity.

Also, digital work gets the most attention there. the more color, the more love.

[kaishi]

Hmm, DA. XD I check it like 400 times a day. I pay for it, even though I don't use hardly ANY of the pay functions. I follow a lot of artists and love to browse what's new and popular.
Do I hate DA? Nah. The art politics are ridiculous. But not just on DA, anywhere on the internet, nudes, fetish, and fanart get way more attention than original content. I have a very small number of fanarts in my gallery, but the main one I have is my most-favorited piece. It's not even very good. Really? I just ignore it. Yeah, it's annoying when something truly ugly to me is in the popular section every day just 'cause it's a fanart (haha...), the DD's aren't always worthy, DA is acting stupid about some policy, etc. but in the end it's the internet community that make the site. It's gonna be the same everywhere and it's my choice to be there... sooo... I don't really care.

[Txenriks]

DA is ridiculous. But then again so is all internet culture. xD;

I like it -- I like finding cool art and people with common interests. I've made a lot of friends there and help run a few very popular clubs.

I don't care if people don't comment very much. I mean, I'm not excellent enough of an artist, or popular enough, to get tons of comments or favs. But my friends see what I draw. And some of the funniest conversations I've ever had wouldn't have happened without DA.

I think you just got to take the drama with a grain of salt. There's dumb people everywhere, you just can't let them get to you.

[Kylana]

As a general art site, DA's pretty nice. Great way to search for/keep up with people, etc. Sure, there's drama, but I've never seen anywhere that doesn't have at least some.

As far as asking for critique, though... not a fan. I go to Concept Art if I want that, honestly, since there's more constructive/helpful stuff going on there.

[kerryfox]

I think DA is really what you make of it. For me it has allways been just fine I keep out of the drama, connect with people I want to connect to and I have a fast easy way to share my art with people whom otherwise may never see it.

The DD is for me a way to see this and that, no not all of it is top notch but neither is the fanart with 50 billion favs.

[Lux-Vertas]

sadly it's a nessesary Evil...

None of the other art sites have the reputation and respect from places that host art...

I do have another account on MangaBullet for personal things and for fun, but If I want to show my work to friends and family I'd stick to DA sadly...

[dreamer676]

yeah I know what you all mean in part. I am still on it somewhat nowadays but I haven't submitted anything since april.

Also I think half my problem is that I search for art within a certain keyword, but don't neccesarily fav any of it. I'm, also looking at about five diffrent artists that I just haven't watched. Not because I don't want to I just don't feel like I should because I would want to stay in contact with the people that I have on my watchers list.

[Purochen]

I think DA is a good place for fresh people, you know? Those who have just started to gain real interest in drawing... They tend to be weak to criticism.

On the other hand, it would be better for new artists to get straight and real contructive comment that actually help, making DA a horrible place for newbies...

hmmm dilemma

Personally, I only use DA still because of my internetbuddies all being there, making it easier to draw them a gift and such :B

[dreamer676]

yeah that is a good side, contact with friends, because then you can support each other as you learn to draw, but as you said it's not helpful for those that wish to be properly critiqued.

I like the new portfolio feature though. It's great that they are available for free members as well. Though I should like advice on what would be appropriate material to put within it.

[newdivision]

DA doesn't give me much trouble, I have a community of good friends there. But hardly anyone comments on my art, and I agree that there's a lot of mediocre stuff like anime fanart. I also don't like how you have to categorize your submissions. It's supposed to be helpful for searches, but most of my things don't fall under a certain category, and it's a pain to do. I show most of my art on facebook, to friends, if they're interested, and to my art teacher for constructive criticism. I might get my own website as my art improves and I begin looking for an art-related job. Blogs, I've found, are good for that and many are free.

[dreamer676]